Internet is a fantastic digital network when used wisely. Kids these days are using the internet more than ever to connect with their friends, learn, play, and share helpful information. But, unfortunately, most of the kids are unaware of the threats they are subjected to while using the internet. These threats are called cyber threats or cybercrime.
Many people become victims of online threats and bullies. Hackers often hack social media accounts. Big companies suffer from data breaches that cost them billions. In addition, there are records of top information being stolen and made public from government websites.
Cybersecurity is a solution to cybercrime. Cybersecurity means securing the devices and keeping people safe from cyber threats, online harassment, malicious software, online bullies, and other evil that occurs online.
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity refers to defending the devices, data, hardware, and software connected via the web from cyber threats. Protecting networks from digital attackers and hackers is a challenging job. Today, everything is digital. There is no information online that is safe from the reach of unethical hackers.
Cybersecurity focuses on network security, application security, information security, operation security, disaster recovery, and end-user education.
Everyone is at risk of cyberthreats, starting from an individual to colossal business enterprises. Cyber threats have enormous consequences. Cyber attackers, if they get access to anyone’s data and information, bully the individuals. They give the dangers of leaking the information to the public and harass people physically or mentally, and even for money.
Effects of Cyberbullying in Kids
Kids are often bullied online, but most of them stay silent. Cyberbullying occurs when someone harasses or threatens kids on their social media, on emails, on the gaming app, or by sending offensive or threatening messages. Bullying can have physical, mental, emotional, and psychological effects on kids.
In cyberbullying, the bully tries to hurt the victim by any means. For example, they might threaten you with some awful messages or videos. Also, editing your pictures, making them look funny, and posting them online is cybercrime.
When a kid is being the victim of cyberbullying, their physical appearance will change. They will have dull faces and look like they are stressed all the time. If you pay close attention to their behavior, you will find it changing. Mostly, they begin separating themselves from their friend circle, might lose interest in their hobbies, and so on. Moreover, if they contain the bullying within them, they might suffer from anxiety, lose appetite, lose sleep, and become unhappy and unhealthy.
An intelligent kid can lose grades and become more inactive when subjected to threats and bullies online. Bullying brings in some behavioral changes at schools as well. They start self-blaming and feeling bad about themselves. If this continues for a long time, they slowly and gradually become less interacting, reserved, and lazy at school. As a result, their grades and ranks will go down. Also, they lose interest in sports and extracurricular activities at school.
Why should you teach cybersecurity to your kids?
It is important to make kids aware of cybersecurity. Why? Because kids have stress too. While using their electronic gadgets and the internet, they are more likely to suffer from online threats like cyberbullying, social media accounts being hacked, losing data, and private information about themselves. So, education on cybersecurity for kids is essential for them to keep them safe.
Teaching cybersecurity is not the complete solution. Parents have to monitor the online activity of their kids. The bosses can look after the actions of their employees. Schools should also use monitoring and control programs to improve the digital learning environment.
How To Keep Kids Safe Online
Revealing identity to a stranger is not allowed.
Kids should be made aware that they should never disclose their identity to any stranger online. Some predators seek ways to harm kids online. So, tell your kids that if anyone asks for their personal information, they should never answer them. The personal statement might include their name, age, sex, address, passwords, where they go to school, or things such as.
If your kid is live streaming on youtube or video games, you should tell them to check their location first. Kids should watch around and make sure there is no family photo hanging in the background. Kids might not be aware of such small things, but at the same time giving too much information to the predators.
Creating different passwords for different medias
Your kids might be using TikTok, Facebook, Whatsapp, SnapChat, Twitch, and several other apps that are available online. It would help if you made them aware of accounts hacking. Many unethical hackers might be looking for chances to hack their accounts. Therefore, they should use multiple passwords instead of using the same password for all their media accounts. This will prevent numerous reports of hacking. For, e.g., If you are using the same password for all the applications you are using, they are prone to be hacked if one account gets hacked. However, if you have used different passwords, the other accounts will remain secure even if hackers access one of your accounts.
The kids must remember their passwords. Keeping their passwords private is a key to prevent their accounts from being hacked. Kids should not share their passwords with anyone, not even with their best friends.
Discussions on cybercrime and its probable effects
Children might not be aware of what cybercrime is and how their lives can be affected by it. Discussing cybercrime at homes and schools can make kids aware that they might suffer cyberbullying or become exposed to cybercrimes. Doing this will prepare them mentally and give them ways to defend the harassment happening online.
Discussions at home should be done once a month at least. All the family members should talk openly about cybercrimes they have faced if any. Sometimes, even the cases of cyberbullying can be worse. Your kids could be going through a lot. Please encourage them to open up with family and friends and talk about online crimes.
Teachers at schools should also conduct informative sessions to make the students aware of cyber threats. The discussions should include what cyberthreat is? What should be done as a victim? And why one should not involve themselves in such unethical activities.
Restrict internet access and monitor activity
Allowing your kids to sit with their tablets 24/7 will increase the risk that they might intentionally or unknowingly open some kids-unsuitable sites. Thus, parents have the responsibility of monitoring what their kids are watching online. Are the kids passing some nasty comments to their friends? You should worry if they are giving away too much personal information to a stranger.
With the help of various apps available online, it has been easier for parents to control internet usage at home. Using the monitoring apps, they can block access to websites that are inappropriate for kids. If the kids are doing some illegal things on the web, parents will know. Parents should sit at a table with the kids and talk about how they are wrong.
Kids activities monitoring apps are efficient tools for parents to keep an eye on their kids. Whenever parents notice some changes in their kids’ behavior, they should find out via the apps if something is bothering their kids. If something comes up, they should discuss the issues with the kids.
Before posting anything online, take a pause.
Kids post their pictures and stuff online on their social media. As a parent, one should enlighten kids about why posting anything on social media accounts is a bad idea. There are privacy settings that prevent things one posts from being visible to everyone. Second, kids should not make friends with strangers. Changing the visibility of things you post to ‘friends only’ is mandatory.
Kids should be made aware that they should think before posting some pictures or comments on social media. They might be unaware at the moment, but their action can have significant consequences. Once you post something online, it remains somewhere forever. So, instead of regretting that you posted something, think in the first place before you post.
Device Protection
Viruses are circulating on the web. Once you accidentally click a link, your device is contaminated. Depending upon how strong the virus is, you are more likely to lose data and information on your device. What is the solution for this? First, tell your kids that they must have antivirus software installed on their devices. In addition, they should regularly update the software.
Device protection from malicious software will keep all the private and sensitive data from unethical hackers. This prevents cyberattacks and prevents the leakage of information.
Do not be a bully
One of the significant branches of cybercrime is cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is common among people of all age groups. Especially teens and children are often bullied online by their friends or strangers.
Kids might post some pictures and comments about their friends out of fun. But this might hurt the friend. Kids might think it’s fun, but this is bullying. Teachers and parents should teach the kids that they should not do anything online to hurt other people. Cyberbullying is a crime. Inspire the kids to report or discuss if they feel anything is hurtful. One should not be ashamed of anything; instead, one should be open to talking about it.
End-user education
What is end-user education? Educating people to be aware of cybersecurity and to use their devices wisely is essential. Everyone using electronic devices and the internet should be cautious of various cybersecurity factors.
What are computer viruses? How are they introduced to your device or systems? Kids should know the answer to these. This will prevent them from opening the unidentified links they receive on messages or emails. Tell them that they should not plug in an anonymous USB drive. This will prevent kids from being a victim of cyberattacks.
Be careful with strangers.
Predators are searching for prey on social media and the web. They could be watching your messages on social media and gaming apps. They might be trying to find a way to talk with you, find your weak point, and trouble you. So tell your kids that they should know who they become friends with. They should not be friends with strangers. They should not message them and share your private information, including your identity, where your parents work, what they do, and other information.
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Make rules at home
Please make a list of rules on chart paper and hang it on your wall. Set time for kids to play, study, and use electronic devices. Limit the screen time. Parental control will reduce the risk of online harassment.
Conclusion
While unethical hackers and bullies are targeting kids, cybersecurity is a weapon to protect them. Laying kids open to cyberbullies, harassment, and online threats will negatively impact their mental health. Furthermore, it can leave a long-lasting impact on their health and activities. Thus, keeping kids safe from being bullied and being harassed online is necessary.
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