Kaspersky Tips For Protecting Children In The Digital Age

Illustration of cybercrime against children (photo: Kaspersky)

JAKARTA - In today's digital era, it is important for everyone to stay safe and not be trapped against online threats on the internet. Especially children, who are very vulnerable to the online threat.

"Indonesian parents, like in other parts of the world, are now raising children who are very connected and their biggest attention today, including efforts to avoid their child being targeted by cybercriminals," said Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia in Kaspersky in a statement.

According to Yeo, children are at risk of being persuaded by foreigners, intimidated online, and even their personal information stolen at school. Therefore, Kaspersky provides tips for parents in keeping their children in the digital space.

Communicating regularly with children. Well-known psychologist Emma Kenny recommends spending ten minutes every day before bed discussing your child's day including their online activities.

Ask children to share with you about the positive and negative things they encounter online. This even contributes to the cyber smart approach or cyber intelligence.

Educate yourself and children. Take time to read about the trends, games, and channels that arise to understand how they affect children's online activities. Then, discuss technology and its potential dangers with them. Even if that means you have to play and ask them to help create social media accounts.

Build an atmosphere of openness and comfort. The ideal situation is that you realize if there is something that makes them feel uncomfortable, threatened, or unhappy. Encourage your child to open up and talk to trusted adults (preferably parents) if they have received threatening or inappropriate messages.

Set boundaries. Set clear and age-appropriate basic rules about what they can and what they shouldn't do online. Explain why this regulation is enforced and explain the consequences of going to a place that shouldn't be or using technology as necessary.

Use available resources. A smart step to keep an eye on your child is to use a reliable parental control software to establish a framework for what is acceptable, how long (and when) they can spend online time, what content should be blocked, or what kind of activity should be blocked (chat chat rooms, forums, and so on).

Asking for help. Not everyone has the same parenting style and it doesn't matter. Choose the right one for you and your family. If the situation seems out of control, remember that local law enforcement can help protect you.