Six ways to keep your kids safe on the Internet

The Internet is often called the global information super-highway - which is to say it is full of people who are perfectly happy to run you over.

The world of the Internet is full of predators, bullies and pictures that you cannot unsee, believe us we've tried. It is a space that requires parental guidance - and parents often need guidance too.

Google has released these six tips in honour of Safer Internet Day.

Talk

The first step is to open the lines of communication about online safety, the rules and expectations around online use, what sites are appropriate, or not, and the consequences if those rules are broken. It’s important to make your children feel comfortable discussing these issues so that they will have no qualms about coming to you when they have questions or are unsure of how to handle situations online.

Participate

It may seem obvious, but the most effective course of action is to get involved. The younger your children are, the more strongly you will need to co-pilot their web use. This might involve more than simply installing a parental control on your home browser. Think of it like this: You're allowing your child into a public playground with all kinds of possibilities and threats - you wouldn't let them out of your sight. The internet is no different - you need to use technology together, and learn about it together.

Stay Up To Date

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Many adults are not fully aware of what new devices and apps can do. If your children are old enough to own their own devices, it's best to understand what's installed on their phones or tablets, and of course, what they're capable of. Most modern gaming consoles also connect to the web, and allow for direct communication with apps like Skype and other direct communication services.

Safe Browsing

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The internet has a number of protocols that can help you child-proof your home computer and its access to less desirable parts of the web. The Google Safety Centre is a good place to start. Set up secure passwords for your family, and remind children not to give them out to anyone. Ensure they are in the habit of signing out of online accounts if they use them outside home - at school or the library, for example.

Privacy

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Instilling responsible net conduct is really the first prize. Kids need to know from an early age exactly what kinds of information should never be revealed. Names, addresses, details of family and friends, and so on are the kinds of things that predators feed on. The "stranger danger" approach of old applies to the web more than ever.