Safe Internet for Children and Adolescents

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents have spent more time at home connected to the internet, a tool that offers them great opportunities to find information, continue their educational activities and be in contact with their loved ones.

Through the use of computers, smartphones, video game consoles, and televisions, children learn, imagine and develop their social networks, so there is no doubt that when used correctly and accessible to all, the Internet has the potential to broaden horizons and ignite creativity.

However, these limitless opportunities offered by the internet carry considerable risks.

Because children spend more time online than ever, they are more at risk of being harassed, sexually abused, and exploited online, actions known under the term cyberbullying. Unfortunately, the pandemic has provided internet bullies with a perfect situation to attract children who may be lonely or confused.

What is cyberbullying and how does it affect children and adolescents?

Cyberbullying is harassment or intimidation using digital technologies. It can occur on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms, and mobile phones. It is a behavior that is repeated and that seeks to frighten, anger, or humiliate other people. Some examples of cyberbullying towards children and adolescents happen when:

• People target children and adolescents for sexual purposes on social networks, video games, or messaging platforms.
• Children and adolescents receive harmful content such as sexual situations, violence, misogyny, xenophobia, or are induced to commit suicide. 
• They are also teased, threatened, or embarrassing, or inappropriate photos of them are posted on social media.
• Situations arise that put their personal information at risk, as well as photographs of them or their families.

Similarly, children can be at risk when technology companies violate their privacy with the intention of collecting data for marketing purposes. Marketing to children through apps, and the excessive screen time that this often generates can compromise children's healthy development.

Cyberbullying and other forms of online violence can affect the mental health of children and adolescents every time they log on to social networks or other instant messaging platforms. When bullying happens online, they can feel like they are being attacked everywhere, even in their own home. It may seem like there is no way out, so the consequences can last a long time and affect them in many ways:

• Mentally: They feel worried, embarrassed, and angry.
• Emotionally: They lose interest in what they like.
• Physically: They feel tired, do not sleep, and may suffer from stomachaches and headaches.

Feeling teased or harassed can prevent children from speaking frankly or trying to solve the problem. In extreme cases, cyberbullying can lead to suicide. However, it is possible to overcome it and help them regain their confidence.

How can we protect children and adolescents on the Internet?

It is not easy to face the dangers that the internet can pose on any given day, much less when we are faced with a health crisis of the magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic, however, there are certain measures we can take at home to prevent these risks and protect the smallest of the home.

1. Open communication:

The most important safety measure is to keep communication open with children and adolescents. Talk to them and find out what they do when they are online and with whom they interact. Make sure they understand the value of friendly and supportive interactions, and that inappropriate, discriminatory, or aggressive contact is unacceptable. Encourage them that if they go through any of these experiences they tell you immediately, you or a trusted adult.

Also, work together to set standards for how long you spend online. Encourage activities that do not require the use of screens. Encourage them to be active and on the go.

It is essential that girls, boys, and adolescents feel safe to talk about their problems with someone they trust, in a space where they can be heard without judging or blaming them.

2. Use protection tools:

Set up parental controls and safe search filters on the device and digital apps used by kids. For social media and video games, set the strictest privacy settings. Cover webcams when not in use.

In addition, it is very important that you check that the device has security programs installed, known as firewalls, antivirus, and pop-up blockers.

3. Pay attention to what they share:

Teaches children to keep their personal data confidential, especially in the face of strangers. Children would never have to provide a photo or their full name to use online learning tools.

Find and share information from trusted and recognized websites; encourage them the search for quality content and guide them to recognize and avoid access to inappropriate content.

4. Watch for alarming symptoms:

Be on the lookout for signs of distress in children, for example, if they are introverted, upset, reserved, or depressed. The reason could be a sign that you are experiencing some form of violence. Sexual abuse, even online, generally occurs under a pact of silence between the abuser and the victim.

Some behavioral changes can indicate possible situations of sexual abuse such as bad mood, anxiety, frequent nightmares, anxiety, anger, introspection, or depression. The girl, boy, or adolescent may also show rejection of a particular person or activity, or even talk about sexuality with expressions that are not appropriate for her age.

You have to be vigilant and if necessary seek the help of specialists.

5. Report cyberbullying:

Familiarize yourself with the school's bullying protection policies and have hotline and support numbers on hand to report cyberbullying or inappropriate content. For bullying to stop, you don't just have to detect it, it's important to report it.

The protection of girls, boys, and adolescents is a duty of all and must be a priority, especially in times like the ones we live in today that demand to be more connected online.

Find more information in the article Cyberbullying: What it is and how to stop it.