Whether your children are using their laptops for school assignments, playing games, being ‘social’ or streaming TV shows, it’s safe to say that the internet has morphed into a necessity during their small screen time.
In today’s connected world, children have grown fond of internet-enabled devices and some may even consider themselves digital natives. Even if you’re the one asking your children for tech advice, it’s important to keep active in their digital activity and ensure they understand online safety to become better digital citizens.
Leading computer manufacturer ASUS have compiled their top tips for parents to help navigate their kids through the cyber world safely.
Be informed – Know what devices your child is using, what games they are playing and which websites they’ve visiting. Young children can be provided an approved list of websites that they may visit.
Help your child understand what inappropriate behaviour is – If you or your child encounter inappropriate behaviour – whether it’s violent video games, cyberbullying, or online predators – don’t just let it go. It’s important to act on it, whether that means talking to your child, bringing the subject up with another child’s parents or reporting it to the appropriate authorities.
The family computer is key – Buy a family desktop computer, such as the ASUS Vivo-AiO and keep it in a public place in the home. Encourage your children to regard it as a resource for everyone to use. Give each of them separate IDs and passwords, so they have a sense of ownership and privacy.
Know how to monitor and not be invasive – Take control of your home Internet by using Internet filtering or monitoring software. You don’t have to check in on what your child is doing every day, but the fact that you can – and they know you can – helps set the right tone for responsible behaviour.
Personal information safety – Explain to a child that he or she must never give out personal information. This information includes family e-mail addresses, phone numbers, names, birth dates, home addresses, family details and photos. Although social networking sites ask for and encourage sharing this information, your child should know that protecting their own identity and that of their family must be one of their top priorities.
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