By Lucy Wyndham
There are no state laws in North Dakota relating to children and internet use. As a result, North Dakota ranks poorly for children’s online safety, and comes in at 21st place, according to CenturyLink.
In contrast, South Dakota, which has an ample number of state laws on the matter, ranks 4th. So just what should parents in the North do to keep their children safe online?
Explore apps
North Dakota is working to keep kids safe online and in 2019 were awarded $342,445 to continue their investigations of online predators. Brent Gromer of Internet Crimes Against Children says he’s concerned children are exploring apps that contain inappropriate content. To ensure your child is only viewing suitable content, go through every app your child has on their devices and check them out online. Even safe-sounding apps can have a sinister side, so be thorough with your checks and delete anything you’re not happy with. It’s also worth using a family sharing app that connects yours and your children’s phones and tablets so you can see exactly what apps they’re downloading.
Monitor your child’s usage
86% of parents with children under 11 limit their child’s internet usage. However, this drops to 61% when the child is a teenager. It’s important to monitor your child’s internet usage as there are often signs that something is amiss. For example, a child that closes tabs when you enter the room, starts spending more time online, gets anxious or aggressive about being online, or starts talking about people you’ve never heard of may be at risk online from things such as grooming. You can prevent this from happening by taking time to understand how and why online grooming occurs. Popular apps, games, and social networks are often targeted by groomers, so always monitor what your child is doing on these programs. You should also speak to your child about online grooming so they know what it is, what to look out for, and how to report any concerns to you.
Set ground rules
39% of children use their real name on social media. Meanwhile, 7.5 million underage children have a social media account. As a parent, it’s your role to put internet ground rules into place. There should be rules such as no social media account until your child is 13 years old, no using the internet alone in the bedroom, and no giving out personal information, such as real name, age, or location. Remind your child that people online should be treated just like strangers on the street and they should never divulge personal information to them. Similarly, never set up a social media account for an underage child (typically 13 years of age) as there is a minimum age requirement for a reason. If you discover your child has broken your internet rules, use the opportunity to educate them further rather than punish them.
The internet should be enjoyed by all children in North Dakota. But, you mustn’t forget that there are dangers lurking on the web and that your kids need to be taught how to stay safe when browsing, chatting, and playing online.