This article brings light to the idea that with schools closing, classes being online, and many families staying indoors to decrease their risk of contracting the deadly COVID-19 virus, many more children will be spending more time online, using social media apps to connect with friends, or to cure boredom. With many sexual predators online, it is important to make sure that young, impressionable children are maintaining online safety rules as the risk of children being preyed upon is now higher. It is important to realize that because of the rise of social medias, children now can expose themselves through profiles and pictures posted if the account is not private and regulated. If an account is not private, anyone, including predators and pedophiles, can view the images and posts of that child.
The FBI has advised parents of children to take the following steps to increase online safety, listed and directly quoted in the article as followed: "
- Discuss internet safety with children
- Review and approve any games and apps before they are downloaded
- Make sure privacy settings are set to the strictest level possible for online gaming systems and other electronic devices
- Monitor children's use of the internet and keep computers in a non-private room.
- Check youngster's social-media profiles and what they post online
- Explain to children that images posted online most likely will remain on the internet permanently
- Make sure minors know that anyone who asks a child to engage in sexually explicit activity online should be reported to a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult, as well as law enforcement authorities.
- Teach children about personal boundaries and awareness of their surroundings
- Encourage open child-parent communication
- Be mindful of who is watching children during childcare and babysitting situations, and on such occasions as play dates and overnight visits with friends. "
For more information, read The San Diego Union-Tribune's article, linked below.
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