Nowadays, the internet is a particularly useful tool that can be used by people of all ages.
However, despite its usefulness, it can put users at risk when not used with care. Children and teenagers are among the most active users of the internet and, to a large extent, among the most vulnerable to online threats. Due to their young age and the ignorance they often have about the risks, children are easy targets and can fall into the traps of criminals.
Let's look at some of the dangers a child may face online:
Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying can occur via text messages, apps, or social media, as well as in forums or games where users can view, participate in, or share content. It involves sending, posting, or sharing negative, offensive, or false content about someone. It can involve sharing personal or private information about a person, causing embarrassment or shame. Sometimes it can be so intense that it can amount to criminal behavior.
Due to its nature, it is particularly damaging to the people who receive it, as they are forced to endure it whenever they are connected to the internet. It is also quite difficult for parents and teachers to notice, since it does not take place in a place where it could come to their attention, unless the victim talks about it.
Cyberbullying can have serious effects on psychology and mental health, while in some cases, the victim may harm themselves.
Online predators: One of the most dangerous threats a child can face online are so-called “predators,” who often stalk children online. Taking advantage of their innocence, lack of adult supervision, and abusing their trust, they can lure children into doing dangerous things, such as meeting them somewhere outside the home. These predators create fake profiles on social media and gaming platforms aimed at children, so they can communicate directly with them.
Online predators try to build a relationship with their victims and then use that relationship to take advantage of them in various ways. Victims of these criminals can face very dangerous situations, such as sexual abuse, kidnapping, blackmail, intimidation, etc
Challenge games: Another online threat that can harm both the mental and physical health of a child or teenager are challenge games. These are “games” that ask players to do various dangerous things, such as scratching their skin or turning on the gas in the kitchen while others are sleeping. They are divided into levels, and the higher the level, the more difficult it is for the player to do.
Some of them, like Blue Whale, ask players to commit suicide in the final stage, and their operators threaten victims that if they don't do so, they will harm someone of their own.
Sexting: One of the growing concerns among teens is sexting ,which involves sending and receiving sexually explicit texts and photos. This practice can be particularly dangerous, as this content can be leaked online and harm the person depicted.
Phishing emails and smishing : It is especially difficult for children to spot a phishing email, as it often appears to come from a legitimate sender, such as a friend or family member. This can also be done using messaging apps or SMS, and is called “smishing.” Phishing emails and smishing messages can appear at any time on a device .
Scams: Children are also likely to be fooled by scamsthat offer things they like, such as free access to online games. Young people are more susceptible to scams because they haven't yet learned to be cautious.
Personal information: Children don’t understand when to set boundaries. So they may post personally identifiable information online, such as on their social media profiles, that shouldn’t be public. This can include anything from pictures of intimate moments to their home addresses or family vacation plans.
Future consequences: Another not-so-obvious risk is how a child's actions online can affect their future. Not everything that is uploaded online can be completely erased. It's especially hard for a teenager to think about how a photo from a party or a message on Snapchat could one day affect their adult life. It could have a negative impact on their job, or be used by someone who wants to damage their reputation.
However, there are several ways in which parents can protect their children from the above dangers.
The most important thing is to have a bridge of communication with their children and a relationship of trust, so that they are not afraid or ashamed to tell them anything that has happened to them. It is good for parents to have frequent conversations with their children and ask them about the issues that concern them, trouble them or put them in an awkward position in order to help them deal with them.
To protect children from inappropriate content, they can activate "parental controls" on the devices they use so that they only have access to pages that are appropriate for their age.
If the child has account , it is a good idea for parents to help them set it up so that they do not post information that should not be published and to monitor it so that they do not upload content that could expose the child. It is also very important to advise the child not to accept friend requests from people they do not know personally.
Regarding online scams, in addition to advising children to ask their parents before clicking on a link, they can install protection software on their devices for more security.
Furthermore, the child must be educated from a young age not to be swayed by advertisements that promise many things and to never give personal information to anyone.
Finally, parents should always be vigilant and close to their children, and if they notice changes in their behavior, discuss it openly with them and monitor their actions online.
