Parents urged to make internet safer for children

The Malta Communications Authority has issued a set of guidelines for proper internet usage, particularly to protect children from coming across harmful content, in view of today's Safer Internet Day.

Being among the biggest user groups of online and mobile technologies in Europe, Maltese youths and young children are most vulnerable to illicit content and other malicious practices, the MCA said.

A high proportion of Maltese children use the internet as a direct result of formal ICT education in primary and secondary schools. While the internet was an excellent educational tool, however, the MCA said it was important children were taught to use it wisely.

Unaware of the risks when posting personal information online, they could potentially be subject to cyber bullying, cyber grooming or adult content that might not necessarily be illegal but still harmful to minors.

The generational divide could also reduce the parent's capacity to safeguard their children from such risks. It was imperative for parents, educators and minors to be kept abreast of the consequences of sharing personal information and how negative incidents could be prevented, the MCA said.

The authority is responsible for the safer use of internet and other communication technologies through its information society unit. In its activities, it collaborates with other national agencies, including the police, Appoġġ Agency, the Children's Commissioner and the directorate for educational services to promote safe use of these technologies.

Steps to safety

As a general rule, parents should adopt the same precautionary measures they do in the physical world. Here are some simple steps they should consider:

1. Always keep the computer in a room occupied by the whole family and not in a bedroom.

2. Have regular discussions with children about the material they are sending and receiving over the internet and the problems that could arise.

3. Discuss how best to behave online, privacy settings that should be set up, what information is safe to share, the importance of asking friends' permission before uploading photos, whom to trust and how to go about this.

4. Install filtering software that blocks content that can be harmful to minors, although this should not be considered as an effective substitute to adult supervision.