These days almost every country around Europe is running campaigns for safety online. Campaigns designed to help children and teenagers to learn to behave safely online, and protect them against unpleasant experiences. The campaigns are very necessary says Janus R Nielsen, from MYSecurityCenter one of Europe’s leading companies within PC, Internet and Mobile safety for private use.

“The problem rapidly becomes worse and worse, children today are practically born with the Internet and they are often super users before the age of 10. There are many dangers and we feel it is extremely important to try to provide as much information as possible. As a responsible company, we understand the importance of increasing people’s understanding on how to keep their children safe whilst online, says Janus Nielsen from MYSecurityCenter. That is exactly why we have agreed to participate very actively in the nationwide campaign as we consider this as an extremely serious campaign “Netsikker nu”.

Experts believe that by increasing awareness about online risks at an early age, children will be better protected as they grow up. The children who are experiencing problems online are getting progressively younger and younger. When seated in front of the computer, children often have access to a webcam therefore allowing online predators to have a clear sight of the “victims”, and younger children do not understand the dangers of saying their name or where they live. The risk that children are exposed to is totally unnecessary, if we install software with “parental control”, we have come a long way. MySecurityCenter has parental controls built into their new MYInternetSecurity GOLD 2010, but say at the same time it is obviously the parents responsibility to be aware.

The Internet and children’s use of social media is the world we live in, and parents and schools will need to accept that. Although children know more about technique and net-surfing, it is still the adults, who have the longest experience of life’s norms and rules, joys and dangers. As adults we should take some precautions and continuously talk with children about their online activities.

In spite of the fact that children, in most social media networks, should be 12-13 years old to get a profile, studies shows that many children as young as 6-7 years old are found to be on social networking sites. However the tendency shows that the children who become victims are aged 10 years or older, and that teenage girls are the most vulnerable group. The campaign hopes to have a better chance of preventing any unfortunate situations and by providing information maybe even prevent children becoming victims. But the most important thing is that parents guide their children, and provide safety for them by using security software.

MYSecurityCenter sets 5 good and simple advice tips for parents

1. Set up guidelines rather than bans! – If you are active online it is easier to put some realistic limits on what’s good behavior on the internet. Make the agreements together with the children.
2. Curiosity and pushing limits are natural. Please try if you can to be an adviser instead of someone pointing fingers.
3. Be aware of changing behavior; is the child sad? worried? Show them that they can talk to you about any concerns and then listen to them.
4. Start a dialogue over dinner (not interrogation), let the kids tell you about their online experiences. Which pages were exciting and why?
5. You may not always be there when the kids go on the internet so teach them to be critical, especially if they meet new people online. Ask them what they would tell to a stranger – and whether they would meet with him/her in the real world?

Read more about MYIntenetSecurity GOLD 2010 with built-in parental controls.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 28th, 2010 at 8:54 am and is filed under Internet Security. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.