I found it very interesting last week when speaking to Year 7 and 8 students about internet safety. I had an opportunity to ask various questions on the subject, which allowed me to get a feel for the state of play.

I asked how many students have computers in their bedrooms that they use, and about 10% of them raised their hand. Not only was I surprised, I was also disappointed. There have been numerous articles, reports and information in the media that point to the fact that getting the computer out of the bedroom is the first step. I thought all parents understood this, but sadly, this is not the case.

Many students had their own smart phone, be it Android or iPhone, and many played games and other activities on their parents’ iPads and tablet devices.

What I did find extremely encouraging was the amount of questions students asked in both sessions. Not only were they paying attention, they were also interested. They had a thirst to know more. They were asking well thought questions and even telling me about how they are using technology. Fantastic to see.

We’ve come up with 5 easy wins for parents to manage internet usage at home better, and keep their children safer. We’ll also explain why.

1.      No computers in the bedrooms.

That includes mobile devices. Why? Well the internet is the most public place you will ever be, where you may feel the most private.  Children feel the most private at home, and even more so in their bedrooms. There are many cases where children become withdrawn from the ‘real’ world and spend hours talking to ‘friends’ on the internet. This is dangerous, especially when the ‘friends’ are not known in person. Your child may be sexually groomed and be unaware of it.

Sexual predators are all around us and are very convincing and have devious methods of operating.

2.      Set clear rules at bedtime

When your children go to bed, ensure ALL electronic devices are placed in a bowl on the table. Smart phones and tablets are fully internet enabled and function as computers nowadays. Any device that connects to the internet should not be taken to bed. That includes old style mobile phones.

3.      Set time limits

Agree time limits for computer usage with your children. That way you both come to a consensus and make them stick to it.

4.      Install Monitoring Software

Monitoring software is a lot less expensive than you may think, and has two main functions. It has blocking capability, where you can block categories of internet sites you do not want children to visit. There are about 50 categories to choose from. Blocking certain categories is essential for younger children. That way they will not come across objectionable material accidentally.

The monitoring component allows you, as a parent, to measure whether they are practicing positive internet safety practices. Remember, unless you have monitoring software installed, you are not able to properly quantify whether they are safe online.

Monitoring will not prevent cyberbullying. But it does go some way in identifying whether it is happening or not. It may also identify whether your child is engaging in bullying tactics!

It’s a parent’s responsibility to ensure our kids remain safe. Offline and online.

5.      Know where your kids like to go

Be involved and learn where your kids like to go on the internet. If its Facebook, ask them to explain the privacy settings to you. Better still, get them to help set up a profile for yourself.

Understanding where your kids surf on the internet and why, builds up a good relationship and fosters trust. After all, being involved is in the best interest for all of us!

For more information on monitoring or general internet safety contact us: www.websafety.co.nz