Internet safety: Prevention is always better than cure

Safety on the internet is a topic that makes headlines month after month. The concern lies around unfiltered content that reaches our children. While adults go about their days or simply trust the internet until they come across an issue, kids and teens are bombarded by content we cannot control. The question is how can parents ensure children get the most out of the available content while also protecting their safety on the internet?

Life in the digital era means technology plays a part in virtually everything we do. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Technology offers endless advantages and provides children today with many exciting and stimulating opportunities to explore and learn; far more than those available to us at their age! If used correctly, technology can really enrich our lives and be a positive factor. Unfortunately in the wrong hands it can pose many dangers, which is why it is vital to protect our kids and teens and educate them about the importance of using technology responsibly and staying safe online.

Kids today are extremely tech-savvy, managing technology and the digital age with ease. While we can’t help but be impressed by this, we must remember that they are still kids and that means they don’t have the experience to know that all is not what it seems to be on the internet. We’ve all seen countless reports on the news about kids falling prey to internet scams, running up bills on online gaming, unwittingly giving out sensitive data, chatting with predators, even meeting up with them…

As soon as children are given a connected device, parents need to have the internet safety talk and ways to filter any unwanted connections or content when they cannot be their eyes and ears. Qustodio is a leading digital safety and wellbeing platform whose aim is to help parents tackle the online world head on and know where and how to start. We guide parents and keep them on the right track by raising and sharing awareness about the need to protect our children online and the benefits of fostering a healthy and balanced online environment for families.

Online safety is our passion – it’s in our DNA. At Qustodio, we’re always on the lookout for ways to benefit and support families in the online sphere, whether researching clever new features or reaching out to experts in the field for their parenting tips and tricks. In extending our commitment to a safe internet, this year we’re especially pleased to announce our official support for Safer Internet Day 2020.

Safer Internet Day is a significant event in the global online safety calendar. Celebrated annually in February, it’s an initiative that focuses on raising awareness of online issues and how to improve and protect young people’s internet experience. Each year, we see worrying new trends targeting kids and teens online, from cyberbullying to FOMO to dangerous challenges… Qustodio is proud to support this powerful campaign to highlight the potential risks of the internet to make young people aware and help keep them safe online. Safer Internet Day US ambassador and tech journalist Larry Magid is especially excited to see more big names joining the cause each year.

 

We’re happy to have Qustodio on board to support the Safer Internet Day initiative! All stakeholders, including brands like Qustodio, can play an essential role in supporting greater safety for families and communities across the US.
– Larry Magid, Safer Internet Day US ambassador

To further our support for a better internet, we’ve partnered with the charity, Kidscape, who are dedicated to a safer internet for kids and teens through their digital safety and bullying prevention initiatives and school and family outreach. CEO of Kidscape Lauren Seager-Smith said, “Kidscape are delighted to partner with Qustodio and look forward to working together to better understand the journey that children and families face as they navigate the online world, and to provide practical strategies that empower children to be aware, alert and safe.” We will work together over the coming year to understand the needs of children moving up to secondary school when it comes to staying safe online, and to support parents and schools as they support children to have their own devices and to grow increasingly digitally independent.

Kidscape are delighted to partner with Qustodio and look forward to working together to better understand the journey that children and families face as they navigate the online world, and to provide practical strategies that empower children to be aware, alert and safe.

Lauren Seager-Smith, CEO Kidscape

Be sure to follow the #SID movement on our FB, Twitter and Instagram and come together for a better internet this February 11 and beyond!

#speakupforasaferinternetday
#SID2020
#qustodioxSID

 

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How can Qustodio help protect your family?

Qustodio is the best way to keep your kids safe online and help them create healthy digital habits. Our parental control tools ensure they don't access inappropriate content or spend too much time in front of their screens.

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