Everyone’s first contact with the internet was around their teenage years, especially if they are millennials, just surfing through different platforms and probably revealing themselves a bit too much. However, the scenario is completely different for the children of now. They get access to smart devices and the internet, even before they utter their first words. Although they might be getting more technologically advanced than us, the vastness of the internet poses a significant danger to children today.
Why the Internet has Become a Dangerous Space for Children?
It is no secret that children being exposed to the internet for a longer time can put them at significant risk. From cyberbullies, different dangerous viruses, and malicious links, to inappropriate content and online predators, the dangers always lurk around. Children often lack the skill of critical thinking and paired with the lack of awareness, they cannot identify these dangers and threats to safety, making the internet an unsafe place without any guidance.
3 Reasons Why You Should Teach Cybersecurity to Children:
As we have discussed why the internet has become an unsafe place for children of today, you need to teach them the concept of cybersecurity. For that, you first need to understand the importance of cybersecurity, especially when it comes to younger internet users. Let’s move on to the very important reasons why you should teach your kids what cybersecurity is and how they can use it.
1. The Dangerous Cybercriminals
Most of the time we think that children are relatively safe on the Internet because they do not typically fit the description of people being attacked on the World Wide Web. However, it is their ignorance that makes them the perfect target as they are more vulnerable than adults. Children can accidentally click on a link and cause significant harm to not just the device but your entire account, causing even financial loss at times. This is why cybercriminals do not make exceptions for children, but they specifically target children to gain access to their parents’ accounts and personal information. At the same time, children are at greater risk of being the victim of identity theft which leads to long-lasting legal and financial outcomes for not just themselves, but their parents too.
2. Safeguarding Children
One of the most important reasons behind teaching your children about cybersecurity is that it keeps them protected, and shielded for the future. With the advancement of technology, it facets more and more into our everyday lives, making it vitally important that we all know the importance of cybersecurity. This calls for building responsible habits at an early age for internet use, which is the best way to prepare your children for their future. The internet has now transitioned itself, what we use at home for entertainment has now entered the school premises, being used for education as well. By knowing the usage of cybersecurity, your children will be more prepared to adopt new methods that might become essential in the future.
3. Responsible Attitude on the Internet
Children of this generation do not just have to learn about the dangers of the real world, but they have to simultaneously deal with the dangers of the virtual world. Cyber awareness can help them build positive and responsible habits of using the internet. This includes understanding how to create a strong password, protecting their personal information, avoiding suspicious websites, recognizing phishing attempts, etc.
While teaching your kids about the dangers of the internet and the importance of cybersecurity, you need to take some creative approach as “phishing” or “malware” do not mean much to them.
