15 Questions About Internet Behavior That Could Save Your Child’s Life

Today there is a large percentage of children who spend a lot of time connected to the Internet. But children are innocent and their ability to use electronic devices does not exclude this characteristic of their age in terms of safety. On the Internet, there are as many potential threats as there are in a dark alley. For example, according to surveys, one in six teenagers who have access to the Internet face attempts to communicate from strangers and find this type of contact frightening and unpleasant. Of course, all parents or guardians should make sure that their child knows, at least theoretically, about precautions to be taken when going online and behavioral strategies in various suspicious situations.

O awesome.club gathered some questions that you should ask your children, in order to judge, according to the answers, if they are interacting with the Internet in a conscious way and if they are aware of the risks involved.

1. An email has arrived and contains a link or an attachment. What will you do with it?

2. Someone you don’t know has asked to add you to your contact list (on Skype, social media, chat, etc.). What are you going to do?

3. Which username will you choose when registering for a forum?

4. A friend has offered to help you with an email program or something else and asks you to enter your email password to configure the necessary settings. What are you going to do?

5. It’s been a long time since you’ve talked to a person on a forum or chat, and he proposes that you meet in real life. Which place to meet her in person would you choose: a park, a movie theater or a cafeteria?

6. Some of your online interlocutors criticize you, start insulting you frequently, distort and make fun of your words. After talking to them, you are left with an unpleasant feeling for a long time. What are you going to do?

7. Many of your interlocutors, even those you know personally and who are polite, allow a different style of communication on the Internet, which includes attacks, insults, use of profanity, and so on. Does this seem unpleasant to you or do you agree with them and think that on the net we can behave in a more “free and relaxed” way?

8. One of your online acquaintances promises you some benefit (buying a good cell phone at a great discount, money, etc.), but, in order to give it to you, asks for information about your parents’ bank cards or documents. Will you take advantage of his offer?

9. In the course of an Internet conversation, someone asks for your phone number. Will you give this person? And if so, for whom?

10. Do you have any virtual friends? If so, do you know that he really exists and is who he says he is?

11. Which photo do you prefer to choose as your avatar: one of you or one of your family on vacation?

12. How often and with whom do you use the webcam?

13. Remember that fun song we heard on the radio yesterday? Can you download it? As?

14. I read on the internet that there is a law that requires parents to buy a dog for their tenth birthday. What do you think?

15. What do you prefer: being on the internet or going out with your friends to a snack bar? (Or watching a movie at the cinema, having a picnic, playing football… According to the child’s interests).

1. Emails sent from suspicious senders, primarily those that are spam, should be deleted immediately, without being read or opened. If the recipient is known, before clicking on the link, you must read the name of the website you are going to enter and analyze the attachment with an antivirus. Unfortunately, even a known person’s computer can be infected with malware and pose a threat. Even if it’s not on purpose, it can happen.

two. You cannot add strangers to your friend or contact lists. If a person you know has a strange username, they will surely express their intention to connect with you online in a real-life conversation, or show displeasure at not having added you to their contacts and the situation will be quickly resolved.

3. When creating an account on the Internet, you should avoid using your real name, or parts of it, your date of birth and other personal information. It is better to choose a nickname that does not allow to determine gender or age.

4. You should never share your passwords with anyone, no matter for what purpose, be it an email service, forum registration, social media account, etc. Never and no one!

5. None! “Internet friends” may not be who they say they are. Therefore, you should never make an appointment with them in real life. And if, in response to your refusal to meet in person, the person begins to insist, threaten, promise gifts and money, you must stop communication immediately and promptly notify the parent of the stranger’s behavior🇧🇷

6. This phenomenon is not uncommon, and even has its own name: cyber harassment (internet harassment). Attempts to establish communication with those who participate fail most of the time, since the initial objective of these people is to generate conflicts.

Any communication that generates negative emotions must be ended immediately, without explanations or justifications, and aggressive callers must be on your blacklist (excluded from friends, blocked, removed from contacts, etc.).

7. The rules of behavior in the virtual world must not differ from those adopted in reality. You have to behave on the Internet exactly the same way as in life: not be rude or rude to anyone, not use bad language, be polite and kind to other users.

8. Obviously it’s a scam. The child must be used to the idea that any data about money, salaries, bills and other aspects related to finances is a one forbidden topic for discussion anywhereexcept in the family circle.

9. The telephone number is as personal information as the first and last name or identification document data, and giving it to someone is very dangerous for several reasons. First, there is the fact that the number can be used for financial fraud; second, this is the easiest way to communicate with the child, which carries much more serious risks. No information should be passed on to strangers.

10. The Internet is a haven for criminals of all kinds and, unfortunately, their goals may not be limited to financial fraud, and may have even more dangerous consequences: gambling, alcohol and drug addiction, developing suicidal tendencies, participating in criminal activities, etc.

11. The best thing to do is to avoid posting real photos of yourself and loved ones online. Unknown people can find many unpleasant and even criminal uses. Sending your own photos to someone else is also categorically discouraged. And it is better to put on the avatar a drawing of your own or an image of a favorite character.

12. A webcam can only be used in communications with family and friends. It is important that strangers do not have the opportunity to see the child, especially as the conversation may be recorded.

13. You must explain to the child that music, games and programs are the product of other people’s work and copying them is considered plagiarism, that is, a crime. In addition to moral education, this will be indirect protection against viewing and downloading not only illegal content, but also malicious content and viruses.

14. The correct answer is: you must not believe everything that is written on the internet🇧🇷 Teach your child to always doubt the information posted on the net, check it against reliable sources, and not be afraid if you need to ask adult advice.

15. The preference for staying on the internet should warn you: even if you still can’t talk about a serious addiction, the influence of the virtual world can negatively affect the child’s communication skills and impair your ability to relate in real life.