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Raising Digitally Literate Kids: A Guide to Online Safety

Children and teens are surrounded by technology, and it is imperative to set them up for success. Developing digital literacy among youth is a critical part of child-rearing today. Digital literacy, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO; 2018) is “the ability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate and create details safely and appropriately through digital technologies.” ther are manny areas of competence within digital literacy, one of which is safety (UNESCO, 2018).

just like in other realms of life, parents and caregivers can foster safety related to technology by having frequent, ongoing, age-appropriate conversations with children and adolescents.Initiating these conversations sends the message that the child’s or teen‘s online behaviors and experiences are significant to parents/caregivers,and it opens the door for discussion and questions.Rather than talking “at” youth, it is helpful for parents/caregivers to facilitate a two-way dialog by pausing to reflect back what they hear and inviting comments and questions.

Key Conversation Topics for Digital Safety

But what should be discussed when developing digital literacy, especially with regard to safety? Below are a few topics that parents/caregivers can broach with their children and teens (with curiosity and genuine caring).

• Protecting Personal Information: Just like children and teens should be cautious about sharing personal information with people offline, they should be cautious (if not more so) online. anything that is considered personal (phone numbers, home addresses, critically important data related to school, finances, etc.) should not be shared online, or done so with an abundance of caution (e.g., sharing a phone number with a verified friend from school).
• Online Identities Aren’t Always Real: Not everyone is who they say they are online. It’s crucial to discuss the potential for encountering individuals who misrepresent themselves. Explain that people may create fake profiles or use false identities to deceive others. Encourage your child to be wary of accepting friend requests from strangers and to never agree to meet someone they’ve only met online without your knowledge and supervision.
• The Permanence of Online Content: Help your child understand that anything they post online – text, photos, videos – can be permanent. Even if they delete something, it may still exist somewhere on the internet. Discuss the potential consequences of sharing inappropriate or embarrassing content, and how it could affect their reputation or future opportunities.
• Cyberbullying Awareness: Cyberbullying is a serious issue. Talk to your child about what cyberbullying is, how to recognize it, and what to do if they or someone they know is being cyberbullied. Emphasize the importance of not participating in cyberbullying and of reporting it to a trusted adult.
• Responsible Social Media Use: Discuss the appropriate use of social media platforms. This includes setting privacy settings, being mindful of what they share, and understanding the potential risks of oversharing. Talk about the impact of social media on mental health and the importance of taking breaks.

Creating a Safe digital Environment

Beyond conversations, actively creating a safe digital environment is essential. This includes:

• Setting Clear expectations: Establish clear rules and expectations for technology use, including screen time limits, acceptable websites and apps, and online behavior.
• utilizing Parental Controls: Take advantage of parental control features offered by devices, apps, and internet service providers. These tools can help filter content, monitor activity, and set time limits.
• Monitoring Online Activity (Respectfully): While respecting your child’s privacy, it