Child safety on the internet is a topic that has received more than its fair share of attention in the media and indeed, the amount of coverage that has been solely dedicated to this very topic has been nothing short of remarkable perhaps even some would say, disproportionate. Indeed, concerns have been voiced over the subject and the reason for this is due to the fact that many people are somewhat concerned that by focusing on this topic, we are effectively demonizing the internet as a whole and over representing the potential perils that remain within it.
Why is child safety on the internet such a concern
The murder of a child is a horrific, tragic and atrocious crime that can affect any society and the damage it inflicts on the community at large is nothing short of extensive. Thankfully, and mercifully, this also happens to be one of the rarest forms of crime around and so the actual chances of a child becoming a victim in this manner are negligible in the extreme.
However, by virtue of the fact that the internet provides the perfect cover for predators who prey on children to then ingratiate themselves with children, has meant that the beady eye of suspicion has been firmly cast on the internet.
What are some practical ways of ensuring child safety on the internet?
- Make sure that you place the computer that your child uses for the internet in a public area within the home. This way your child will be far less likely or tempted to engage in high risk activity that you forbid them from engaging in.
- Blocking certain internet websites and programs maybe a good idea such as chat rooms, instant messenger programs as well as social networking sites.
- If your child has a social networking account, make sure that they are very familiar and confident with the various privacy settings that are on offer as this will ensure that they do not unwittingly leave themselves exposed or vulnerable to potential predators.
There can be no denying that child safety on the internet is a topic that we must all ensure that we are proactive about. Equally however, it is crucial that we do not adopt a disproportionate attitude towards it and allow it to limit the quality of life for our children.
happy says:
we know that there are lost of pornographic materials on the internet which is very bad for children to view, but lots of us specially parent are not aware of the other negative content that is out there as well. That is why we need to take precautions to guarantee our kids internet safety.larry says:
children should be kept secure and its parents primary obligation. that’s why it is essential to educate kids of what is safe and what is not then you can start introducing them the safety facts on internet.linda marie says:
Internet is so wide that we can search everything even more than what we search for and as it grows violence and pornographic media grows too and i am 100% sure kids would get access on them sooner or later.jerome says:
this is a very sensitive topic. kids these days are involved in some online activities and at their young age they are exposed to nudity and even harm.glenda says:
parents should worry about how safe your child is while on the interne. and the stories in the news about cyberbullying is really alarming.