How You As a Parent Can Control Your Children’s Internet Activity
✍️ Nischit Sharma
In today’s connected world, where technology influences pretty much every aspect of daily life, ensuring the safety of children online has become a top priority of parents. It affects their mental health including their psychological development. While the information and opportunities available on the internet is helpful, it also presents immense risk, particularly for young and impressionable minds. As a society, we bear a responsibility to protect children from lurking dangers of the online world the same way we do it in the physical world. In this blog, we will explore practical strategies and tools that parents can utilize to safeguard their children's online experiences.
Establishing Trust through Communication
The foundation of online safety begins with fostering open communication between parents and children. Establishing trust and encouraging dialogue about internet usage enables parents to educate their children about potential online risks and empower them to make informed decisions. By creating a supportive environment where children feel comfortable expressing their concerns and sharing their online experiences, parents can address issues promptly and effectively.
Monitoring and Control
Implementing parental controls and child locks on devices is a fundamental step that all parents should take to regulate their children's online activities. Most social media platforms and web browsers offer built-in features that allow parents to control the content accessible to their children. For example, YouTube Kids provides options for filtering content and handpicking videos for added security.
Moreover, monitoring router history can provide insights into the content consumed by children online. While this may seem daunting for some parents, there are numerous applications and tools available to simplify the process and enhance control over screen time and content access.
Recommended Tools for Parental Control
Google Family Link: This application enables parents to monitor their children's online activities, including app usage and website visits. With features such as app approvals and screen time limits, Google Family Link helps parents maintain a safe digital environment for their children.
Microsoft Family Safety: Similar to Google Family Link, Microsoft Family Safety allows parents to set screen time limits and block inappropriate content. Additionally, it offers location tracking features, providing parents with peace of mind about their children's whereabouts.
Pi-hole: Pi-hole is a network-wide ad blocker that filters out advertisements at the DNS level. By blocking tracking domains and telemetry services, Pi-hole enhances privacy and security for children while browsing the internet. Parents can customize content filtering to suit their family's specific needs.
Conclusion
In a world dominated by technology, safeguarding children online is more critical than ever. By fostering open communication, implementing parental controls, and utilizing advanced tools, parents can create a safer digital environment for their children. While it may not always be necessary to employ every available tool, knowing the options and being prepared to take action when needed is essential. Together, as a community, we can work towards ensuring that our children navigate the digital landscape safely and responsibly.
