Parenting Tips on how to inculcate good online manners in children?

Parenting Tips on how to inculcate good online manners in children?

How can I make my children follow good online manners? Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommends the following:

You should talk to children regarding good manners before permitting them to use gadgets and make them responsible digital citizens. You must formulate clear rules about the online content, i.e., Apps, social media sites, and games that they are allowed to access and their duration. A few good online manners are:

• Follow the golden rule of interpersonal relationships; treat others, as you want yourself to be treated. Never post hurtful messages. Disagree politely
• Use the right language for communication. Avoid the use of swear words. Do not use all caps while typing, as it implies that you are screaming
• Do not post private information such as home address and passwords
• Respect the copyright laws and do not download or copy without permission
• Think before you type, post, and share to check, if it is true, kind, and legal. Before posting a picture, discuss with a parent. Do not post inappropriate material. Anything posted online cannot be erased permanently, as it leaves a digital footprint.
• Never meet a digital friend in person alone whom you have never met before
• Make internet a safe place by reporting online misbehavior to trustworthy adults
• During online schooling, maintain the decorum of the class, wear proper attire, and follow the instructions of the teachers

 What should I do when others post messages that hurt my child?

If others repeatedly post hurtful or inappropriate messages to your child, follow these steps:

1. Reassure your child that you love him/her and will help
2. Ask the child to take a break from the online world
3. Block the sender
4. Do not respond to the hurtful message
5. Save the message to enable reporting
6. If you know the bully, try talking to the parents
7. Contact the school teacher to inquire about bullying in school. Most schools have antibullying policies  Try contacting the digital platform provider to block and report the bully. If bullying does not stop, report to the cyber police

Cyberbullying, sexting, and online sexual solicitation are cybercrimes and can be reported at https://www.cybercrime.gov.in or to the Childline phone number: 1098.