Digital devices like tablets and smartphones are increasingly popular with kids, exposing them to a hostile world which is plagued by threats such as pornographic content, cyberbullying, and many other. The problem is that a lot of us as parents don’t be aware of the risks of allowing kids to be exposed to technology and aren’t taking measures to protect them from the risks of living in a technologically-driven world.
Let’s look at some of the dangers of the internet for teens and children, threats we can easily combat with the proper strategy and tools.
The Dangers of the Internet
1. Cyberbullying
The first on the list is cyberbullying, naturally. As our children are constantly connected to the internet through tablets and smartphones it’s not a surprise that bullies are getting out of the playground to the internet. Recent studies have revealed alarming figures. Up to 88 percent of teens say they’ve experienced some type of online bullying. On the other hand, about 26 percent of them said they were affected in some way through an online social network. 16 percent claim that someone has posted embarrassing photos of their on the internet. There was also a tragic public scandal with the Ask.fm site where a little girl was victimized online, which led her to commit suicide.
2. inappropriate Content
Although the internet can be an excellent source often however, it does not come without its dark side. One of the greatest dangers children are exposed to is pornography. It is estimated that 90 percent or more of kids and boys watch online porn before they turn 18 years older. A minimum of 10% of these children also view pornography involving the subject of bestiality, or child pornography.
This issue can be solved through an application for parents to block websites and prevent all types of content that is not appropriate from getting onto the device of the child. Certain parents’ controls can make it simple by categorizing websites based on the kind of content they have. By blocking a particular category, you can restrict accessibility to any website that fall within this category. This is why children shouldn’t have access to internet through computers that are shared by the areas of the family.
3. Online Predators
Teenagers are blissfully unaware the dangers posed by internet predators. If we’re honest, we know that as teens were we convinced that we were adamant and this influenced us to make reckless decisions. Parents have a duty to safeguard their children. Teens must be taught about proper online conduct as well as what it is acceptable to discuss with strangers online.
5. Online Gaming
The popularity of video games is increasing on the internet these days and, while it might appear to be not an issue for our children but there are some risks related to it. More than 80 percent kids referred to themselves as gamers, and more than half are online. But just 47 percent players online play with friends they have met in real life. It is crucial to ensure that you establish certain rules for gaming, such as prohibiting the use of webcams, and ensuring that the screen name isn’t their real name.
6. Sexting
One of the major worries that parents face concerning their teen or the Internet is the growing number of people sexting. Sexting is the practice in which sexually explicit messages are sent and received messages or images to each other. It is believed that up to 40 percent of teens have sent explicit messages and that around 20 percent have sent a naked or partially naked image or a photo of them to someone. Teenagers must be taught about the risks associated with sharing images that may have an impact on their life. Discussing with your children about moral values and sexuality is vital.
Conclusion
These are only a few of the dangers on the internet that our children face. They can be tackled by education and having control over their online access with parental controls and mobile monitoring on phones. However, it is important to talk with your children about the issues you have. Building trust with them is among the most natural ways which will allow you to protect your children from dangers in the internet world.