It has become a thing of great concern today to see that millions of kids are exposed to the free world of the internet. Many kids in India and across the world access internet either via their parents’ devices or through their own. Having a Smartphone at an early age has become a trend for numerous kids from affluent families these days. Those who can’t really afford or don’t have a personal device use their parents’ Smartphone or any other device to access the internet. 

However, free access to the internet can cause grave danger to kids by exposing them to unknown threats and attacks. But being vulnerable, such free exposure to the internet can be a cause of concern for kids. Thus, they need special attention and parental guidance to stay safe from exposure to inappropriate content over the internet. 

Current scenario

As per a study by the Internet and Mobile Association of India, as many as 66 million users of the Internet in India are children between the ages of 5 to 11 years. Most of these kids are accessing the internet on their parents or other family members’ devices.

This data itself shows the influence of the internet on kids in the country. Internet today has become an unsafe place for children, especially the small kids who really can’t differentiate between good and bad elements online. In such a scenario, it has become very important to ensure that parents constantly supervise kids’ on their internet activities, at least till the child is young enough to display safe internet practices.

As such, not much effort has been taken by social media platforms management or government bodies to cut down the free access of the internet to children to keep them away from improper content. So, in such a scenario, parental guidance is a must to keep our kids safe from potential online threats.

Technological advancements

When it comes to the advancement in technology, the internet has surely contributed tremendously. In fact, it is amazing to see the numerous wonders that technology has been offering us each day. The internet has indeed opened a new and astounding world of knowledge and amusement that is simply driving people away (including kids). The influence of the internet can be seen in each of our everyday lives. However, despite its numerous benefits, the internet still presents grave negative effects, especially for children in different ways. Internet influences the social, mental, and physical development of children in different ways.   

Positive and Negative Effects of the internet

• Positive effects
  • It helps in skill development of the child through different educational programs and tools
  • It enhances learning to help kids learn and understand things that they marvel about
  • It enhances the problem-solving skills of kids
  • It can be a lifesaver during an emergency

• Negative effects 
  • It minimizes social interaction to a great extent
  • It can be a cause of increased aggression among kids
  • It has several health issues including vision problem, neck pain, overstrain, and so on
  • It also affects the sleep quality of kids adversely
  • There are other threats such as abuse, security risks, and cyber-bullying, etc.

The Internet offers everything including attraction, positive influence, and knowledge as well as addictions, negative influence, and risks. When it comes to children, they are unaware and can become easy prey to negative influences. So, it is very important for parents to control the internet activities of their children and to know the kind of content they are exposed to. 

Steps to control as parents

The first and foremost step to protect your children from improper internet content is to know the kind of content that your kids’ are actually exposed to. When you are aware of the content, you can easily prevent any risky situation.  

The second thing that parents should know is about the different kinds of content that are harmful to their children. It can be some games, which are not suitable for your child as per their age. It can be some improper, violent, or scary content that your child might have an adverse effect on, etc.In most cases, children can reach potentially harmful websites or content through ads. By clicking a certain link or an ad that features in between a program, they can reach any dangerous game or a risky site. So, keeping an eye on what your child is watching is important. 

Here are some tips for parents 

• Communicate with your kid about the potential dangers of the internet in case your child is old enough to understand
• Share their feelings and insecurities
• Explain to them the difference between the world of the internet against the reality or the actual world.
• Explain to your kid why certain apps or games are not suitable for them.
• Use filters and security software if required
• And of course, keep a check on the activities they do over the internet.

By being vigilant and sharing the feelings of your kid, you can make it easy for you as well as your child to make his/her screen time an enjoyable affair. Zoylu.com with different features and child consultants’ network is eager to help parents to resolve different issues or queries related to their kids.