In a released statement by the South African Police Service (SAPS), SAPS advised that with the school holidays fast approaching, children will spend more time on their devices.
“Teach your children how to practise Internet safety, learn the benefits and also realise the dangers of the Internet, make them aware of online stranger danger,’ advised SAPS.
SAPS said the Internet and social websites were part of everyday life, but it could be dangerous and one should ensure children’s safety online. Children are especially susceptible to the threats that the Internet and social networking websites present.
“By teaching children about Internet safety, being aware of their online habits and guiding them to appropriate websites, parents can make sure that their children become safe and responsible users on social networking websites.”
What are the dangers when using the Internet and social media websites?
- False identities are easy to create. Making new friends online is easy and convenient, but it is different from doing it in person. You cannot see who is on the other end of the computer. The Internet makes it easy for someone to be anyone else in the world.
- Not all information is private. Unfortunately, the information that is posted online is not always private. This means that anyone can view it. There are also online message boards that are indexed by the search engines. This means that others can view the conversations that were discussed, even years down the line.
- Internet predators. Often, individuals who lie about their ages are Internet predators. They are the ones who target children. Unfortunately, many children, teenagers, and their parents cannot tell who is an Internet predator until it is too late, such as when the predators try to approach your child or contact them in person.
You should never ignore the following danger signs:
- If the person tries to insist on having your address or phone number
- If the person emails you pictures which make you feel uncomfortable and which you would not want to show to anyone else
- If the person wants to keep their chats with you secret
- If the person tells you that you will get into trouble if you tell an adult what has been going on
- If the person wants you to email them pictures of yourself or use a webcam in a way which makes you feel uncomfortable
- If the person shares information with you and tells you not to tell anyone else about it
- If the person wants to meet you in person and tells you not to let anyone know.
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