Common Watch-out If Your Child Is Using Internet

Every year, February 7th is marked as Safer Internet Day to raise awareness about the importance of using the internet in a safe and right way. Tweens and Teens spend a good number of hours hooked on to various digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers as they surf the internet, play online games, and use social media. With the high consumption of the internet, child abuse is a worry that is growing at an alarming rate. Times today have changed and now every child has access to the Internet that they use in all phases of their lives. Children and the Internet are walking hand in hand toward the future. There are positives with regard to children and the Internet while at the same time, the evils that come along with the Internet cannot be ignored.

Some Positives Of Child Using the Internet or Social Media

Following are the positive aspects of a child using the internet or social media. Read here... 

1. Entertainment and Information leading up to edutainment
2. Knowledge and mental stimulation
3. Fostering creativity, self-expression and a feeling of validation in children
4. Information and research help with the school work

Internet for children has led to a parallel world where communication, learning, and fun all happen at the same time.

Negatives Impacts if Child is Using the Internet or Social Media

Some possible negative impacts if a child is using the internet or social media without any close watch on him/her. Read here...

1. Exposure to media that may carry sexual, hateful or violent content
2. In some cases, children have been introduced to Internet sites promoting drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
3. The Internet has led children at times to receive persecuting messages that are demeaning and lead to harassment leaving psychological damage on the innocent minds
4. Children on the Internet have created this alternate reality world where lack of contact with the real world may lead to anti-social behavior and the real potential of the child is not harnessed
5. The physical development of a Child may get affected as children spend most of their free time indoors hunched before computer screens.

Signs to Watch out in Your Child Using the Internet

We need to have a close watch on children using the internet always...

1. Screen Switching: When you notice that your child has switched screens the moment you have entered the room, you should know it is not a good sign.
2. Odd times for Calls: If you notice that your child is receiving phone calls at odd times or from people unknown to you that it is time for your intervention. Most often sexual predators try to form some sort of a connect with the children and talking to them is the easiest first step.
3. Indoor-all-the-time Syndrome: If your child starts to stay indoors and is not interested in interacting with friends and family, it is a clear warning that he/she is being harassed in some way through the Internet.
4. Unidentified Gifts: If your child suddenly has unaccounted gifts, new clothes or excess cash then it again means that your attention and intervention is required.

What Can We Do As Parents to Safeguard 

If you allow your child to use of the internet or social media sites, you must have a close watch on the child's internet activities ahead. Read below   

1. Filter and Block Programs that have offensive content
2. Keep a check on the download folder on the computer and watch out for any files with endings as .jpg, .gif, .bmp, .tif and .pcx these can be graphic files with inappropriate content
3. Participate with your child online to know more about your child’s Internet behavior
4. Have the computer in a commonplace that is accessible to all, that way you can keep an eye too
5. Be a role model for your child, if you respect piracy laws then most likely your child will also do the same.

Things Children Must Adhere to

As a parent, each one of us must ensure the following things to happens... 

1. Children need to understand the financial and legal implications if they give out information on the Internet. We need to let them be aware of how innocent information can be used against them/ to harm them
2. Children need to have clarity on the purpose of Internet Usage. It should be defined clearly that the Internet is to be used mostly for research and education
3. Children cannot respond to emails from unknown people for their own safety and the safety of the computer as sometimes these unknown mails are the carriers of viruses that can steal valuable financial and social information from your computer
4. Children need to follow the guidelines and time rules that have been set by the Parents
5. Children need to know the importance of passwords and personal information-Under no condition can they divulge these to anyone on the Internet for personal protection

As children and Internet walk hand in hand towards the future, we as Parents can try our best to protect them from Cyber Predators and at the same time enrich their lives with the vast ocean of knowledge that is out there within their grasp.