Practical Tips to Boost Internet Safety For Kids 

In today’s digital world, internet safety for kids should be the top priority of online platforms. Children use the internet to gain new knowledge, hone their interests, and connect with others. However, exposure to the online world can also bring potential risks to their safety and well-being.

While the internet is a valuable resource, it also poses challenges that require the proactive engagement of parents, guardians, and online platforms. Protecting kids online necessitates actionable steps to help them understand the concept of internet safety and how it is implemented.

But the question is, where do we start? In this guide, we’ll offer practical tips on how to teach kids online safety. We’ll also touch on the role of content moderation in promoting safe online experiences for your little ones. Let’s get into it!

Understanding the Basics of Internet Safety for Kids

There are many positive things about the internet. For kids, it is a useful tool for education, entertainment, and interaction. As they grow, they are more likely to spend more time online. Unfortunately, this also means that there’s a higher chance of being exposed to harmful content.

Harmful and inappropriate content can take many forms. To understand child internet security is to learn the risks of letting children log on to the vast world of the internet. As parents or guardians, here are some of the most common online dangers to be aware of:

• Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying among young people happens when technology is used to harass, threaten, embarrass, and target another person. According to 2024 statistics, over 50% of children have been a victim of cyberbullying. Cyberbullies often post rumors and insults, even creating fake profiles to hurt the targeted person.
• Hate Speech: Hate speech is more than harsh words meant to insult another person. It is the deliberate use of language, whether through speech or written material, to humiliate and discriminate against a person based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability, or sexual orientation. Children are particularly vulnerable to hate speech which is also a form of bullying.
• Online Predators: Children are easy prey for online predators who take advantage of the internet’s anonymity to groom and harass young people. They typically use social media to lure children and gain their trust by offering gifts and emotional support. 
• Pornographic Material: Many websites contain pornographic material that children can easily gain access to. Exposure to pornography can influence children’s perception of sex. As a result, they may engage in risky sexual practices at a young age, including unsafe sex.
• Violent and Disturbing Content: Images, videos, and games that children play online may contain violence and disturbing imagery that could have a profound psychological toll on younger audiences. This can result in increased aggression or levels of anxiety and depression. They may even become desensitized to the pain and suffering of other people.

With these online harms lurking on every corner of the internet, strict measures for online safety should be applied. For parents, this means using parental controls for internet safety, especially if younger children need to be monitored. 

Meanwhile, for online platforms like social media, content moderation is adopted to ensure that only age-appropriate content appears on websites, social media, and other digital environments.

Practical Steps to Keep Kids Safe Online

Parents can’t keep 24/7 surveillance on their children’s online activities. However, there are certain steps to take to prevent the harmful effects of the internet and ensure their child’s safety.

1. Help children balance their daily screen time.

The more time kids spend online, the more likely they are to encounter harmful material. Due to their curiosity, they may access websites, pages, and accounts that contain suspicious links, pop-ups, and content.

The key is to limit their daily screen time, especially if they are below 6 years old. The recommended screen time for kids aged 2 to 5 is no more than an hour. For older children, it’s best to talk to them to set a reasonable time limit for schoolwork, research, games, and social media.

2. Use online protection tools.

Protection tools or parental controls should be used to monitor children’s online activities. Google, YouTube, and other platforms have control features that allow parents to filter what content their child sees online. This software tool can also be installed on your child’s electronic devices so you can block sketchy websites and restrict sharing of personal information.

3. Teach kids to set up secure passwords.

Cybersecurity for kids also involves ensuring that their passwords are secure enough to not be hacked by bad actors. It’s also good to remind them not to share passwords with anyone, even with friends.

4. Set rules about sharing personal information.

Children are often targets of phishing attacks. They may encounter scams on the daily apps they use or even the games they play. When this happens, their personal information can be stolen, compromising their safety as well as their family’s.

It’s important to teach children how to recognize phishing attempts by showing them common signs and examples. They should also reach out to a trusted adult once they see a possible phishing scam.

5. Be a role model for healthy online habits.

More often than not, kids mimic adults’ behavior. This extends to the online habits we practice daily. Promote positive online behavior by sharing appropriate content and being respectful in your online interactions. Avoid using gadgets during family time and turn off all electronics an hour before bedtime.

How Content Moderation Supports Safe Online Experiences

Content moderation plays a crucial role in shielding children from harmful and age-inappropriate material online. Through human moderators and AI systems, content can be filtered on any platform, ensuring that explicit, violent, or offensive content does not reach young audiences. 

Parents can also utilize tools like parental controls, content filters, and safe search settings to monitor and limit what their kids encounter online. Additionally, open communication about internet safety is essential. Discussing risks and setting boundaries with children fosters trust, empowering them to make safer online choices while understanding why these protections are necessary.

Staying Vigilant: The Ongoing Journey of Internet Safety for Kids 

Internet safety is a continuous journey that evolves as technology and risks change. Staying proactive by using available tools, keeping communication lines open with your children, and adapting your strategies as they grow are some of the key strategies you can apply. 

Overall, parents and guardians should stay vigilant so they can provide a safer online environment and ensure their kids can explore the digital world with greater security and confidence.

To make online experiences safe for younger audiences, companies should partner with NMS. The company offers content moderation services that incorporate both manual and automated techniques to remove inappropriate content for children.

Contact us today to learn more!