Parents for Internet Safety

How can young people be protected online? Who should be responsible for their safety? These are some questions that parents and government are trying to find answers for. In the midst of debates about online safety for children, the fact remains that children need to be protected. Today’s internet technology gives so much freedom to children. They can have online access at home, on the street, or in the schools. This easy access exposes children to potential harm because of their eagerness to interact with the technology.

Various observations were shared with each other by concerned groups during a free discussion. A study found that 60% of 12- to 15-year-old children use the internet on their own. The prime danger for them is their exposure to pornography. Their curiosity could start with access to sites that show indecent images. They would then keep looking for more, until they finally end up on pornographic sites.

This age group of young teens is the most vulnerable, which is why they need to be protected. At the same time, these children need the internet to gain access to the vast wealth of knowledge that it offers. To solve this dilemma, there should be some sort of regulation for children’s interaction with the online community. It appears that parents are the most appropriate agents of regulation. Sophisticated technology that aims to protect children can never replace the parents’ influence on their children.

Parents only need to be more educated on how to deal with their children’s online safety. One way of doing this is through a partnership with the schools. Digital literacy can be made part of the formal curriculum, and it could also involve parents. Along with this is the need to put in resources for parental education. This could start by making parents aware that their children’s internet use involves risks. This is very important because it would be difficult for parents to regulate their children if they are not aware of the dangers.

Aside from schools, a concerted effort of other institutions is needed. There are charities, companies, and legislators, all of which could share resources and expertise. Online protection of children cannot be left to trial and error among themselves. While the internet can be our children’s vast resource of good information, parents must always be on guard to protect them.

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