Internet Safety for Kids and Teens

"Take advantage of the goodness of the internet development for the good of the child, not avoid it. Make internet safety for children at home."

For kids, the Internet is a source of fun, games, information and knowledge for children. But if no referrals, the Internet can also be a danger that threatens for children, such as cyber-bullying (oppression through the internet), see things that are not worth seeing by children and the dangers of other internet users who are looking for children's prey. In this case, it is necessary to create internet safety for children.

Video credits from Youtube : Cyberbully Movie Saddest Scene

Internet safety for children

To create internet safety for children can use software that helps save children from the bad influence of internet with parental controls (parental control). Using parental controls also makes it easier for parents to manage and keep what they can see and access.

In some developed countries, internet service providers have provided internet safety for children with parental controls for free different from in Indonesia. But we can get free software to control what our children can access.

Choosing good parental controls software

1. Age specification settings
   No wonder whether or not a website depends on the age of the child. Children aged 15 years should be allowed to access the website more widely than children aged 7 years. Good parental controls software allows parents to set age specifications of children.
2. Selection of keywords (keywords)
   Some parental controls software rambles based on keywords or keywords used. So that it can close access to the website website with keywords arranged by parents.
3. Include allowed lists and prohibited lists
   Some software also controls by category, example ; drugs, narcotics, pornography, weapons, and others that are included in the list of banned (blacklists) and the allowable (white-lists)
4. Online access schedule
   Have a time schedule when and how long a child can access online, who should be able to change his time every day,
5. Short Message (Instant Messages)
   If children are permitted to use Instant messages then parental controls software should be able to monitor their conversations. And can prevent them by not sending personal data to others
6. Prohibition of Application (Application blocking)
   Not all parental controls have this facility. But this is worth having because it can prevent some applications that are inappropriate for use by children.
7. Settings and notifications
   The best software is software that allows parents to change some things when the child's computer is turned on from another computer. Will even send a notice if there is 'intention' to visit websites that have been banned.

But keep it ready to protect children when using computers, because parental controls software can not be 100% care for children from cyber crime. Children will get bigger and can outsmart the security that has been arranged in such a way by the parents.

The best security in the Internet for children is from the children themselves. Parents are required to equip the child with the expertise to feel and recognize danger in the internet.

How to introduce and teach internet safety in children:

1. Accompany them when they are accessing the internet
   This is likely only applicable for children aged 3-9 years only. Then start early to instill good things in using the internet.
2. Embed the notion of good and bad internet
   Provide an understanding of the impact of bad website websites so that children can think far away about the consequences.
3. Teach alertness to children
   Precautions need to be taught so that children can sense the dangers of the internet
4. Transparent in communicating
   Let the children tell about everything and discuss everything with parents. Parents should be open and calm, and respond logically without fear and anger. Thus the children will feel comfortable communicating with parents.

What should you do to minimize your child's risk to your child's dangers on the Internet:

• Communicate openly to the dangers that exist on the internet including sex exploitation.
• Spend time with your child to find out their favorite places on the Internet
• Place the computer in the open where all family members can access and view it, not in the child's room. Abuse of the internet, especially the pornographic and child sexual abuse will be difficult to do if there are family members indirectly participate in watching the internet access of children.
• Always control your child's online account access and randomly check their emails. Inform the child of this issue openly and explain the reasons why you did it.
• Keep your children accountable for their online access, lots of interesting things besides chatting rooms.
• Ensure that you also have knowledge of the security facilities of online computers that are often accessed by your child other than at home.
• Understand, even if your child is willing to access or be involved with things that smell pornography they are actually a victim.

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Conclusion

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"Dangers are everywhere around our child. By educating our children and providing understanding of the dangers of the internet, hopefully we can ensure the internet as a source of information that is very rich and useful for their development."

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Source:

1. Internet Safety
2. Internet for Kids and Teen
3. Internet safety for kids
4. Internet dan Anak

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