Online Safety in the Technological Age

Keeping children safe from the threats that come with technological advancements has always been a worry among parents. It’s uncomfortable, but necessary, to consider the danger of online predators, cyberbullying, and the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence. This post will provide detailed explanations of the dangers and what you can do.

What is Cyber Bullying?

Harassment, intimidation or threats imposed via an online platform are all forms of cyberbullying. Because it can take place at any time or anywhere the victim has internet access, it can be difficult to find a safe space. Some common forms of cyberbullying are:

• Posting embarrassing photos of the victim without their consent
• Sending repeated threatening messages
• Impersonating the victim by creating a fake account or hacking into their current one
• Purposely excluding individuals from online groups

Bullying of any kind can increase stress and lower self-esteem.

What is Grooming?

Unfortunately, the wide reach of social media makes it easier for predators to find victims. Grooming is when an adult or older teenager manipulates a child into building a relationship with them. It often starts seemingly innocently, such as bonding over a shared interest, such as a video game. Predators typically use flattery, compliments, and sometimes gifts to build trust.

Next, they start desensitizing the child to inappropriate behaviours, such as explicit photos. They encourage the child to keep things a secret, slowly isolating them from their friends and guardians.

Groomers are typically masters of manipulation. They can use this to convince the child to share explicit photos, embarrassing information, and more. This might then be used as blackmail should the child try to cease communication.

What are Chat Bots?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming prevalent in all areas, including communication. As it becomes increasingly normalized, some youth (and adults) turn to AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, for companionship and advice. Most chatbots are designed to agree with and encourage the user so that they continue to engage with it.

This has many risks. If a child tells the AI about harmful behaviour, the chatbot may not assert that the behaviour is wrong. Furthermore, if children rely on it for emotional support, the AI is not designed to provide ethical therapeutic advice.

To any parents, guardians or older siblings, these topics are, of course, deeply concerning. However, there are protocols you can follow to keep young ones safe.

Create an Environment That Encourages Discussion

Oftentimes, victims of cyberbullying or grooming do not come forward due to feeling ashamed, worried about the consequences, or due to blackmail.

Assert that it is okay to make mistakes, and that your kids can always come to you for help. Include the caveat that it’s better for them to be safe than to worry about getting in trouble.

Educate Them

With honest and open discussion, it is easier to talk about the dangers of the internet. Ensure they know what to watch out for and what type of behaviour is not okay. For instance, a conversation about cyberbullying may look like:

“Sometimes, people are a lot meaner online than they are in real life. It is not okay for someone to post anything about you that you’re not comfortable with. If you asked someone to stop messaging you, and they keep doing it, I will help you block them. Someone pretending to be you is also dangerous. Let me know if this happens.”

A discussion about grooming may sound like:

“If someone much older than you, especially an adult, tries to be friends with you online, you need to tell me. This is different from someone we know and trust, like your uncle (aunt/grandma/grandpa/other trusted adult), sending you a message. Sometimes, bad people try to befriend you to get inappropriate things from you. Nobody should tell you to keep your conversations private or ask you for photos. If anything feels uncomfortable, you can talk to me about it.”

Finally, explaining that AI is not a friend can be difficult, especially to younger kids. But here’s how it might look:

“Chatbots and AI are like robots; they aren’t people. When they talk to you, it is a programmed response, they’re not actually thinking about it. It might talk like a friend, but it’s better to chat with your human friends or me.”

Set Restrictions

It’s virtually impossible to monitor someone’s online behaviour 24/7. There are many ways to set parental controls to manage what websites and apps your children visit. Furthermore, limiting screen time and the age at which kids have access to the internet can help minimize risk.

Practice What You Preach

Kids learn from the adults around them! If their guardians are constantly on social media or asking AI for help, this normalizes it, making it more likely that children will do the same. Encourage them to do other activities, such as reading, writing, painting, or playing outside, by doing this yourself. For more information about kid’s mental health and setting healthy boundaries with your kids, contact us for a free consultation here.