Internet safety is a critical issue for children aged 5 to 12, who are increasingly active online for both learning and entertainment. While the internet offers many opportunities for educational and recreational activities, it also presents serious risks for young users who may not fully understand the dangers of online interactions. Children in this age group face unique challenges due to characteristics such as innocence, curiosity, a growing desire for independence, and a fear of punishment. These traits make them more vulnerable to online risks and emphasize the need for proper guidance and protection (CISA, 2023).
Children aged 12 and under are particularly vulnerable because they are naturally curious and trusting. They might not be completely aware of the dangers of disclosing private information, clicking on insecure websites, or interacting online with strangers. They may also be influenced by misleading advertising, negative media, or cyberbullying if they are not properly guided. This lack of awareness emphasizes how crucial age-appropriate safety precautions, digital literacy, and parental monitoring are to establishing a safe online environment (UNICEF, n.d).
Types of online risks for children
There is no generally agreed upon age in which children should be allowed to access the internet unsupervised or engage with social media sites. Individual families will vary, perhaps even with different rules for different siblings. Regardless of the age or level of supervision involved, there are four basic types of risks children face online:
- Content Risks - exposure to offensive, harmful, or disturbing content, including hate speech, violence, sexual content, and deceptive advertising. Children may encounter upsetting content through pop-ups or deceptive images, even on child-friendly websites.
- Contact Risks - Strangers or deceptive individuals attempting to communicate with children for harmful purposes. Online predators might pose as friendly individuals through social media, messaging apps, or game chats.
- Conduct Risks - Children engaging in risky challenges or trends, disclosing private information, or being the targets of inappropriate online behaviour, such as cyberbullying.
- Contract Risks - Unknowingly agreeing to terms and conditions that expose users to targeted ads, enable businesses to gather personal information, or result in hidden in-app sales and financial risks (CORE, 2022).
Along with these basic risks, there are potential warning signs that all parents should be on the lookout for. These warning signs may suggest that a child is participating in risky internet behavior, with or without consciously recognizing the problematic behaviour. Be on the lookout for the following signs (The Australian parenting website, n.d).
Signs That a Young Child May Be at Risk Online:
- Overusing the internet without supervision
- Using apps or websites that aren't appropriate for kids
- Becoming secretive about online activities
- Getting friend requests or messages from people you don't know
- After utilizing digital devices, displaying signs of nervousness or distress
- Unintentionally buying something online or clicking on an unsafe site
(NSPCC, n.d) (Guarnotta and Gupta, 2024).
Other red flags may include changes in mood, reluctance to discuss online interactions, or engaging in conversations that seem inappropriate for their age. Early observation of these warning signs can assist caregivers in taking the appropriate action to protect their child's online safety.
Parents and guardians play a crucial role in ensuring a safe online experience for children by implementing protective measures and fostering digital literacy. While regularly checking privacy settings on applications and websites helps ensure that children's personal data remains safe, enabling parental controls and safe search options including Google Safe Search and YouTube Restricted Mode can help filter out unwanted material (Internet Matters Team, 2023).
Now that potential risks and problematic behaviors have been identified, what can parents do to help protect their children? First and foremost, parents are in charge. Parents ultimately determine the rules for internet and social media use in their homes. It’s ok to say no to your children. It’s ok to limit, restrict, and prevent certain online access. Beyond that, here are some concrete steps parents can take.
Basic guidelines for parental supervision
- Keep the computer in a common area where you can view and monitor how it is used, rather than in individual bedrooms. Track any time spent on smartphones or tablets.
- Guide your children through online activities to help them develop safe and responsible digital habits.
- Bookmark kids' favorite sites for easy access.
- Take your child seriously if they report an uncomfortable online exchange.
- Encourage a balance between online and offline activities.
(KidsHealth, 2022)
Stressing the value of early internet safety education is crucial for assisting kids in forming responsible online behaviors at an early age. Children are more likely to feel comfortable sharing any concerns that they may have when parents and kids are encouraged to talk openly about their online experiences. By taking initiative, parents and guardians can help to ensure safe online experiences for their kids.
References
CISA (2023). Keeping Children Safe Online.
https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/keeping-children-safe-online
Emily Guarnotta and Sarah Gupta (2024). 7 Signs That Your Child or Teen May Be Unsafe on Social Media
https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/mental-health/social-media-safety-for-kids
Internet Matters Team (2023). Exploring the awareness and usage of parental controls to support digital safety
https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/news-blogs/research-tracker-awareness-usage-parental-controls/
KidsHealth (2022). Online Safety
https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/online-id.html
NSPCC (n.d). What is online abuse?
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/online-abuse/
CORE (2022). 4 Cs of online risk: Short report & blog on updating the typology of online risks to include content, contact, conduct, contract risks.
https://core-evidence.eu/posts/4-cs-of-online-risk
The Australian parenting website (n.d). Why online safety matters for young children.
https://raisingchildren.net.au/preschoolers/safety/online-safety/internet-safety-2-5-years
UNICEF (n.d). Protecting children online.
https://www.unicef.org/protection/violence-against-children-online
Bio
Ms. Jehobia Jujin Premakumar is a student at Methodist University majoring in Computer Information Technology Cyber Security
Ms. Kaylee Williams is a student at Methodist University majoring in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science.
Ms. Patti Busch is a student at Methodist University majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice.
Ms. Sarah See is an assistant professor at Methodist University in the department of Criminal Justice and Military Science.
