Cyberbullying: Concerns mount for child safety online
WITH MUSH ROOMING migration of the younger generation to the cyber space for various reasons, experts and stakeholders are worried that such moves may endanger the children, if not guided.
The experts noted that growing e-learning culture due to closure of schools, which has also given more time to the children to have extended time spent with their gadgets, may expose them to more unwholesome content and unpleasant online engagements with strangers,
Realizing this reality, most parents are often uncomfortable seeing their children or wards glued to the screen of their gadgets, surfing the internet for a long time.
According to the latest Responsible Digital Parenting survey by Kaspersky, released last week, 55 per cent of Nigerian parents are often uncomfortable seeing their child surf the internet for long for the fear of dangers online, particularly cyber bullying.
The global cyber security solution firm said, however, that the fear, sometimes, emanate from the inability of the parent to understand latest trend on the internet that are of interests to the technology-savvy young generation.
Andrey Sidenko, lead web content analyst at Kaspersky, said that being digitally educated and involved in social media activities is a must-do for a parent nowadays as the lack of knowledge in this field can trigger some conflicts in the family.
He stressed that for parents to understand their child, to be able to communicate with them and discuss certain modern trends of the evolving world, you have to read more and be present on the net, adding that this can possibly save the parents a lot of trouble and make their children respect them.
Similarly, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) released a guideline that could help parents to extend their parenthood responsibility to the online space to protect their children.
The commission particularly highlighted various forms of online risks minors could encounter on the internet.
These include content risk, which consists of harmful information and material that children encounter online, such as pornography, violence, fake news.
Contact risk is another danger identified by the commission, which includes meeting online friends offline, as this comes with possible negative consequences
Such contacts can also lead to online grooming; a situation where a person befriends a younger person to gain their confidence and then sexually abuses them.
The NCC also intimated parent with conduct risk, which often becomes manifest in form of game addiction, mobile phone overuse impaired sight, loss of confidence and reputational harm due to unguided comments.
According to the commission, minors also encounter commercialization risk while using the internet, stating that, “This is the risk children face from being exposed to making willing and unwilling commercial decisions online, including giving out personal data, gambling and shopping addiction.”
Concerned by these dangers, the commission proffered four protection tips for parents to balance the benefits of using the internet with the risks involved for the safety of their young children and wards.
On its list of protections tips for parents to protect children from being bullied online, the NCC encouraged them to anticipate risks, empower their child, stay observant and discuss and engage with their wards.
“If your child is using online platforms or programmes for schoolwork, ensure a healthy balance between non-school related online activities and offline time.
“Reduce your own time online to model positive behaviour. Use parental controls and safe search options and inculcate in them safe browsing tips,” the NCC said.