Safer Internet Day 2012: Actions for Grandparents
One of the most important things that families can do to understand the online environment is talk to each other about how they interact online.
Safer Internet Day encourages families to learn and connect together. Take positive actions and teach each other about staying safe online.
Grandparents – It's time to learn a new skill!
Many grandparents are experienced internet users and well able to navigate the online world with their grandchildren.
However, some others do not really understand the concept or the content available on the World Wide Web. If you fall into this category, the following advice is for you!
As a grandparent, it's important you have some familiarity with internet safety. This means you can teach good online behaviour and know how to monitor your grandchildren so as to ensure their online protection.
It's not as hard as you might think! The same principles apply online as they do in reality; don't talk to strangers, be kind and protect your personal information.
3 steps to becoming comfortable with technology and the internet
- Sit together with your children or grandchildren at the computer and ask them to give you a tour around the web, explain what they are doing and how they use each particular website. Ask your family to 'drive' before you have a turn clicking around yourself, especially if you are just starting out.
- Ask your family to show you how the internet can benefit you, and make your life easier. You can do your banking, stay in touch with your grandchildren, pay bills, go shopping, look at photos of friends and family, have groceries delivered, enter competitions, download music, television shows and movies and research any topic you like! Just make sure that you are made aware of the risks and potential issues you may encounter before you go online by clicking on each topic in the links below.
- Once you feel comfortable, have a go at navigating the online world yourself. Try new things and explore at your own pace, one click at a time. Go through it twice: first for comprehension, second to create written step-by-step instructions if you need them.
Technology doesn't have to be hard; in fact, once you have a go at it, you will be sure to find something that you will find enjoyable or help make your life easier.
Action items for grandparents: Get started online
- Ask someone who already has a computer and understands the technology to help you choose one for yourself.
- Set up a free email account to stay in touch with family and friends.
- Collect a list of websites and blogs that you enjoy, and can re-visit by bookmarking them. Ask your family to help you with this and show you how to do it yourself for next time.
- Create accounts on social networking websites or other sites where your family posts their photos, videos and information.
- Create login names and secure passwords to protect your online information.
- If you have a digital camera, ask your family to show you how to post your own pictures online.
Remember, always protect your personal information online just as you would in the physical world. Never give out your passwords or personal details, and ensure that you have virus software installed on your computer.
Be your grandchild's safety net
As a grandparent, you can play an important role in helping your children have safe and positive experiences online. By becoming aware of how children and young people use the internet, some of the risks they face and the strategies available to manage these risks, you can help guide the young people in your life to enjoy the best of the online world. For more information and to increase your knowledge, choose a topic below: