Cyber safety is more important than ever. Especially when your child is using the internet, as a parent you want to make sure that your child is safe. With more and more electronic devices with internet access, how do you make sure that your child is safe when using the internet, social media accounts or apps?
According to the Census Bureau, in 1984 only 8.2 percent used a computer, in 2011 it increased already to 75.6 percent per household. In 1997 only 18.0 percent of Americans had internet access (first year Censur Bureau asked about internet use), in 2011 it hiked to 71.7 percent. Also, a recent research has shown that 91% of 5 – 15 year children have internet access in the household (United States Census Bureau -Thorn …show more content…
On the internet, there is a lot of helpful advice. First, parents should make sure internet sites that they don’t want the children to access are blocked. There are website available to download and to install on the computer. Some of them are free and some of them need to be purchased. The cheapest solution would be to set up your browser on the computer (Firefox, Safari) to block certain websites; make them childproof. There are many guides to walk you step by step through the process. Second, they should sit together with the children and talk with them to make them aware about the risks on the internet. Parents should talkt o their children to set guidelines. Third, let them know that they should follow the rules as they would in the real world. Parents can give children advice that can keep them safe: don’t chat with a stranger, that they should let you know if someone approach them on the internet, young children shouldn’t browse unaccompanied, it’s much better when an adult is present, that they must allow the parent to friend them on social …show more content…
Not only Facebook, Twitter or Youtube are dangerous. Children can install apps themselves for free and unfortunately, they can be as dangerous as the internet. According to crosswalk.com these are the 9 most dangerous apps: Whisper, Yik Yak, Kik, Snapchat, Vine, Chat Roulette and Omegle, Tinder and Poof.
Whisper for example, is an app to exchange messages with other user in your geographic area. Yik Yak users are anonymous. No account or profile is necessary. A psychiatrist called this app „The most dangerous app he’d ever seen because it „can turn a school into a virtual chat room where everyone can post his or her comments, anonymously. Several schools have banned smart phones because of this app ( qtd. Dr. Keith Ablow).