Social networks, online games and parental controls — everything you need to know about protecting children online

In Ukraine, 96% of children are active Internet users. This opens up new opportunities for them, but also creates potential risks, such as cybergrooming, sextortion, cyberbullying, online fraud, and the like. Unfortunately, cases of risks for children on the Internet are becoming more and more frequent due to the continuous development of technology, online learning, and the like.

How to protect a child from online risks in social networks and messengers

In Great Britain, a study was conducted showing the relationship between the time a child spends on social networks and mental health. During that time, 11 teenagers aged 14 were interviewed. The results showed that the more time a child spends on social networks, the higher the risk of depression.

What should parents do to protect their children on social networks?

• Whatever happens, do not take away their gadgets from children. Remember that for a child, online life is an integral part of his reality. Look at online life as a tool for learning, self-realization, and useful communication. Learn by yourself and involve your child in this.
• If you are worried that your child will find himself a harmful idol among bloggers, then become the biggest role model for him. Be sure to be interested in what exactly attracts the child to this or that online content or influencer.
• 2-3 hours a day on the Internet are considered safe for the child's health. Fill the child's time with offline entertainment and establish restrictive rules that all family members will honestly adhere to. For example: "lunch and dinner - without gadgets." Or "Not all phones are charged in bedrooms at night."
• And most importantly, communicate with your child, listen to him, perceive him as an equal. Thus, ego self-esteem will not need additional approval in social networks.
• Look Webinar for parents "How to protect a child from online risks in social networks and messengers" and read tool about settings in all social networks.

Parental controls for setting up a safe Internet

Sometimes the simplest solution for parents is to give the child a gadget. Then the parents will be able to go about their business and at least have a little rest. Experts note that for children under the age of three, parents should limit the time they spend with gadgets as much as possible. At this age, the baby does not yet have the need to communicate via the Internet, so feel free to take away the phones and turn off the TV if there is an opportunity to occupy the child with something interesting.

How to set up parental controls?

• Change technical settings on devices. You can choose restrictions based on age or a certain type of content.
• Download additional parental control programs that allow you to limit access to certain materials on the Internet. There are many of them, choose the one you like. To check, first install such an application on a relative's device and your own — and try to do dangerous actions: for example, search for the word "sex" in Google. Make sure the program is convenient and effective.
• Use special children's versions: YouTube Kids or Google Kids.
• With older children, practice the skill of critical thinking, talk about the fact that pornography is only movies and everything is not like that in life, once again make sure that your teenager understands well what personal boundaries, consent and personal safety are.
• Look Webinar for parents "Parental controls to protect the child from online risks" and read tool about setting controls.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of online games?

Games give children a sense of escape from the real world, and their social aspect can help them feel part of a community. However, without guidance on which games to play and when, children may be exposed to risks such as in-game bullying, online grooming or, in some cases, excessive use of gadgets.

How to protect children in online games?

• Check age restrictions of games. The European video game rating system Pan-European Game Information will help parents with this. Tell the child about the age restrictions and do not forbid ultimatum, but discuss in detail in the conversation if it is still too early for him to play this or that game.
• Control your child's playing time. Take the data of the American Academy of Pediatrics as a guideline: no more than an hour of play on weekdays and up to two hours on weekends. It is necessary to take breaks every 45 minutes of the game.
• Set parental controls on your computer or game console. Limit the possibilities of voice and text chats, set passwords for online accounts and connect the child's account to his e-mail. So you can protect the child without violating his personal boundaries.
• Remember that online games are not only about dashes. This is also the development of the child's skills: strategic thinking, creativity, coordination, logic, understanding, creating an idea about the Universe, cooperation and socialization, financial literacy and a chance to find your own hobby. Therefore, one should not be categorical against an enthusiastic child.
• For a better understanding of the topic, we recommend watching Webinar for parents "Online games. What parents need to know" and read tool about games on the Internet.

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About #stop_sexting:

#stop_sexting — Ukraine's largest public organization on the protection of children on the Internet. She received the prize of the UN Global Compact and in general taught more than 800 children and parents. As part of the information campaign, it touched millions of Ukrainian families, and also created the country's first consultation line for children's Internet safety 1545 (hereinafter 3) and a psychological support line for children and parents on the topic of online risks at Online.