From a certain age, it is almost impossible to prohibit children from using the Internet, which, in addition to its usefulness, also contains a number of dangers for children. Below are a few tips that parents can follow to keep their children safe online.

1. Talk to your child about their online activities

When your children start using the Internet, talk to them about what they read, watche, and interact with online, and continue the conversation as they get older. Ask what websites they visit or what apps they use, make a list and discuss them together. Talk to your children about what you think is appropriate and what is not, and remind them that things may be different for other parents and their children.

Listen to your children's opinion and agree on what is right for your family. Remember that there will come a time when your children will have access to the Internet outside of the safe zone of the home, and they should be prepared for that.

2. Keep devices where you can see their screen

Keep a computer in the center of the house where it will be easy to keep track of what your children are doing and browsing online. For mobile devices, you can set them up so they won't remember your Wi-Fi password so your kids can't use them to connect to the Internet without your knowledge.

For younger children, you can also view their browser history to see what web sites your children visit. This approach may not be as effective over time as children grow up and learn to clear their browser history. This is another reason why you should start a dialogue with your children about Internet use at an early age.

3. Learn about parental control settings

Innocent Internet searches can lead to not so innocent results, so it's helpful for parents to be aware of the search restrictions offered by web browsers, Internet service providers and devices. For example, Google's SafeSearch Filters feature blocks web sites that contain sexually explicit material. To turn it on, go to the "Settings" and "SafeSearch Filters" instructions.

4. Know who your child's online friends are

Adults know that some people online aren't who they seem, but kids and young adults may not know who they're really talking to online if you don't teach them that at an early age. So you should also make friends with your child's contacts so you can keep track of that as well. Your child may object, but you should explain to them that it is one of your conditions that you will allow them access to the Internet.

5. Not everything needs to be shared on social media

If your children use social media regularly, they should be aware of the potential dangers of posting personal information and photos. You should teach your children to be careful and think carefully before posting anything on social media (name, phone number, home address, email address, school name, etc.). You can also arrange for your children to consult with you before posting anything.

6. Keep the location private

Most apps, social media, and devices have a feature to determine a person's geographic location. This feature should be turned off for obvious privacy and security reasons. Digital photos also contain metadata (time, date, and GPS coordinate information) that may reveal more than you want. Some social media platforms automatically hide or delete this data, but not all. So it's up to the parents themselves to be aware of this and explain it to the child as well.

7. Track time spent online

It is recommended that children aged 5 to 17 spend no more than two hours a day at a screen. Therefore, it is important to keep track of how much time your children spend online. It is possible to agree with them and divide the allowed time into parts, such as short sessions of 30 minutes.

8. Lead the child by your example

Lead by example so that your children follow your positive model of online behavior. If your children see that you are considerate and respectful online, they are more likely to follow your example. And yes, it also means you should limit the time you spend online.