How much do your kids understand about the internet? Sure, they may be able to navigate Facebook like a wiz, but do not mistake that for a thorough understand of the technical and social complexities of the web. Think about this: do your children understand that when they get on the home computer it may be linked to another computer thousands of miles away monitoring their actions? Or that the person they are chatting with may be using a false identity? What about when they receive an e-mail from someone they trust but it has an odd or provocative subject line? How about answering personal questions that may make them a target for predators?
Professor Zheng Yan, of the State University of New York, tackled these questions in a series of studies. He found that the amount of time children spend on the internet does not correlate to an understand of the technical and social complexities of it.
“The frequency of internet use does not provide for much improvement in their technical understanding, but it does help some with respect to their understanding of the social threats and complexities. Instruction about the web, even if provided informally, also helps children understand the social dynamics of internet use.” Internet Safety: do kids really understand what’s going on?
Your child is probably not as internet savvy as she or he may appear. According to Dr. Yan, taking the time to explain to your child the technical and social dangers of the internet helps them to better understand how to use it properly. Knowledge is power. Give your kids the edge they need to use the internet safely and effectively.