Online Safety And Security: Do You Have The Tools To Cope?
Human beings are inherently social creatures. We crave communication with others and have done so from the dawn of our species. For many years our methods of communication were much slower and not nearly as widespread as they are today. We had time to think about what we said or wrote and had little use for the online safety & security that has become a critical consideration in our modern tech-driven digital world.
As Users, What Is Our Contribution To Online Safety And Security?
The first area we should talk about is our responsibility towards others with regard to our posts, shares, comments, and contributions to discussions online. It begins, as many things do, with consciousness about the effects our communication has on the online safety and security of people we interact with.
- Say hello to kindness and show compassion with all posts and comments
- Be courteous and respectful with everything you post
- Absolutely avoid any hate speech, bullying and derogatory comments
- Do not use this amazing communication platform to spam others or spread misleading information
- Unless you are qualified to do so, do not give out medical or mental health advice
- Respect the privacy of others and make sure that when you share something the originator of the information is comfortable with this.
Safe Searching Is About Finding Good, Useful Information And Eliminating Harmful Content
As incredible as the Internet is for rapidly accessing information about anything, this can also be its downfall. Parents are caught in the dilemma of wanting their children to learn as much about the online world as they can but are fearful about the darker stuff they may find. As the guardians of our children’s online safety and security, we can start the conversation with them and have an honest, open discussion about internet safety and safe searching.
Of course, young people’s curiosity may mean that advice from their parents may not be enough to keep them safe. Luckily technology has some solutions and we are seeing more and more tools that can restrict what your child can access online.
Also coming to the fore are initiatives like the one spearheaded by our own Jacinda Ardern, seeking to hold big tech companies responsible for the nature of the content which is spread via their platforms.
External Factors – Online safety and security – You Can Still Be In Control
The very nature of the online space lends itself to a large degree of anonymity and opportunity for deception. It is important for young people not to blindly accept everything they see online as truth.
- Make sure the persons you communicate with are who they present themselves to be
- Practice a degree of scepticism and do not spread any information that you have not verified
- Do not accept friend requests from random strangers just to have a huge friends list – quality over quantity is best
- Never give out private information to anyone that you do not know personally
- If you are in any doubt as to the intentions of anyone block them from your social media accounts. It is almost impossible to bully someone when you have no way to communicate with them
With a bit of thoughtfulness and sensibility, you can make your online experience an enjoyable and safe one. Cathy Mellett founded I’m enough to promote safety online, digital resilience, and offer digital coping strategies to young people and those who care for them. We want you to know that you’re so enough you don’t know how enough you are.
You’re enough and you are loved just as you are. If you can make this your truth then you will have achieved true resilience to cope with everything the digital world can throw your way.
