The world wide web or the internet seems like a galaxy of various pages, platforms, and content. No one knows for sure the depth of this virtual universe and how far one’s access goes. One thing’s for sure though, the freedom and privilege offered by such advanced technological innovations come with certain risks and consequences. Hence, if one’s not responsible or careful enough, the dangers of the internet could easily consume and harm them.
To research using open-source web engines, to stream online videos, to socialize on networking sites, to unwind on gaming platforms – whatever your purpose is in accessing the internet, be sure to take precautionary actions and be cautious. Internet safety seems to have become undervalued and is often overlooked, being outweighed by misleading freedom and privileges. As parents, it’s our job to raise awareness of the different cyber threats and to strengthen safety nets that could protect us and our children. There are countless dangers lurking in the virtual world but there’s also a myriad of precautionary measures we can take – from enabling web browser parental controls to installing monitoring software.
Dangers of the Internet For Teenagers & Kids
If you’re wondering what some dangers of the internet are or if you don’t believe dangers are lurking in the virtual world, check out this list below to see why you might need a parenting tool.
- Cyberbullying
One of the most common dangers of the internet for teenagers and kids alike is cyberbullying. And be wary as this act of virtual assault or attack can take different forms – from harassment to trolling to cyberstalking and more!
- Cyber Predators
Internet dangers are mostly caused by online users with selfish or malicious intentions – cyber predators are taking advantage of the benefits of the virtual world. They typically target users they believe are vulnerable, especially teenagers. They do what they can to create trust with their victim and establish a relationship with them.
- Scamming
Scammers are one of the greatest online risks as these individuals are intentionally hunting for victims or vulnerable users who are mostly kids or teenagers. Since they are typically taking advantage of other people’s trust and emotions, scammers are one of the most dangerous predators. Scammers have different motives, but most often seek to obtain personal information for financial gain.
- Catfishing
Catfishing is the act of hiding one’s true identity through a fake online profile or a well-decorated social account. In most cases, catfishers target young people who are eager to find dates or get involved in romantic relationships.
- Phishing
Phishing refers to luring target victims into accessing compromised sites or downloading malicious files. These could be SMS texts, emails with clickable links, or random chats on online gaming platforms.
- Malware
Most cyber safety compromises start with malicious software or malware. These are types of programs meant to bypass default accesses, exploit data, and/or compromise devices, systems, or networks.
- Inappropriate Content
Another threat to kids’ internet safety is inappropriate content. If no filters and security settings are put in place, young kids could be easily polluted by suggestive photos, aggressive words, mature videos, and various other types and forms of malicious content.
- The Dark Web
The dark web may not be as easily accessible as open-source web engines, but we can’t deny the possibility kids or teens can end up on this black market. This is why one of the first online rules you should implement at home is regulating online access. The dark web is a private part of the internet where anything and everything can happen, including the viewing of explicit content and the selling of drugs.
Protect Your Child With Highster Mobile
You should know by now the virtual world isn’t exactly a safe haven for online users, especially kids and teenagers. Internet security and safety isn’t a one-man job or a one-off process. It requires conscious and consistent efforts. Hence, individuals who own or use cell phones should know better than mindlessly browsing through web pages, exposing personal information, and carelessly leaving digital footprints that could be traced back to them.
However, not because several dangers are lurking online, it doesn’t mean you must completely stop using such technologies and utilizing such privileges. By simply paying more attention to digital safety and taking it more seriously, anyone can continue to benefit from the accessibility of the internet without compromising their privacy, safety, and security.
If you’re a parent, for instance, you can seek assistance from smart apps and innovative programs meant to ensure the online safety of kids and teenagers. Tools like monitoring software can significantly help in regulating phone use and in steering your children away from online predators and cyber threats. Premium monitoring software like Highster Mobile grants remote access to target devices, acquiring valuable information in real-time.
More than just a regular monitoring app, the Highster Mobile software is programmed with advanced monitoring features, reliable parental controls, and intricate security protocols. This all-in-one app can automatically extract online and offline phone activities. It can provide in-depth access to several social media sites and a wide array of instant messaging chat rooms. It’s full-packed with tools that can help parents protect their children, including:
- Content Filters
- Keyword Search Alerts
- Web Browser Tracking
- Keylogger Monitoring
- App or Site Blocking
Being an innovative and intuitive app, Highster Mobile is the ultimate child monitoring software. It’s capable of keeping kids and teens safe from cyber attacks, online predators, and inappropriate content.
Moreover, it’s easy to install, navigate, and operate. Its user-friendly dashboard requires minimum to no user input to function properly as programmed. Hence, it’s an ideal tool even for less tech-savvy parents.
Aside from utilizing trusted and reliable monitoring software like Highster Mobile, here are some other internet safety tips you might want to consider.
- Only visit legitimate websites or web pages with SSL certificates or those with URLs starting with HTTPS.
- Avoid clicking on links from unknown or unverified sources
- Never access and/or download files sent by strangers.
- Only use private and secure connections.
- Avoid connecting to public WiFis and unidentified Bluetooth network connections.
- Browse in Incognito Mode.
- Enable all available built-in device parental controls and web browser history tracking features.
- Active safe searching.
- Keep the web browser and device OS updated.
Even if your kids or teens won’t gain access to the dark web, the internet is an abyss of media content. You won’t know for sure what you might come across with. And when it comes to your kids or teens, you can never be too careful. Make their safety and security top priorities by taking the necessary precautions and using Highster Mobile.