Stranger danger is something we all warn our kids about. In fact, all responsible parents make it a point to make their children aware of the possible dangers of interacting with strangers outside. But have you discussed with them the dangers of the online world? The internet has become the most convenient avenue to seek and trap prey in a world where predators are everywhere. In most cases, children become the victims of online stalking, bullying, and harassment. It is thus imperative that children know about the negative side of the online world and remain prepared for it.

 

So today, we at Dayawati Modi Academy, ranked among the Best school in meerut, would like to shed more light on the topic to help you understand the menaces of the cyber world and the necessary steps that you, as parents, must take to ensure the online safety of your kids. Read on.

 

What is Cyberstalking?

A form of online bullying, cyberstalking, is about using technology to track and contact a person constantly. Cyberstalking is the blatant breach of a person’s online privacy. A stalker may track their target on social media, try to hack into their accounts and email addresses to gain more insight about the person, and then use the gathered data to harass or harm the target.

 

Why Do We Need to Educate Our Children About Cyberstalking?

Online stalkers are usually on the lookout for easy targets. An innocent child could very easily become a victim of Cyberstalking and within no time get trapped into doing something wrong. As the online world has become a crucial part of our day-to-day lives, it is vital to educate your children about Cyberstalking, how to avoid it, and safely use the internet to learn and connect.

 

How to Avoid Cyberstalking?

You can teach your child how to avoid cyberstalking by following a few simple yet effective tips as shared below:

• Protect all online accounts with strong passwords

Whether an email address or a social media site; every online platform needs a user ID and a password. Encourage your children to use passwords that are secure and difficult to figure out. It is always recommended to use a combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters to develop a secure password for any account in the online world.

• Use privacy settings for all accounts

Let’s face it; you cannot stop children from using social media platforms. However, you should teach them to use the privacy settings on these platforms carefully. By using the general and advanced settings, they can restrict their visibility and connections to only those they know. A stalker can’t access a restricted account, and a higher degree of privacy setting helps ward off most stalkers.

• Avoid check-ins and deactivate geo-tagging

It is an ongoing trend to visit a place and put up a status or a picture on social media. However, we, at Dayawati Modi Academy, believe that this is one of the most dangerous aspects of social media as it may not only result in stalkers identifying your location but also mapping your movements. It is hence important to make your children aware of the possible dangers they may invite if they simply go with the flow of social media trends without thinking about their impacts.

 

What Should the Parents Do?

As responsible parents, you should always look for odd behavior to ensure your child is not already facing cyberbullying and cyberstalking. In case you feel something is odd, try to check with your child. If you find something problematic, help your children understand what is wrong and help them get out of the situation. If needed, do not hesitate to seek the support of local authorities. Every city has a cyber-cell division that can help you in case of any trouble.

 

We, at Dayawati Modi Academy, one of the Best school in meerut, firmly believe that the online world has its own share of positives and negatives. While we surely benefit from the positive aspects, we must remain watchful against the negative elements of it. After all, our safety is in our own hands, isn’t it! Just as the use of the internet is growing, cyber laws are also becoming stricter to protect the users. The need is to be vigilant and also teach the same to your kids. And we hope the tips shared in this article today will come to your aid in ensuring that your kids experience the benefits of the internet as safely and securely as you want them to.