The population of children, adolescents, and adults using the internet is ever increasing. The rise of this new technology has brought with it a deluge of threats that can affect your child’s safety and well-being.
Exposing themselves to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and peer pressure can all lead to unhealthy habits and behaviors in young people’s lives. Parents need to monitor and keep their children safe while online by discussing these dangers and monitoring their online activities.
There are many internet safety tools or applications available that can provide online safety for kids. We’ll discuss them in this article later along with answering the following questions:
- How do I protect my child from inappropriate Internet content?
- How can we protect children from Internet predators?
We’ll also provide some tips for parents and children so they can keep safe online.
How Children Can Be Abused On The Internet?
Children are constantly being exposed to the dangers of the internet, and it can be hard for parents to keep up with what their children are doing online.
Children can be enticed with false promises of gifts, money, and attention on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. Chatting with strangers can lead to tragic consequences, including bullying, blackmail, or even worse.
There are also predators who pose as children online to lure their prey into a situation where the predator can abuse them. If you have children who use the Internet at home or anywhere else, it is important to keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t find themselves in an abusive situation.
Applications To Protect Children Online:
Net Nanny:
Net Nanny is a safe and effective solution for parents who want to protect their children from inappropriate content, images, and language. Parents can set up the software on their home computer or purchase a web-based version that can be accessed from any computer.
When activated, Net Nanny blocks questionable websites and content so children are shielded from explicit material. The program also provides alerts when a child attempts to access a blocked site, giving parents the chance to intervene before these sites become a problem.
VeePN VPN:
While using the internet, it is crucial to use a Chrome, Opera or Firefox VPN. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is one way that parents can protect their children online. There are many benefits of using a VeePN VPN for your home network. A VPN encrypts all traffic coming in and out of the device so no one can see what you are doing online.
Other features include blocking ads, malware, trojans, and viruses while also saving on data usage by compressing all web pages to decrease loading times. VeePN helps in hiding original information like IP addresses, locations, etc. from hackers and protects not only kids but everyone using the internet.
VeePN is also the best extension VPN for Mozilla and Chrome. As well, VeePN has a Net Guard and no log policy which provide whole security and anonymity.
Qustodio:
Qustodio is easy to use the tool and available for all devices. It features robust parental controls and alerts you when unwanted programs are accessing your child’s device. The software also allows you to block access to websites, control screen time, and track which apps are being used. Qustodio offers a free trial but you need to upgrade to premium for premium features.
Mobicip:
Mobicip is a parental control app that provides safe browsing options. The app can be downloaded for free (a 7-Days trial) on any kid’s phone providing parents the ability to monitor their kids’ internet activity. It has been developed with input from experts in child psychology, education, and technology.
Parental controls include detailed reports about internet usage by device or browser, the ability to block access to specific websites, time limits on how long kids can spend online, and many other great features.
OurPact:
OurPact is a free mobile phone app (need to upgrade for premium features) that allows parents to create and enforce Internet usage rules for their children. It is easy to set up and can be used on mobile devices such as an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone.
Like the above apps, OurPact has similar parenting control features. However, there are some more features that include Geo-fencing and text blocking, and scheduling.
Tips for Parents:
Be Involved:
Being an active participant in your child’s life greatly impacts their lifestyle. Keeping tabs on your children’s online activities is a crucial responsibility for parents. Before it gets out of hand, a parent may intervene if they are mindful that their child is using specific websites or seeing unsuitable material. Only allow your child to use a gadget when you can keep an eye on them at all times.
Moreover, involving your child in physical exercise will divert their mind from internet addiction. For practical exercise skills, join basketball training to keep your children fit and from internet abuse.
Keep Your Computer In An Open Area:
It’s essential to have your computer in an open place since parents are one of the most persuasive people in a child’s life. Adult material must be kept out of the reach of minors if parents are to do their part in keeping their children safe. Therefore, when using a computer, it is vital to keep it in an area with no privacy. It’s also possible to use parental control software to keep tabs on who and what your children see online.
Use Storybooks To Start Conversations:
Begin conversations with storybooks; the internet might be a frightening place for your infant. You need to know what they’re concerned with and be available to answer their queries. You might begin these discussions by reading stories together. The pictures might help children better comprehend the beginning and finish of the story without spending more time when browsing.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, internet safety is a serious issue. From talking to parents, it is clear that not enough people are aware of the type of dangers that can lurk online. It’s important to take the time to research and educate yourselves about what your kid may be exposed to.
There are many applications out there like VPN that can help you monitor your child’s internet activity, but the most effective way is through good communication with your children.