Internet Dangers: Parents Worry More, but Doing Less

A recent survey says parents are worrying more -- but doing less -- to protect their children from Internet dangers, such as cyberbullying, online predators, inappropriate content and revealing too much personal information. According to a survey by FindLaw.com, a popular legal information website, 76 percent of parents are either extremely worried, very worried or somewhat worried about their children's online safety. That's up from 66 percent four years ago. How worried are you about your children's safety when they use the Internet?

Extremely worried, 15%
Very worried, 20%
Somewhat worried, 41%
Not very worried, 17%
Not worried at all, 7%

READ: Has Your Newborn’s Identity Already Been Stolen?

 

But despite the growing concern, fewer parents are taking steps to safeguard their children. Two-thirds of parents (66 percent) are taking precautions such as monitoring the web sites their children visit, restricting their use of social networks, reading their children's online communications or using site-blocking software, but that number is down from 74 percent four years ago.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children’s increased online presence may put them at greater risk. Parents, guardians, caregivers, and teachers can take the following measures to help protect children from becoming victims of online child predators:

• Discuss internet safety and develop an online safety plan with children before they engage in online activity. Establish clear guidelines, teach children to spot red flags, and encourage children to have open communication with you.
• Supervise young children’s use of the internet, including periodically checking their profiles and posts. Keep electronic devices in open, common areas of the home and consider setting time limits for their use.
• Review games, apps, and social media sites before they are downloaded or used by children. Pay particular attention to apps and sites that feature end-to-end encryption, direct messaging, video chats, file uploads, and user anonymity, which are frequently relied upon by online child predators.
• Adjust privacy settings and use parental controls for online games, apps, social medial sites, and electronic devices.
• Tell children to avoid sharing personal information, photos, and videos online in public forums or with people they do not know in real life. Explain to your children that images posted online will be permanently on the internet.
• Be alert to potential signs of abuse, including changes in children’s use of electronic devices, attempts to conceal online activity, withdrawn behavior, angry outbursts, anxiety, and depression.
• Encourage children to tell a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult if anyone asks them to engage in inappropriate behavior.