The need to educate your kids about cyber safety practices has become more important than ever before. Ontario schools have shifted to online learning methods for the foreseeable future and there is a possibility that youth will not be able to participate in organized summer activities due to pandemic restrictions. With this in mind, children and teens are spending more time online than ever before. COVID-19 has proved how quickly the world can change, but the need to stay cyber safe hasn’t.

There are a few cyber concerns that you as a parent should be aware of when your child is online. This includes:

• Online predators.
• Cyberbullying.
• Personal information protection.
  
  

Online predators

In most cases, online predators are motivated by acquiring your sensitive information, but some predators have other goals in mind. It is important to be wary of the fact that some predators surf the internet with the sole purpose of making friends with a child. This friendship could segway into the grooming of a child for later sexual exploitation.

Online predators are scheming in the ability to lower a child’s guard by impersonating someone else. Many tend to create fake social media profiles to lure children. It is important to have open communication between parents and kids regarding internet use. Contact local police if you find evidence of any inappropriate contact between an adult and your child.

Cyberbullying

With the growing popularity of the internet, bullying has evolved into an entirely new form known as cyberbullying. “Cyberbullying can be defined by the use of various technologies (cell phones, computers, or any other device connected to the internet) to send, post, or text data that was created to hurt or embarrass another person.” (Privacy Canada, 2021).

“In 2010, research suggested that 43% of teenagers have experience being the victim of cyberbullying.” (Privacy Canada, 2021). Social media, chat rooms and forums can be used for cyberbullying. With technology readily available for acts of cyberbullying, parents must be attentive to any hints and help to put an end to any discrepancies.

Personal information protection

It is important to educate your child about online personal information protection. Without even knowing, your child could easily give out information online. A few kid tips to stay protected include:

• Always ask your parents before giving out personal information.
• Never provide your last name or home address online.
• Tell your parents before meeting a friend online.
• Use a sensible screen name, but make sure this screen name does not include any personal information such as birth date or name.
• Remember – not everyone is who they say they are.
  
  

At TIM, we believe possessing a deep understanding of cyber safety is very important for both parents and children. As digital technology has been integrated into education and entertainment, parents must be vigilant to keep their kids safe from any potential cyber threats or issues.

TIM has the right insurance coverage to protect you against cyber-attacks. Contact us today for more information.

For more information regarding Cyber Safety for Kids, read Privacy Canada’s article, Online Safety 101: How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online