Computers are becoming an ever-more central part of our lives. It is important for our children to learn how to use computers from an early age as they will be doing so the rest of their adult lives. However, the Internet is not necessarily a safe place for a child and there are certain things about computers that make them dangerous for children to use.
The biggest concern of any parent for their child is safety. The old phrase ‘don’t take candy from strangers’ has been repeated to many a child, but this phrase bears just as much weight online. Children can also be easily tricked online when predators pretend to be young children just like them in an attempt to make friends. Children can also be a target for other children online. There are more and more reports of cases of ‘cyber bullying’ online as social networks become more popular.
Being on a computer can also cause a child to forget one of the best pleasures of childhood – playing outside! More and more children come home from school and log on to the Internet, completely forgetting simpler pleasures like tree climbing or simple exercise. This can also be dangerous for children as a lack of exercise will cause them to get fat.
Another concern is the kind of material children are being exposed to on the Internet. It is relatively easy to protect children from influences such as violence or sex in traditional media like the movies as there are ratings systems that are not easily beaten. However, although many sites employ these same ratings systems online, the vast majority do not. Children are easily gain access to a range of material that is unsuitable for them online. One good idea is to set up a password or security key on certain sites so that your children can not access them.