Common sense and education: helping children stay safe online

Check your security settings, don’t reuse the same passwords, and be careful what you download:just some of the common-sense tips that internet firms are giving to web users to help keep them safe online.

February 7th is Safer Internet day, a global initiative that aims to promote staying safe online for all users, but particularly younger people. It is backed by major tech firms such as Twitter, Facebook and Google.

A number of events at schools, companies and educational institutions are planned around the country to mark the theme, which for 2017 is “Be the change: Unite for a better internet”.

About 80 per cent of parents are concerned about their children’s internet usage, with 28 per cent worried that it is affecting their mental health. One in five said they were concerned social skills could be hindered, while 17 per cent said they feared their child’s online habits and the footprint it created now could impact their future.

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These were the findings from a survey from price comparison and switching service Switcher.ie.

Despite these concerns almost 59 per cent of parents said they did not use parental controls, while one in 10 said their child was permitted to access the internet before the age of four.

“There’s no doubt that the internet is an invaluable resource, and reliable broadband is now seen as a household essential. However, while there may be great benefits for children to using the internet, it’s crucial that they are not inadvertently exposed to inappropriate content online,” said Eoin Clarke, managing director of Switcher. “On top of worries about the content they may come across, other issues related to internet usage – such as the impact on children’s health and their social skills – are of significant concern to the vast majority of parents.”

Online risk

Meanwhile, a survey from Microsoft found 65 per cent of adults and teenagers aged between 13 and 17 said they had been exposed to some sort of risk online. Intrusive behaviour was the most common type of risk reported, with unwanted contact the chief culprit. Behavioural risks were most common at 39 per cent, with trolling (general mean behaviour) cited as the most frequent encountered. About 30 per cent said they had experienced a “sexual” risk, with unwanted “sexting” and solicitation among the most likely encountered. The fourth risk was reputational, with doxing (the publication of private information online) and damage to personal reputation the most common.

The Digital Civility Index (DCI) was carried out in 14 countries to measure the level of civility across various online interactions.

Cathriona Hallahan, managing director of Microsoft Ireland said the findings were a timely reminder that positive experiences online could not be taken for granted.

“We all have a responsibility to promote good online practices and to highlight the steps to take and the resources that are out there to help you when you run into trouble,” she said. “The consequences of being exposed to online risks can be severe so this is certainly something we have to take seriously. It’s a challenge we all face – young and old, male and female.”