It is undoubtedly true that most all parents want to be good to their children. They want to protect them and watch them grow up and flourish. If possible, they will keep them away from anything or anyone that might do them harm. As such, digital parenting is a part of their duties.
Online Threats
Online threats come in a variety of forms from bullying by peers all the way up to sexual harassment, intimidation, and more. Taking a look at some of the figures from bullyingstatistics.org can be a real eye opener:
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Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyberbullying
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More than 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyberthreats online.
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Over 25 percent of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the Internet.
With figures like that, it is obvious that parents do need to be there for their children to protect them.
Rules And Guidelines
There have to be some established rules and guidelines for your child otherwise he or she will be unclear on what they can or cannot do. Depending upon their age, you may tell them they are not allowed to go on social media websites or that they are not to use chat rooms. If they are a little older, you may allow this but always make them block and report anyone who bullies them or attempts to harass them in any way. Also, the simple rule of not talking to people they don't know should also apply to the online world.
How To Avoid Being Overbearing
No matter what parents do they are going to worry that they are being overbearing with their children. It is important to let them grow up in the digital world that is all around us but at the same time keep them safe. How can the two be balanced? Simply by having a discussion about the expectations of your child when they are online. Believe it or not, a simple talk always does a lot more good than avoiding the subject all together.
