In today's rapidly advancing digital world, protecting our children from the dangers of the internet has become a shared responsibility. The internet is full of educational and entertaining opportunities, but it also carries hidden risks, such as inappropriate or harmful content, including images, videos, or websites that are not suitable for their age. Additionally, there are cyber fraud risks that may involve requests for personal information or suspicious links that could compromise their data. To ensure children benefit from technology safely, the following guidelines should be followed:

1. Assessing Risks and Using Preventive Tools:

• Use Parental Controls: Adjust what children can access by activating safe settings on devices and apps that limit exposure to inappropriate content. Use content filtering options in browsers and apps to restrict access to inappropriate online materials.
• Keep Devices Updated: Regularly update devices to protect them from viruses and malware.

2. Using Built-in Parental Controls in Operating Systems:

Many operating systems offer built-in parental controls that parents can use to protect their children. For example:

• iOS Parental Control Guide: Link
• Android Parental Control Guide: Link
• Xbox Parental Control Guide: Link
• PlayStation Parental Control Guide: Link

3. Using Parental Controls to Protect Children:

To avoid exposing children to inappropriate content, it’s essential to use the parental control tools available on digital devices. Parents can follow these steps to manage what children can access:

• Content Filtering: Enable filtering tools to block inappropriate content.
• Restrict Access: Place devices in shared areas of the home to facilitate supervision.
• Set Time Limits: Establish appropriate time limits for children's use of smart devices and the internet. Setting specific times helps create a healthy balance between online time and other activities, promoting healthy physical and mental development.
• Update and Manage Controls: Regularly update parental control tools to ensure their effectiveness.

4. Education and Encouraging Positive and Safe Usage:

• Encourage children to use the internet for learning and skill development, such as researching information that enhances their academic skills or participating in trusted educational platforms. Create individual accounts for each child with age-appropriate content and guide them toward using search engines and apps that filter content to display safe and suitable materials.
• Use safe search engines and ensure that games and apps are age-appropriate. Check game and app ratings to guarantee they are free from harmful elements and meet children’s educational and entertainment needs without exposing them to inappropriate content.

5. Digital Addiction: A Hidden Challenge:

Children are increasingly at risk of digital addiction, where prolonged screen time can lead to psychological and physical problems. These risks include anxiety, social isolation, lack of focus, as well as health issues like eye strain and back pain. To prevent these issues, it’s important to set appropriate time limits for internet use and promote alternative activities like sports and reading.

6. Educating and Alerting Children:

• Teach children the importance of not sharing any personal information, such as their name, address, or contact numbers, with strangers.
• Teach children to speak up confidently if they encounter anything worrying, and remind them not to accept messages or friend requests from strangers.
• Encourage open discussions about what they watch online, and explain how to report inappropriate content online by contacting the relevant authorities or using built-in reporting tools on digital platforms. These tools help remove harmful or inappropriate content and protect children from exposure.

7. Reporting Inappropriate Sites Targeting Children:

To enhance protection, parents should also know how to report websites or content that threaten children's safety. Several services are available for reporting such sites:

• Saudi Filtering Service: Inappropriate websites can be reported via this link.
• Reporting Cyber Crimes: Reports can be filed through this link.
• Reporting Media Content Violations: Through the "Perform" service for audiovisual content via this link.

By following these guidelines, we can create a safe digital environment and ensure that our children benefit from technology in a responsible and secure way, enhancing their positive and productive online experience.