Start These 3 Rules To Protect Kids from Online Dangers

We can’t deny it anymore: we are in the digital age and it's nearly impossible to keep kids away from screens.

Whether it's for school, entertainment, or even important communications, screens have become an integral part of our lives.

With this undeniable fact that having screen time is the new norm, comes the great responsibility for you, Smart Parenting parents, to make sure that your children are consuming safe content when they are on the screen and online.

Given how things are now, it’s likely that we will become even more digital in the future, so it’s better to lay out safety rules as early as possible to avoid risks that could endanger the kids..

"I have chosen to be open and honest about the dangers with the hopes that my children will understand that, just like everything else, the internet itself isn’t bad. There are just bad people to watch out for." - Brittany Thompson

3 Simple and Effective Rules to Keep Kids Safe When Online

Brittany Thompson, a mom who worked in the social media industry, shared the three simple rules she follows in her household to protect her kids, ages 3 to 8, from online video dangers.

1. Strict Monitoring of Kids’ Online Activity

In her household, Brittany says they follow this strict rule: “YouTube is only allowed in the living room on the family TV where I can see it and hear it.”

Designate a common area in your home, like the living room, where your child can watch YouTube or other online videos. Yes, this includes YouTube Kids!

This allows you to keep an eye on what they're watching and intervene if necessary.

Additionally, Brittany has a predetermined list of YouTube videos and channels that she has vetted for appropriate content, which her kids are only allowed to watch.

Brittany says this should be followed strictly. To ensure that’s the case a punishment awaits. If these rules are not followed, her kids would lose their privilege to watch YouTube.

By taking an active role in your child's online life, you can better understand the content they are consuming and guide them towards safer options.

2. Chat Options Are A Big No-No!

Another firewall Brittany has built for her kids is keeping them off chat boxes, and she is fully correct in implementing this.

There are too many news stories, both internationally and locally, where parents are unaware of what their children are exposed to until it's too late.

It's imperative for parents to have open conversations with their children about the dangers of unrestricted internet access and the reasons behind the rules you set. Explain why it’s not safe for them to interact online and give them pointers on what to look out for when online and what to do when approached by suspicious accounts. This not only helps them understand the importance of online safety but also empowers them to make safer choices on their own.

Read up on parental controls and privacy settings, and don't hesitate to reach out to other parents or online communities, like the Smart Parenting Village group on Facebook for advice.

3. Another No-No: Search Engines

Knowledge is power. The more you know about the platforms your child is using, the better equipped you'll be to protect them. For example, being aware of all the security settings you can set to make the platform age appropriate.

Case in point, did you know that you can remove the search engine on certain devices to limit what your child can access?

While the internet is a treasure trove of knowledge, such as Google and other search engines, it’s also not a safe and appropriate space for young kids to wander on their own.

For Brittany, she has removed or turned off any search engines on the devices her kids use. “They just don’t need it,” she simply explains, and we agree.

Why Not Just Totally Ban the Internet for Kids?

In the comment section, many agreed with Brittany, but some suggested just keeping kids entirely off screens. Brittany’s explanation on why she has the three rules instead of doing a total online shutdown is also a great point of conversation when it comes to setting rules that work for your family.

For Brittany, as someone who works largely in the digital space, she says, “My children see me utilize YouTube daily. Rather than hypocritically creating barred curiosity, I have made the decision to work with them as a team on how to safely maneuver the platform as they grow up.”

“Because of my career and the amount of media my children see me interact with, I have chosen to be open and honest about the dangers with the hopes that my children will understand that, just like everything else, the internet itself isn’t bad.There are just bad people to watch out for,” she adds.

Another follower also pointed out that “it is likely that your children will have gained access to it in some form (in your house or not). Governance, expectations, and education around safety are much more powerful than banning.”

In a world where screens are unavoidable, the best way to keep our kids safe is through proper guidance and proactive measures.

Our pro-tip: Create a family agreement that effectively tells the kids of the dos and don'ts of browsing online. This can include time limits, approved platforms, and specific content that is off-limits.

Another thing is to make sure to revisit and update this agreement regularly as your child grows and technology evolves.