Keeping Our Teens Safe Online

[RogersYasmine]

Technology has come a very long way and is still accelerating at an extremely rapid pace. It’s hard to imagine a time where the internet didn’t exist. Just ask any teenager today to try going without the internet – or without their phones, tablets, laptops, or smart devices, even if just for a day. The idea of this would seem impossible to them, right? While it’s great to be so connected to the world, there are also hidden dangers they need to be aware of. That’s why it’s imperative for them to be able to recognize and avoid the risks to stay safe online. That includes understanding the impacts of what we share, post, like or comment on through social media, apps, websites, blogs, and vlogs. 

The Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst has compiled the following information and tips to help teens stay safe online:

Things to Remember:

• Your digital footprint is the virtual footprints that you leave behind in all your online activities – that includes the websites you visit, your posts and what is posted about you. All your activities can provide little bits of information about you or your loved ones that can be used to target your online identity.
• Cyberbullying is never okay. Behaving in a disrespectful or unkind way towards people online can have a significant and lasting impact on those directly and even indirectly involved, including:
• Physical and emotional trauma,
• Disciplinary action at school,
• Legal action and consequences, and
• Damage to how people perceive you

TIPS

• Pause before you post: Sharing or liking a post automatically associates you with the content. If you share something to raise awareness of an issue or topic that you feel is wrong or that you disagree with, be very clear and concise in your comment that accompanies the shared content.
• Protect your digital footprint – Always use strong passphrases and enable multi-factor authentication where possible to protect your accounts and never use the same password across multiple accounts.
• Conduct regular reviews: Delete posts or content that no longer reflect your personal beliefs – but keep in mind that deleting it doesn’t always mean that it’s gone forever. Any of the content about you can be saved through archives or screenshots.

Are you the parent or guardian of a teen? If so, we'd love to hear about your experiences or any tips you've picked up along the way! Please feel free to share your comments below!