The internet has transformed how we interact, shop, and find entertainment. Instant global connections, vast information access, and online gaming have become commonplace.
However, along with these advantages, come risks. Cybercriminals seek data for financial gain and illegal activity. They manipulate trust, especially in vulnerable individuals, to exploit and commit crimes.
While many are adept online, others, like children and older adults, are more prone to risks. Educating them about online benefits and dangers is crucial.
Helping kids online
Children are new to the online world and lack a clear understanding of reality, fake content, and potential risks. Here are some simple things we can do to help guide and educate children:
Establish rules: Kids love to play games and be online, but unchecked usage can lead to addiction and excessive screen time. To prevent this, set time limits, identify which devices they can use, enable parental controls and put these devices in common spaces rather than in their rooms. Encouraging healthy and balanced tech use at an early age as it will help them throughout their lives.
Create safe usernames: Using your email address or real name for a userid can give away too much information about you. Make up a name you will remember but not one that tell people who you are. “StarGuardian2000” is much safer than “Jessiesmith”.
Don’t overshare: Children don’t often know what information is safe to share. Teach your kids what is acceptable to share and do online. Your birthday, full name, school and city, for example are not safe to share online.
Learn to stop and think: Help kids in building critical thinking skills by questioning whether something is too good to be true. A new free game offered in an email (phishing) or browser window may sound cool but if you have to download something, it may be malware. Get them to think before they click and ask you if they are not sure.
Use analogies to explain things: Kids may not understand ransomware but if you say “someone has the keys to your house and you have to pay to get them back” they may understand. Similarly malware might be easier to explain as “your computer is sick and it will be hard to make it better”.
Spend time with your kids online: Regularly engage with them and take the time to learn what and who they are playing with and watching online. Take opportunities to teach them about safe practices and why. Be positive in your discussions so that they want share information with you.
Building these skills at a young age will equip kids to be much safer as they grow and spend more time on line.
Additional insight to help protect you
To learn more about how you can protect yourself online we encourage you to read our other articles and articles from GetCyberSafe.ca
plus visit Bell.ca/security for more in depth information.
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