How To Protect Your Children While Learning Online
Before pandemic, children are used to spend lots of day at schools where students get a protective environment that restricts access to content like gambling and pornography. Even, schools prevent children from using various threats including unmoderated social media. It is possible with blacklists and filters applied to devices or internet connection used at schools.
But now, with many children switch to Lido learning due to COVID-19, parents are not aware of the necessity for safeguards. As many parents engage in work from home, they have no enough time to discover and execute a protective online platform for their children.
What threats may children expose to?
With regards to using web-based tools, relying on emails, and downloading of new applications, children can face some new malware threats without school based controls. This includes ransomware and viruses targeting the operating system to change the lock-screen pin code. In case your mobile gets infected, you will no longer find a chance to recover your device, as you completely lose the control of accessing your device.
As there is no filter to protect children who are learning at home, some innocent activities such the use of YouTube may expose them to unexpected risk of improper adult content. Even, the use of YouTube kids has some risks like the content featuring suicidal themes, violence, and sexual references.
Many schools are now employing video conferencing tools for maintaining interaction with students. However, there are instances of class-hijacking including Zoom app where unwanted guests come into the video-conference session.
What parents can do for safeguarding their children?
If you are worried about your child safety, here are some key points to consider:
- Ensure the regular update of your device. This includes the update of operating system like Mac, Android, or Windows
- Use perfect antivirus software and assure that it is also up to date
- Apply parental controls to reduce screen time and the use of specific apps and websites
- Parental controls can also limit the use of microphone and camera, thereby preventing external communication
- Apply age restrictions to websites and media content
- Keep track of your children while using apps and other web browsing activities
- While installing apps for your children, you can check online and discuss with other parents to know about them
- Teach your children regarding online behaviours
- Make sure your children use device in front you
- Configure web browsers to make use of safe search options
While technological improvement plays a significant role in today’s development, it is important for parents to assure that their children attend Lido classes in a safe and sound environment.
