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Regularly review your privacy and security settings available on all your social media accounts and the ones your children use. Where possible, restrict who has access to your accounts and let your children do the same.
And generally, just be more online-savvy when online.“ Know what you and your family members sign up for when joining a social media platform, consider the terms and conditions carefully( that means making a point of reading them!) – even if it feels like a lot of effort. Also, learn how to spot false information online, show your children what to be on the lookout for, and don’ t share anything you haven’ t verified.”
Building everyday cyber-safety habits
Van Wyk also offers the following rules for families:“ Consider not allowing smartphones / social media access in bedrooms, especially overnight,” she says. Obviously, using screens at night can disrupt your child’ s sleep but also, without you there to monitor, your child could be exposed to cyberbullying or strangers online.
“ Importantly,” Van Wyk adds,“ warn your children about the dangers of befriending strangers online in the same way you would warn them about strangers in the physical world.”
Van Wyk also suggests that when your child gets their first smartphone or starts using social media, you could set up a contract with them that strikes a balance between what they’ re allowed to do or not. This approach not only sets clear expectations; it also gives children a sense of ownership and accountability.
Van Wyk offers these simple cybersecurity habits kids can learn early that will protect them long-term:
• Thinking critically about everything they see online – whether it’ s on social media, in a WhatsApp message, or on the internet.
• Thinking twice about sharing any identifying or personal information online, including on messaging platforms.
• Using a strong, long and unique password for every online account. The best way to do this is by using an encrypted password manager to create and store your passwords.
• As a second layer of defence, enabling two-factor authentication and using a secure authenticator app to prevent others from accessing their online accounts, rather than receiving the code via SMS.
• Familiarising themselves with, and implementing, strict security and privacy settings on their internet browsers, AI tools, social media and messaging platforms.
But at the end of it, Van Wyk says, the biggest mistake parents make is that they themselves don’ t know enough about online safety.“ Parents need to familiarise
themselves with, and know how to implement, basic online-safety measures. They also need to familiarise themselves with the platforms their children are on and the parental restrictions or safety measures they can implement on their children’ s devices.”
Van Wyk recommends the following resources to deepen your understanding of cybersafety:
• For children under 11: Explore Social Kids’ educational programme( socialkids. co. za).
• For practical online-safety tips and updates: Follow NetSavvy( netsavvy. co. za) on social media.
• From a legal perspective: The Digital Law Company provides excellent work in the field of children’ s online rights.
• For global research and guidelines: Organisations such as UNESCO regularly publish studies and recommendations on online safety for children and young people.
“ For parents who are worried about the impact of social media on their children’ s mental health, I recommend seeking professional help from a psychologist or similar professional,” she says. �
80 www. babysandbeyond. co. za