February 8th is Safer Internet Day! It is celebrated in over 200 countries and territories worldwide and aims to raise awareness of online issues concerning youth. Here are 3 of our favorite habits to keep kids safe online.

3 Internet Habits To Keep Kids Safe

How can you make the internet a safer place for your children? It’s a common concern as all parents want their kids to be protected and happy whenever they go online. It’s relatively easy to supervise and monitor the very young ones as they stare delightedly at the Disney Junior site. Still, the risks significantly increase as kids get older and more independent.

You’ve probably heard the term ‘cyber safety’ before, but safe internet usage goes beyond reminding them not to talk to strangers. With the evolution of the internet and how it’s now woven seamlessly into our lives, the focus needs to be on ingrained habits. That means ensuring your children have the tools and predefined responses to online events so that no matter what happens, they’re not placing themselves (or your family) at risk.

Setting up these habits is easy and begins with three basic understandings:

Downloads are a no-go

Most kids can’t distinguish between a legitimate download and a scam/malicious link. It’s not their fault; the online world is full of things that will trick even the savviest adult. The difference is that kids tend not to take that extra moment to check exactly where that link is pointing, question whether it’s too good to be true, or even read what they agree to. They want to get back to what they were doing, and if something pops up, their first instinct is to click ‘yes’ – so it goes away. Unfortunately, that single ‘yes’ may have just opened the doors to malware and viruses that will ruin their computer. Set a family rule that they need to ask permission for all downloads (an adult will check it first) and never click a popup. Before you give download permission or check a popup, talk through exactly what you’re checking and why. As your child matures, get them involved in this process, so their safe habits extend outside the home.

Critical thinking is a must

Most youngsters think the internet is magical and can’t imagine their life without it. To them, the internet is on the same level as oxygen! With that acceptance, though, comes unwavering trust that the internet would never lie to them, never trick them, and never hurt them. While we adults know better, it’s because we already view the internet with a certain level of distrust. The best way to keep kids safe is to teach them to approach every aspect of the internet with critical thinking. That includes teaching them to question the motives of other people online. Is that person really a kid? What do they really want? Unfortunately, all kids need to be aware that predators use the internet to target and lure children. Ensure your children tell you immediately if a stranger makes contact. Along with this stranger danger, teach them to identify what marks something as suspicious and what they should avoid. If they encounter anything inappropriate, they should shut down the computer and come straight to you.

The internet is forever

Kids have an overwhelming drive to contribute to the internet; they don’t think twice about recording a video, jumping in a chat room, or onto social media. The world is their playground! But what they don’t understand until they’ve been burned is that anything they upload, write or say is on the internet forever. Even if they delete their content or use a self-erase platform, someone can still screenshot their posts and send it right back out. Many cyber-bullying cases are based on this type of situation. Once your kids know that everything they post is permanent, they’ll be more likely to pause and think.

Are you looking for more tips, support, and information on Safer Internet Day? Click HERE to view the 2022 website.