Kids Went Online: Should Parents Be Controlling?

Introduction

The internet comes with several advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of age, the internet can pose a danger to anyone. However, children and teenagers seem to be more susceptible to online hazards than adults. Studies show that kids aged 8-16 are highly vulnerable to online threats. To prevent kids from online threats, parents should learn to monitor their children's online activities. Not only should they control, but they should also educate their kids on the dangers associated with internet use.

Why Should Parents Control Kids' Online Activities?

Many people will argue that routine control of kids' internet use is an invasion of their privacy. However, parental monitoring goes beyond privacy. It's all down to safety. Not just the safety of the kids, but also the safety of the entire family is involved. Parents need to understand online hazards and their tragic consequences. Some of these dangers include:

1. Online Gambling

Gambling has become one of the biggest threats lurking around teens' internet use. The ease at which one can get addicted to gambling makes it even more concerning. Gambling can come in various forms. "Free to play" online games attract kids, and they can get easily attached to such games. 

Of course, we understand that the Internet is offering legal and reliable casino sites, too. For adults, gambling can be viewed as fun when one does it responsibly. However, gambling involves dealing with risks. The odds of winning are relatively low, and this is the part kids do not understand. They gamble online intending to win at all times. They get addicted, and they end up losing a lot of money. 

Loss of money isn't the online problem, however. Online gambling poses several other damages. These can come in the form of physical changes, emotional struggles, school problems, and even substance abuse. Kids usually find it difficult to talk to parents about gambling issues. Hence, further difficulties. Parents need to control kids' gaming activities and monitor any form of questionable behavior as a result.

2. Cyberbullying and Cyber Predators

Kids have ditched the real-life playgrounds for social media and online gaming platforms. These platforms work every hour of the day, and kids connect with new, relatively unknown individuals. Several forms of cyberbullying can occur as a consequence. Such bullying can come in the form of ridicules in social media interactions, humiliating ordeal in games, and even disturbing threats. 

Also, ill-minded people take to the internet and stalk kids' online use. These people take advantage of kids' vulnerability and innocence to abuse them. They can sexually abuse kids or lure them into threatening encounters. Cyber predators usually lurk around social media and gaming platforms where they can be anonymous.

 3. Sharing of Private Details

The ease of access to personal information of the internet has exposed not only kids but also adults to online threats. Lack of adequate supervision and education in this aspect can be risky. Kids can easily mistake illegitimate websites for legitimate ones. They thereby are risking to disclose their personal information. 

Kids can get lured to entering parents' credit card details, house address, email address, and several other details on scam sites. This could expose the family to severe risks. Such websites trick kids to clicking links that could help them gather personal information. This situation should be avoided by all means.

4. Exposure to Inappropriate Content

There is no doubt that the internet can be of tremendous help when it comes to learning. We get valuable information online and improve our knowledge in different aspects. Kids can obtain further information about what they've learned in school online. However, we should not ignore the fact that there are also several questionable types of online content. 

Parents should take note of the possibility of kids inadvertently stumbling on violent, sexual, and disturbing content. They could view images or read materials that they wish they hadn't. Such content could lead to emotional and behavioral changes. It is in the interest of kids that parents ensure that they avoid these types of content. 

With the above-listed dangers and several others, the need to control kids' online activities can never be overemphasized. Parents should not have to wait until kids' morals have been compromised. Preventing unwanted influences is one of the best ways of ensuring better moral development.

Parents' Role in Controlling Kids' Internet Use

Parents should not be overly bent on the word 'controlling'. Incessant monitoring can be overwhelming for kids and teens. Constant spying on kids can lead to a host of undesired results. Children may begin to get the feeling of distrust. They may even go to the extent of hiding risky behavior since that is what you're looking out for. 

Yes, there exist apps and programs out there that can help parents monitor their kids' use of the internet. Parents should, however, understand that children nowadays are savvier. Relying on these programs may mislead parents, and they will miss the information they seek. Note that the more kids feel that you're involved in their affairs, the more they try to hide them from you. 

What parents should understand is that control deals more with their relationship with their kids. Every individual family has separate issues. Hence, there is no one single approach to monitoring children's internet use. What has been established so far is parents' involvement in a child's life. 

Kids are relatively unaware of the threats associated with the internet. Parents, therefore, have to take proactive steps. You need to talk to your children about the challenges involved in internet use. This is the first step in controlling a child's online activities. Create a connection with your kids, and communicate with them often. When your children have a high degree of trust in you, this will spur them to bring their issues to you. They will be able to talk to you about almost anything. 

Before resorting to using technology to monitor their online activities, you must let your kids know about it. Give them a logical and clear explanation of why you will be doing such monitoring. This will alleviate the possibility of a breach of trust. Also, tell them about how the monitoring works. Avoid too much control so that they will not feel a disregard of their right to privacy.

Conclusion

The internet poses a lot of danger to kids and the entire family. The use of monitoring tools could have positive or negative effects, depending on how they are used. However, nothing beats the personal relationship between parents and their kids. Ultimately, parents should try to be as open as possible to their children. They need to play an active role in educating their kids about internet dangers and ways to prevent them.