Children’s Day 2024: 6 tips to protect children online

Last updated:November 14, 2024, 09:28 IST

As the internet becomes more accessible, parents need to take proactive measures to educate their children about online safety.

November 14th is celebrated as Children’s Day in India. This special occasion marks the birth anniversary of the country’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Affectionately called “Chacha Nehru”, he is deeply committed to the welfare, education and well-being of children. As we celebrate this special occasion, it is a good time to also highlight the importance of online safety for children.

READ ALSO: Children’s Day 2024 Wishes: Bal Diwas Wishes, Images, Quotes, Greetings and Status to Share on November 14th

As the internet becomes more accessible, parents need to take proactive measures to educate their children about online safety. Setting clear rules and guidelines can help protect children in the digital world. This Children’s Day, we’re sharing a number of important tips to ensure your children stay safe in the digital world.

Set clear online rules

As children grow, the Internet becomes an invaluable resource – not just for schoolwork, but also for discovering new ideas. It’s important to set clear ground rules about what websites they can access and what activities are appropriate online.

Additionally, setting time limits for internet usage helps maintain a healthy balance between screen time and other activities. Encourage children to only use trustworthy educational sites.

Parental controls

Some websites and online content may not be appropriate for your child’s age. Parental control features allow you to filter and monitor access. To give your child a safer online experience, enable age-appropriate settings in apps, games, and social media platforms. This simple step will help keep their online interactions within safe limits.

READ ALSO: Children’s Day 2024 Speech: Inspiring Ideas for Students and Teachers

Data protection and passwords

It is equally important to teach your child about online privacy. Explain the risks of sharing personal information such as address, school name or phone number and make it clear to them why this information should never be shared online.

Encourage them to create strong passwords and ensure they know how to protect their personal information to stay safe in the digital world.

Discuss cyberbullying

In today’s digital age, it is essential to talk to your child about cyberbullying. It is important for all parents to help their children recognize and understand cyberbullying.

Encourage open communication so they feel safe to speak up if they notice or observe inappropriate behavior online. Remind them that they should never feel the need to hide or be afraid when they receive threats or hurtful messages.

The first and most important step is to report such incidents. Also, don’t forget to reassure them that they won’t get in trouble for reporting online problems.

Avoid talking to strangers

Some websites and games allow children to connect with people they don’t know. However, it is important to explain why this can be risky. Make it clear to your child that online chats, comment sections, and private messages may contain people who are not who they say they are.

These strangers may try to obtain personal information by pretending to be friendly. Teach them not to reveal details such as their name, address, or school, as this could be dangerous for both them and their family.

Detect fraud

Online scams are common and it’s important to help children recognize and avoid them. If your child is new to the internet, monitor their activity closely and remind them never to use your cards for online purchases or share OTPs on a website.

Encourage them to ask for help with online payments or if they notice something suspicious. Teach them to avoid clicking on unknown links, which can often be a trap. This awareness will make them safer online.