Internet Safety Facts
As a virtual school, making sure our students are equipped to protect themselves in an online environment is of the upmost importance.
While all of the school provided computers from CalPac are completely locked down and safe for student use, we understand that our world has become primarily digital one. That means the majority of our students will be online outside of classroom in various ways.
Consider the Risks
Internet Safety, also known as e-safety, is all about RISK! Once you begin your online activities, there are various risks you may come across and knowing how to handle them is extremely important. These risks can be placed into four categories: Conduct, content, contact, and commercialism.
Conduct
How a person behaves or engages could potentially put them at risk.
Content
Having the ability to gain access to unreliable information could potentially but a person at risk.
Contact
Opportunities to interact or engage with unpleasant or dangerous people could potentially put a person at risk.
Commercialism
Use of various platforms with hidden costs or upgrades could potentially put a person at risk.
Protecting Yourself Online
Year after year, devices are developed that provide access to the internet including computers, tablets, phones, watches, and even refrigerators. With such easy access and availability, devices provide the world with internet access at the touch of a button.
With that in mind, protecting yourself and your information online needs to become a part of your daily interactions with the internet. In terms of internet safety, here are some steps youi can take to make your experience online smarter and safer:
- Linking your devices together
- Setting up notifications for daily screen time updates
- Setting up controls on screen time limits
- Restricting installations of apps
Examples of Online Activities to Monitor
One current trend in online enjoyment is gaming. Online gaming can use game consoles, mobile phones, tablets, and/or PCs. With the simple click of an app, launch of a website, or power button on a game console, anyone can play and enjoy a game of their liking.
Many games include messaging for gamers to chat with each other. Chatting often times is an integral part of the game with tactics, and strategies – but it can also be used for general conversation. This is something to remain keenly aware of as a parent or guardian.
Educate yourself on the games your child is playing online and ask yourself some of the following questions:
- Are other players able to communicate with your child?
- Am I able to access all shared information from this game? (And see anything that has been deleted)
- Are there age limits for players?
- Are there parental lock options?
The best course of action would be to ensure that your child remains safe while still allowing them to game online would be to ensure that they are always supervised by an adult while playing.
Safety Blocks to Put in Place
To ensure internet safety, setting up parental controls on each device and even on your Wi-Fi, can help block or limit access to inappropriate content. Most parental control options will even allow time limitations to prevent over usage.
Although you can block a fair amount, you still want to ensure that all the members of your family accessing the internet are following some basic safety guidelines. Here are a few:
- Do NOT give out personal information.
- Do NOT communicate with strangers online.
- Do NOT purchase or download anything without parental permission.
- Do NOT share your password!!!
- Be careful what you share or discuss online. Once something is shared or posted, its there for all to see!
Communication is Key!
Another incredibly valuable tip: talk to your child!
Often times, a child’s response to receiving something online is fear, and sometimes guilt even though they have done nothing wrong. This could result in them hiding things from you as opposed to seeking out your help to resolve the problem.
Another issue that could arise is that your child has no idea that doing something like sharing personal information or speaking to a stranger online is wrong.
By opening up a dialogue, you make them aware that they can come to you with any problems they may face. It also allows to set clear ground rules and have them acknowledge that breaking those rules results in them losing the ability to be online.
Stay Safe!
Here at California Pacific Charter Schools, we understand that navigating how to parent in a highly technological world can be a challenge.
We hope these tips can provide actionable steps to creating safer experiences online for students and families.
Looking for more resources? Click the button below to explore our Parent University Page, where you can find helpful resources to support your child. From online learning to mental health to financial aid for college, we have a wealth of information curated for you.
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The post Staying Safe Online appeared first on California Pacific Charter Schools.
This post first appeared on Online School Grades 6-12 In California | CalPac, please read the originial post: here
