Internet Dangers Imposed on Our Kids

The internet is as beautiful as it is filled with dangers. The fast communication and smooth operability are definitely advantages we couldn’t possibly imagine living without now. That said, we also have to appreciate the fact that the internet is representative of the real world and It has its good and bad aspects just like anything.

Why Are Children Particularly Vulnerable on the Internet?

The word here is TRUST. Children basically view the world as a friendly place to explore. Ever let your kid out to play and other kids of their age came along? What happened? Of course they got on with play unless they had been specifically warned not to. With all its flashy apps and games, the internet can easily disguise its dangers and young children many times do not even know what is behind the mask.

BEST DEAL:

Kids are very trusting. All the prejudices, right or wrong that adults have come mostly from life experiences. That unfortunately does not hold true for children. They are simply not equipped with the discerning capability to determine what is appropriate all the time.

So, what are some of these risks that kids might encounter online? Let’s look at some of the most common dangers that your kinds might encounter:

Cyberbullying

This is a deep problem that many parents aren’t even aware of and can result in horrible outcomes. Children, particularly in their early teenage years, are most vulnerable to physical and emotional abuse. According to research by Internetsafety101.org, which lists most of the internet dangers and how to tackle them, about a third of children have been victims to cyberbullying, mostly at the hands of their age-mates. Cyberbullying can be done in various ways from a simple trashing in a class WhatsApp group to posting harming pictures on social networks.

Virtual gaming and social media have put a lot of kids in the crosshairs. For instance, a kid with a disability like Down’s syndrome can be mercilessly mocked by others online. These incessant attacks can be very humiliating for a person at that stage of psychological development.

Sexual Predation

The tool of choice for pedophiles seeking to lure victims is naturally the internet. This way they can lure them easily into very dangerous personal encounters. Online platforms can be an easy avenue for gaining a child’s trust without being seen by parents or guardians. Some of these predators stalk kids on social media or gaming sites which are popular with kids.

Unfortunately, these predators are usually very sophisticated and a kid will only notice things are amiss when it’s too late. For parents, there is no precaution too big from this internet danger to take in this regard. Child abuse can result in lifelong scars that are devastating for the victims. As a parent you must know exactly who are your kids texting with on all the social channels. Check out our best parental control apps to learn more which app provides you with the best monitoring tools.

Posting Private Information

Kids mostly don’t have the cognitive capacity to know what information to keep and what to tell. Just like a kid can go to school and reveal embarrassing personal information about their parents, the same can be conducted online.

Sometimes this information can be solicited by cybercriminals with bad intentions. An example is a kid sharing credit card information online to the detriment of the parents. This is a grave risk and parents must always educate their young ones as to the importance of fidelity with information.

Phishing and Clicking On Malware

This is yet another threat lurking in cyberspace. Phishing essentially means using deceptive emails to trick people into clicking on malicious links or attachments. When done using malicious text messages, it is known as smishing.

As mentioned earlier, children are quite trusting. As such, it is important to warn them against clicking on your personal emails however juicy they may seem. This can go a long way in securing your home PC.

Dangerous Online Scams

This is one aspect of internet dangers that even the smartest ones of kids can be vulnerable to. Indeed, you may teach your kid that everyone who say offers a million dollars online is probably a con. This is pretty basic but fraudsters online are ever so sophisticated.

Nowadays scams like free access to online games are on the rise. This has a caveat like sending some money or even worse, parents’ credit card information. It goes without saying that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t. This is a lesson that could come in handy for your kids.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the internet in many ways can be a Pandora’s Box. The opportunities contained therein are things that could not even be imagined a few decades ago. However the opposite is also true, guide your children that they may have positive and educative experiences online rather than negative and traumatic ones.