It is important to understand the reasons behind imposing restrictions on website access and utilizing specialized software that blocks certain types of content, significantly reducing children’s time spent online.

#1 Negative Impact on Vision

Continuous screen exposure from PCs and mobile devices adversely affects children’s eyesight. Failing to set limits can lead to vision impairments within just 1-2 years, making it difficult for them to discern objects in close proximity. This can result in a range of problems with negative consequences. While corrective glasses can address vision issues, not all children are comfortable wearing them. Many feel self-conscious, and their peers may tease them, affecting their mood.

Minimizing internet content consumption is crucial, ideally limiting it to one hour per day. During the rest of the time, parents should supervise their children, encouraging them to engage in sports or actively pursue additional subjects, focusing on tasks that enhance logic, memory, and attentiveness. Taking children outdoors more frequently for walks and playtime helps them socialize with peers and develop increased levels of activity, boosting immunity and positively affecting their mental well-being.

#2 Unapproved Online Purchases

Media frequently reports incidents where people receive deliveries of furniture, gaming consoles, or even pizzas without having placed any orders themselves. Investigation often reveals that the purchases were made by children. However, returning items is not always possible without incurring additional expenses. Online shopping has made the purchasing process convenient, even for children. Credit card information can be obtained by simply photographing it on a smartphone when parents are temporarily absent. Subsequently, children can use this information to order sweets, toys, or expensive gadgets worth thousands of euros. Moreover, many individuals save payment details on their devices.

Certain items can even be acquired in installments without an initial payment. Parents may discover these purchases only when it is too late to return the phone or gaming console.

#3 Accessing Dangerous Websites

Not all online content is safe for children. Some resources require age verification, but rarely is an actual ID check required. Merely clicking on 1-2 buttons can grant unrestricted access to erotic films or gambling activities. However, such content is not the most alarming. The internet also harbors more harmful videos that have a severely negative impact on children’s mental well-being. These videos may involve suicide, bullying, drug use, offensive language, and more. Children may easily perceive such content as normal and may engage in irreversible actions, bullying their peers, younger siblings, or animals. There is a high risk of teenagers joining closed suicide clubs or cults. It is better to proactively restrict access to such content to prevent potential problems.

#4 Interaction with Scammers

Children and teenagers are the most vulnerable targets for scammers. They are easily deceived, intimidated, and coerced into taking certain actions. Consequently, law enforcement deals with numerous cases where significant sums have been extorted from minors. Children themselves may transfer thousands of euros to criminals’ accounts, having stolen their parents’ credit cards.

Additionally, scammers can exploit children and teenagers as couriers for illegal substances. They place advertisements, attract minors, and subsequently reward them without risking their own freedom. Police can apprehend teenagers at any time, leading to serious legal consequences. Scammers may also entice children into recording intimate videos for a small fee. Such content is popular among certain individuals. Furthermore, pedoph.

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Session restrictions
Children start browsing different websites around the age of 5. However, pediatricians believe that introducing children to the internet at such a young age should be avoided as there is a high risk of developing dependency. From the age of 7, schoolchildren can visit online portals, but restrictions should be imposed: the duration of a session should not exceed 30 minutes per day.

At the age of 10, the time spent online can be increased to 1 hour. Teenagers are allowed to spend up to 1.5 hours on the World Wide Web. It becomes more challenging to control a child’s internet usage at the age of 15. However, it is important to adhere to restrictions. It is not advisable for a teenager to spend more than 3 hours a day surfing the internet.

Extended sessions on a PC can have negative effects on eye health, posture, spine, and digestion. It is important to monitor the child to prevent the development of mental and physical ailments.

Enabling “Child Internet” service with the provider
This service allows limiting access to specific websites that can harm a child’s mental well-being. The most dangerous portals fall into the following categories: religious, extremist, gaming, terrorist, pornographic, erotic, etc.

A special filter checks websites on the internet based on multiple parameters. A child will not be able to access portals that are harmful to their mental state. It will be difficult to bypass the restriction using special software. Anonymizers, proxy servers, and platforms that enable downloading programs to bypass the control system will be automatically blocked.

The cost of the “Child Internet” service may vary among providers, but overall it is affordable. Every family can afford to have it. By spending a small amount, you can give your child a happy childhood without shocks and dependencies.

Installation of special software
The WHO has repeatedly drawn attention to the problem of internet addiction and the emergence of various mental disorders due to unlimited website visits. Many software developers have created special programs. After installing them on a PC or mobile phone, filters are suggested, and certain resources can be added to a blacklist.

During the software installation, special algorithms gradually check websites and subsequently provide access only to those that are maximally safe for children. Settings can be changed with a password. If the password is kept secure, the child will not be able to modify the settings and freely access prohibited resources.

VPNs, anonymizers, and proxy services will be automatically restricted upon activating the software. The child will not be able to use them to bypass the blocks. By regularly reviewing the list of installed programs, it is possible to protect children from dangerous platforms.

There are numerous programs available online that allow setting restrictions on internet usage. You can try using free utilities and software. If they are not able to fulfill the assigned tasks, it is worth considering installing paid software.

The cost of such programs varies and can range from 200 to 300 euros. Payment can be easily made through credit cards or prepaid vouchers. It is important to note that the software may have a beta version. It is recommended to install the software and observe its performance for 2 to.
Regular Conversations
Parents play an important role in a child’s life and serve as authority figures. To protect children from the harmful influence of negative information on the internet, it is recommended to have gentle conversations from an early age. In this case, arguments and quarrels undermine the authority of the adult, causing teenagers to defy the advice of their elders.

It is recommended to give children advice on using websites from an early age. It is important for them to remember that not all information published online is reliable. They should not trust websites that guarantee unrealistic income without any investment or visit dubious resources. Certain platforms can draw a child into a cult and eventually lead to suicide.

It is worth explaining to the child the importance of taking precautions. It is important for children to understand that not all websites are safe and that sharing personal information or photos can lead to negative consequences. It is necessary to hide credit cards from younger family members or enable two-factor authentication and receive SMS notifications for transactions, otherwise, one will have to deal with significant expenses in online stores and fraudulent account top-ups.

Setting a personal example
Many parents complain to psychologists and on forums that their children don’t listen to them. They actively visit websites that harm their mental well-being, negatively affect their behavior, and lead to a decline in academic performance. In such situations, the older family members are often to blame.

Many adults are glued to their smartphones, spending all their free time surfing the internet, visiting online bg casino, social media platforms, and news websites. The child finds this situation unfair. They also want to spend time online, browsing different websites.

In this situation, it is important to put aside laptops and smartphones and try to spend time with the children. Topping up an account in Palms Bet Cashterminal or making an online purchase can be done later. It’s better to do it when the child is asleep. This approach will build trust within the family. Moreover, parents will set a good example. Schoolchildren and teenagers will not create conflicts and demand more time for internet surfing.

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• The first exposure to the Internet lays the foundation for later use and good manners in children. Preschoolers like the established routines and are an ideal way for children to develop safe Internet use skills.
• Children under the age of 7 may not fully understand the information available on the Internet and, for example, may not be able to distinguish between advertisements and actual content. At this age, parents need to help children find appropriate material. Children often do not see the difference between using the Internet and playing games or drawing on a computer.
• At this stage, parents can establish the first internal rules for computer use.
• Time spent at the computer should be limited for health reasons.
• Place the computer in the living room, for example. When preschoolers use the Internet, the presence of an adult is recommended.
• Internet access for preschoolers should be limited to a list of familiar Web sites chosen in advance. More trained children can find familiar sites in their Internet browser’s Favorites menu.
• The safest solution is to create a personal working environment for the child, in which the choice of sites is limited to the specified sites only.

Children 7-9 years old

• Young students will be dealing with the Internet not only at home, but also at school and with friends. Parents and children should discuss how to use the Internet appropriately and agree on rules to follow. Children ages 7-9 may already have a relatively good idea of what they are seeing. However, they are not ready to handle all the material available on the Internet, especially scary or inappropriate material (images, text, or sound). Talking about these materials and explaining the different things children may encounter online will help children become responsible and capable of operating independently and safely online. Parents can share their own opinions and perspectives on Internet use to help their children.
• Restrictions, protection, and supervised Internet use are still paramount at this age. Parents and children are encouraged to agree on rules for Internet use and review them as children get older.
• Internet use at home is still allowed only when parents are present. This ensures that help is available in any problematic situation.
• If a computer is set up in a room used by the whole family, Internet use becomes a natural part of daily life.
• A child cannot yet determine the reliability of a website on his or her own, so s/he should always ask permission from parents before posting personal information.
• Chat rooms and other public interactive discussions are not yet appropriate for a child of this age. A shared family email address should be used as the email address used by this age group.
• When creating a user account with limited privileges, the child can learn to use the computer independently.
• Filtering software can also be used to prevent access to inappropriate sites, but it is important that parents remain actively involved in the child’s use of the Internet.

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Possible actions:

• Use the Internet with your child and teach him/her how to identify advertising and its purpose.
• Report any inappropriate advertising to the Consumer Agency or service provider.
• Protect children from direct marketing
• Direct marketing via email or SMS is only allowed with the prior consent of the individual. For example, if a child provides personal information when participating in an online contest, he or she may inadvertently consent to direct marketing.
  Paid services and online shopping by children
• Any purchases made online or on a cell phone must be made by, or with the permission of, an adult.

Tips:

• Agree with your child on rules for online shopping.
• Work with the operator to set appropriate phone locks, SMS messages or spending limits on your child’s cell phone.
• Report any inappropriate Web sites to the K-Division of the BSTM of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in your area or to the service provider.
• Create a family email address for you and your children to use when purchasing items online.

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This is important for the following reasons:

Internet bullying often occurs in the absence of adults.

Children often assume that reporting it to their parents will only make the situation worse.

The anonymity and low likelihood of being punished leads people to do things they would not do in other circumstances (e.g., may tell a person things they would not say in person).

Internet bullying is technically easy. It takes a few clicks of the mouse to send a malicious message or publish an offensive text that is accessible to a wide audience.

Tip

Even if your child has not encountered online abuse, it is advisable to discuss the following with him or her:

• Do not disseminate contact or personal information, such as photos, without carefully considering the possible consequences. Interactive friendships can end. When that happens, personal information can be sent to abusers.
• On the Internet, everyone has the right to be treated with respect.
• A chat room, email client, or computer can be shut down or turned off at any time.
• Children should be given the opportunity to talk to their parents about negative experiences.

Remember

The Internet is subject to the same regulations and laws as in real life. Slandering or insulting other users is prohibited on the Internet. This may be considered libel, for which the user may be subject to punishment and liability for damages. Some actions that required a few clicks are very difficult to undo, and children may not realize how serious the situation can become.

Remember that anonymous users can often be traced. However, police will not take any action in the absence of a reason to suspect someone of a crime.

• If a child receives malicious emails or text messages:
• Tell your child not to open such messages or messages from complete strangers.
• You should not respond to malicious messages. However, these messages should be saved in case another person is in the same situation.
• If you find out the sender goes to the same school as the child, contact the school administration.
• If the abuse persists, you can change the child’s email address or phone number.

Additional rules:

• Abusive messages can be saved for later action.
• In addition, you can set the email program settings so that messages from a particular sender go in a separate folder. In this case, the child will not have to read them.
• If you know the sender’s e-mail address, you can send a copy of the malicious e-mail to the ISP and have them delete it.
• If the sender’s email address is unknown, contact your ISP for assistance.
• If you find abusive text or pictures of your child on the Internet:
• Save any pages on which this material was found for future reference.
• If a service provider can be identified by the site or address, contact the service provider. The service provider may remove the text and likely reveal the identity of the author.
• Alternatively, you can ask your own ISP to contact the administrator of the site in question and request that the material be removed.
• If the abuse is very serious and constitutes a crime, contact the police.

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• Students may already know how to use the Internet for a variety of purposes. Parents can support their child by finding out which sites can help with homework, contain information about hobbies or other hobbies of the child. The Internet can also be used to plan for issues affecting the whole family. This gives parents and children an opportunity to discuss the reliability of different sites, as well as sources for finding useful and quality information.
• The child needs parental supervision and control, as well as knowledge of the rules of proper web surfing. However, the child can learn how to get rid of supervision and bypass the rules if he or she finds them too restrictive or inappropriate for his or her needs.
• Parents and children need to come to an agreement about permitted and prohibited activities on the Internet, as well as its use. The agreement should address all needs and opinions. Examples: sender responsibility, downloading files, and copyright and software installation.
• Agree on what personal information can be disclosed and when, and talk about the risks of disclosure.
• If a child is already interested in chat rooms or IRC, parents should discuss with children their safety and monitor their experience in interactive discussions.
• Many children are curious and inquisitive, so parents need to emphasize the need for safe and careful use.
• The information security system also needs to be updated

Children 13-15 years old.

• At this age, the Internet is becoming a part of children’s social life: on the Internet they meet and spend time, looking for information related to their studies or hobbies. With a higher level of literacy, there are many opportunities to use the Internet. It can be very difficult for parents to know what their child is doing online. At this age, children are also prone to taking risks and pushing limits. Technical restrictions and bans can be an ineffective way to increase online safety.
• Children 13 to 15 years old may want to keep their activities private, especially if parents have not previously inquired or learned about the ways in which their child uses the Internet. It becomes important for families to participate in open discussions and for parents to take an interest in what the child is doing and with whom he or she is using the Internet.

There is still a need to follow established internal rules.

• A teenager may still be inadequate in assessing phenomena, so he needs the help of an adult in case, for example, he wants to post his photos or personal information on a website.
• Ethical issues and the personal responsibility of the teenager as an Internet user are important topics for discussion. For example, illegal downloading, online etiquette, and copyright. Children should also be responsible about posting online, including posting their own personal information and information that may be illegal.
• Parents should take an interest in children’s online interlocutors, as they do with all other friends. Parents are encouraged to get involved in situations where the child wants to meet new people online.
• Parents should not overreact, even if it turns out that something “terrible” happened while the child was online. They can still guide the child to deal only with relevant material. For example, there are good interactive services that deal with sexuality and health issues for young audiences. Young people need to be aware that they can talk to their parents at any time if they are uncomfortable with what they have encountered online.

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Many Web sites ask users to register or otherwise provide personal information in order to receive rewards, such as access to a service, participation in a sweepstakes, free merchandise, or the opportunity to participate in a discussion group. Commercial organizations may collect contact information about children and teens for marketing purposes, but they must legally obtain consent before engaging in marketing activities.

However, website administrators may not always keep personal information private, even if that information is protected under the Data Protection Act. Teach your children to be careful when providing personal information.

Tips

• Negotiate an approach with your child
  It is often helpful to agree with your child on the principles for sharing personal information online. If your child is allowed to provide this information, you need to know about the trustworthiness of the sites where the information was provided.
• Familiarize yourself with privacy policies
  We recommend making sure each time you use a service comes with an appropriate privacy policy, which should explain how personal information is used, when it is used, and for what purpose.
• Provide only what is required
  As a rule, only a small amount of mandatory information is required. When you sign up for a new service, its provider usually asks for permission to do direct marketing. This can be waived at the outset, but in the case of inadvertent consent, it can be revoked by contacting the service provider. If you plan to provide personal information online, it is recommended that you create a family e-mail address for use by adults and children.
• Do not save personal information in your browser
  We recommend that you do not save personal information or passwords in your Internet browser or other programs connected to the Internet.

Publishing pictures and personal information of children

• Uploading photos taken with a camera or digital camera is quick and easy. When a photo is published online, it is very difficult to prevent it from being distributed, altered, and used in different contexts. Copies of photos can easily end up in several places, and it can be very difficult to remove them completely. Think twice before publishing personal information along with a photo.
• Publishing someone’s photo or other personal information, such as on a school website, involves the disclosure of personal information, which always requires that person’s consent. Anyone disclosing personal information also has the right to have it reviewed and, if necessary, corrected. Children should be cautioned against publishing personal information on their own websites or online diaries (blogs).

Additional Information:
The use of personal information is subject to:

• Data Protection Act.
• Standards for the protection of confidential information and electronic communications

Remember:

• You should not provide personal information unless you know the person who is requesting it and the purposes for which the information will be used.
• Notice of Problem

Inappropriate Marketing.

• If there is a violation of consumer rights, you should contact the consumer protection authorities of your city/region, or go to court. If there is a violation of advertising laws, you should contact the antimonopoly authority in your region.
• Cheating, Fraud, Hate Pages, and Other Illegal Acts
• Forged or false websites, hate sites, attempted email scams, and other illegal activities should be reported to the law enforcement agency in your area.

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