We live in a hyper-connected world where everything is just a few clicks away and nothing is ever forgotten. This comes with a lot of benefits and just as many disadvantages.

Services like Facebook, Twitter and other social networks make it easy to connect with just about anyone, share ideas and create new communities. Google Maps and similar location services enable us to navigate and discover places around us. Amazon and comparable eCommerce services let us buy and sell goods and services right from our homes. YouTube and equivalent video content services bring unlimited video content to us at no cost.

Our devices are constantly connecting and sharing meta-data (information about itself and user) with hundreds of these services. Information that can be easily used to track and identify us, like our location and activities. It’s all fine and good because we are adults and we knew what we signed up for when we accepted the terms and conditions of those services and we can, to some extent, take care of ourselves when push comes to shove, but when it comes to kids using these services, extra caution should be taken.

1. Kids should be properly educated on the merits and demerits of the internet, including how to identify suspicious websites, links, and people.

2. For kids below a certain age, software that censor certain predefined sites should be installed on their computers and phones. Most web browsers already come pre-installed with such parental control features.

3. They should be taught that private information should remain private. They should never reveal personal information like their names or addresses or their parents’ personal details online. If they are on a mobile device, always ensure or get them to ensure their location setting is off as well as their Bluetooth setting.

4. Do not allow them shop online without your consent or presence. This should go without saying unless you want your savings wiped clean. Password-protect your credit card information and bank details.

5. Watch who they chat with. Many social network services have a minimum age requirement for membership, and so one would assume they have checks in place to protect younger users from the more nefarious corners of their platform, but that may not always be the case. There have been cases of older users creating an account with a younger age and communicating with younger kids for infernal purposes. Ensure that their friends with whom they chat are really their friends and not an impersonator.

These and other steps will go a long way in mitigating the dangers of the internet for the younger generation.

If you have any thoughts or ways by which children can be protected while on the internet, please share in the comments below.

Source: Exercise Book, the BlueBic blog.

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