Why Protection Of Data And Privacy Matters
Devices, apps and websites you are connected are collecting your information. Previously your data were collected manually on the register. Now data is collected through the hidden algorithm of apps and software. Every metadata and microdata of your and your child is recorded.
Not only the personal information you provide is recorded, even your facial expression, mood, typing speed are also recorded. Data security and data privacy are concerned with the proper handling of apps and software.
Only physical safety and security like maintaining distance with strangers, not having anything outside are not sufficient. It’s necessary to learn proper online safety and privacy. Once you leave a footprint on the internet, it can’t be erased or deleted.
Immediate after birth kids are connected with electronic media through photos and music. After a couple of months, kids start screen time and face time. As they grow up they are exposed to the internet and entertainment. But the kid’s under 13 are vulnerable and should have close observation by their parents.
Dangers Of The Internet For Your Kids
Kid’s can come across the following major dangers online:
Your Child May Encounter Inappropriate Content
Some content on the internet can be inappropriate for their age or stage of development. This type of content includes images and information that can affect a child. Those content may include:
- Sexually explicit and pornographic material
- Cruel or violating content and graphics
- Sites encouraging violence and terrorism
Everyone Gets in Contact With Your Child
Internet in the vague world, where everyone gets connected. This risk includes kids sharing personal information and any family details with strangers. Strangers can do anything you’re your kid’s details and may ruin their future.
May Hurt or Get Hurt by Online Conduction
How kids act at home may not act the same on the internet. Sometimes they may hurt someone or may become a victim of such conduct. This may affect the mental behavior of your child.
On the internet kids are exposed to the world, they can communicate with anyone they want and might get some negative comments which can hurt their feelings.
Kid’s May Download Malware
Everything you view on the internet is not real. Internet criminals target kid’s to download fake games including malicious code or links. That malicious code or link may infect your device and fetch your personal information.
One of the reasons that kids’ information gets hacked is by downloading such malicious data.
Cyberbullying and Phishing
Cyberbullying includes sharing of personal information along with humiliation and embarrassment. This may have psychological effects on your child and may cause depression.
Phishing includes scams through messages and emails. Unknowingly, kids may share family and financial details and if such information gets in the hand of hackers they can misuse the information.
Where Online Dangers Occurs
- Chating and texting
- Online gaming
- Emails
- Downloading games and Softwares
- Social Media Platforms
- File-Sharing Networks
What Your Kid Should Know About Their Data And Privacy
You can’t be everywhere your kids go and guide their activities. You may not be there every time tracking the online activities of your kids. So that kids themselves should be aware of certain issues of the internet. Following are some points that parents need to aware there kids :
No Talking with Strangers
Either in the real world or the virtual world, strangers are never trustworthy. Kids should not talk to strangers and give them personal information also they should not meet they met people online without your guidance.
Strangers can pretend what they are not in the real world and be nice to your kids and take all their information.
It’s better not to accept a stranger’s request and online messages and teach them about how dangerous some strangers can be.
Reporting or Blocking Online Bullies
Bullying with the help of technologies falls under cyberbullying. Face-to-face bullying is similar to cyberbullying, but online bullies leave a digital footprint.
Kids should report to their adults if someone spreads lies about them, and posts their photos that may be embarrassing. Even messages or threats that hurt anyone should be reported. It’s better to report parents about scary and hurtful communication or conversation.
Checking Sick Links, Websites, and Downloads
All links, websites, and downloads available online are not safe enough. Predators trap kids through infected links, websites, and downloads.
Kids need to check if it is trustworthy to click or download. They should check the green padlock to find out the issued certificate. Kids can even check third-party reviews of any site to verify. Use of trusted antivirus or browser may also help.
Once You Share on the Internet It’s There Forever
Every kid should think carefully before posting anything on social media platforms. Even if you delete everything there may be backups or screenshots somewhere. Posts there on the internet from kids can make their career or break their career.
Kids need to know about the permanency of the internet. Some traces and trails remain there somewhere even if we delete them.
Think Before Posting Anything
Kid’s online behavior will haunt them back in the future. Kids should think twice before sharing anything with the invisible audience. Anyone can do anything with the information you make available on the internet.
The Internet world is a virtual world with real consequences. So, kids need to ask themselves before clicking or posting anything.
Parent’s Role To Protect Kid’s Data and Privacy
You can’t fully trust your kid’s online activities, even if you have trained them once. You should frequently have an open conversation about online traps and scams.
Following are the parent’s role in teaching safe and responsible online behavior:
Stay Online With Your Kids Whenever Possible
It’s better to stay with kids while they are online and teach them how to identify trusted sites and websites by staying online with them.
Join them and play online games with them. It’s easy to support and advise your child about the internet when you stay online with them.
Have Your Words with Kids About Online Content
You should spend time together to teach appropriate online behavior to your children. You should aware of the potential dangers of the internet.
Teach skills to your kids need to remain safe and respectful on the internet. Kids need the support of parents online as they need in real life.
Encourage Your Kid to Talk to You If They Face Any Problem
Be good friends with your kids so that they can share everything they face online. Make sure your kids are not having secrets. You better encourage them to report you when any questionable or inappropriate content occurs.
Create an environment of sharing immediately, if anything that makes them upset and uncomfortable. This helps to keep them and their data safe from online predators.
Make Sure You Have Installed the Latest Updates And Patches
Staying up-to-date is the best way to protect our data and privacy on the internet. You should download the latest updates and patches on every device. The latest updates and patches of operating systems, apps, and other software make your child secure on the internet.
Along with this, it’s better to install anti-virus programs that fight against malicious programs and hackers.
Train Them To Stay Positively Engaged
The virtual world is not that different than the real world. Everyone on the internet is not their friend. Parents should pay attention to the environment their children are involved in.
Make sure your child is capable enough to identify safe and trusted sites. You should encourage kids to deal with every action positively, and cautious about their content online.
Talk About Their Digital Footprint
The online life of your kids reflects the digital footprint. Teach your kid about the traces and trails they leave behind when they go online. Talk about the impact areas like career, academics, and social life.
You need to teach them to be appropriate and keep limited information online.
Develop Strong Passwords
Weak password leads to the information sharing and security issues. A strong password includes at least eight characters long along with uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
You should teach your kid to avoid too short and too easy passwords. It’s better to avoid common words and character combinations in your kid’s password.
Go Through Every Privacy Settings
Personal information is collected in various ways, so every privacy setting is important for every age group. Your personal information can also be access through cookies, microphones, and webcam.
Set settings as per the age of your child. Limit access to certain apps and software through different parental control software.
Always Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is about verifying your account through a double layer of security to your account password. Two-factor authentication increases the level of difficulty to hackers. Hackers can’t gain access to your kid’s account even if they have the account’s password. They need the security key to access your kid’s account.
Final Thoughts
It gets more complicated when the technology keeps upgrading. Parents should be up-to-date about the features and privacy settings of the internet. Always remember that even your online activities affect your kid. Make sure you set a positive example for your kid.
Key Points:
- Protection Of Data And Privacy Matters
- Dangers of internet
- What kids should know about
- Parent’s role in protecting child’s data and privacy
Conclusion
With the advancement of technology, all your devices can be connected to the internet. And due to the increase in the use of the internet, there is an increase in the risk of privacy of your data and information.
Adults can be aware of protecting their data but kids might not know the adverse effect of keeping their data public. Hence, it is your responsibility to teach your kids about data privacy and the importance of protecting their data.
