Safety of the children on the internet

Safety of the children on the internet

The internet is a great source of information, easy way of communication and has so many different functions which can make our lives easier that we could think that it doesn't have any cons. But it can be dangerous also.Mainly for children. It's important to know how we can protect them and how to tell children to use it properly.

Mainly children can face risks such as: inappropriate content, cyberbullying and online predators. Using apps and websites where kids interact, predators may pose as a child or teen looking to make a new friend. They might prod the child to exchange personal information, such as address and phone number, or encourage kids to call them, seeing their phone number via caller ID.

Internet Safety Laws for children:
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) -A federal law, which helps protect kids younger than 13 when they're online. It's designed to keep anyone from getting a child's personal information without a parent knowing about it and agreeing to it first.COPPA requires websites to explain their privacy policies and get parental consent before collecting or using a child's personal information, such as a name, address, phone number, or Social Security number. The law also prohibits a site from requiring a child to provide more personal information than necessary to play a game or enter a contest.

How to protect children on the internet?
Parents should pay attention to what their children do on the internet. They should know how to protect them from dangerous situations and they should talk to them in order to teach them how to use internet safely. There are some special online tools that let parents control their kids' access to adult material and help to protect them from Internet predators. Many Internet service providers (ISPs) provide parent-control options. Parents can also get software that helps block access to sites and restricts personal information from being sent online. Other programs can monitor and track online activity. Parents should get involved in children internet activities. They should talk to their children about it.

Basic guidelines to share with your kids for safe online use:

1. Follow the family rules, and those set by the Internet service provider.
2. Never post or trade personal pictures.
3. Never reveal personal information, such as address, phone number, or school name or location.
4. Use only a screen name and don't share passwords (other than with parents).
5. Never agree to get together in person with anyone met online without parent approval and/or supervision.
6. Never respond to a threatening email, message, post, or text.
7. Always tell a parent or other trusted adult about any communication or conversation that was scary or hurtful.
8. Basic guidelines for parental supervision:
9. Spend time online together to teach your kids appropriate online behavior.
10. Keep the computer in a common area where you can watch and monitor its use, not in individual bedrooms. Monitor any time spent on smartphones or tablets.
11. Bookmark kids' favorite sites for easy access.
12. Check your credit card and phone bills for unfamiliar account charges.
13. Find out what, if any, online protection is offered by your child's school, after-school center, friends' homes, or any place where kids could use a computer without your supervision
14. Take your child seriously if he or she reports an uncomfortable online exchange.

Watch for warning signs of a child being targeted by an online predator. These can include:

1. spending long hours online, especially at night
2. phone calls from people you don't know
3. unsolicited gifts arriving in the mail
4. your child suddenly turning off the computer when you walk into the room
5. withdrawal from family life and reluctance to discuss online activities

Call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678 if you're aware of the sending, use, or viewing of child pornography online. Contact your local law enforcement agency or the FBI if your child has received child pornography via the Internet.


Talk to your kids! Parents should keep an open line of communication and make sure that their children feel comfortable turning to parents when they have problems online.

 We used the website : https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/net-safety.html