The internet allows users to access information and stay connected with friends and family. However, many parents are rightfully concerned about their children being exposed to violent or inappropriate content while browsing. That is why it's important to safeguard your kids while they're using internet services, whether for school or entertainment. Here are a few steps to ensure your child's web surfing experience is a positive one.

How to Keep Children Safe on the Internet

1. Have an Open Discussion

Kids must understand how to protect themselves online. Talk to your tween about not providing personal information, such as their address and phone number, to strangers on social media platforms. Go over the importance of being careful about what they post. Your tween must understand that content doesn't go away just because it was deleted, and that includes sensitive personal information and images. Finally, tell them to come to you if they receive any threatening or disturbing messages from others. 

2. Supervise Young Children Online

If your toddler is using online tools to learn how to count, watch educational videos, or simply catch up on the latest episode of their favorite show, it's important to still supervise what they watch. Rogue ads could pop up, prompting children to click on them and mistakenly install malware on the computer.
If your elementary school-aged child is using the computer, keep a close eye on what they browse. Make sure they don't have access to violent websites and limit their screen time if they consistently access websites that you denied them access to. 

3. Set Parental & Privacy Controls

Parental controls can restrict the type of content your child sees online. If you have antivirus software on your laptop, check to see if it offers free parental controls along with protection against malware. When setting the parental controls, make sure to tailor it to each child. For example, a toddler should only have access to educational apps, so remove the internet browser from their view. 

An elementary or middle school-aged child should primarily have access to websites with .org, .edu, or .gov. While the child should still access .com websites for games or entertainment, you can set controls as to what type of content is prohibited. Limit content to PG or PG-13. 

A reliable internet service provider can help you make online browsing safe and secure for kids. Having served customers throughout North Alabama since the 1950s, NHTC provides telecommunications services. Their managed Wi-Fi service offers basic parental controls, as well as remote support if you ever run into a security issue. You can also opt for enhanced Wi-Fi to receive premium parental controls that provide complete control over what kids can access. Learn more about their internet service packages by visiting the website or calling (256) 723-4211.