Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day, celebrated annually on February 7th, raises awareness about online safety and highlights the importance of protecting children from online threats. From a cybersecurity perspective, it is critical for individuals and organizations in the industry to take proactive steps to ensure a safe and secure online experience for kids.

One of the biggest challenges in ensuring online safety for kids is keeping up with the constantly evolving technology landscape. Kids are spending more and more time online and in front of screens, accessing a wider range of devices and platforms, and engaging in new and innovative activities. As a result, they are also exposed to new and emerging risks, including cyberbullying, online predators, and exposure to harmful content.

To address these risks, parents, schools, and vendors in the technology industry can take steps to bolster security for kids:

• Implement age-appropriate content moderation: Utilize vendors who design their products and services with security features that are tailored to the needs and maturity levels of different age groups. For example, DNS filtering tools such as Webroot DNS Protection can be used by educational institutions and other organizations to enforce content moderation policies and prevent phishing/malware attacks.

• Provide education and resources: Vendors can educate users, especially kids and their parents, about online safety and the dangers of the internet. This can include resources such as online safety guides, educational videos, and interactive tools to help kids understand.

• Teach kids about online safety: Parents and schools can educate kids about the dangers of the internet and the importance of staying safe online. This can include lessons about cyberbullying, online predators, and the dangers of sharing personal information.

• Encourage responsible online behavior: Vendors can promote responsible online behavior by educating kids about the importance of maintaining good digital citizenship, such as being respectful to others, protecting their personal information, and avoiding cyberbullying.

• Enhance data protection measures: Vendors can implement strong data protection measures, such as encryption and multi-factor authentication, to secure personal information and prevent data breaches. This can help prevent sensitive information, such as names, addresses, and phone numbers, from being disclosed to unauthorized parties or breached and sold on the dark web.

• Foster a culture of security: Vendors can foster a culture of security by prioritizing security in all aspects of their business, from product design to marketing to customer support. This can help to ensure that the safety and security of their users, especially kids, remains a top priority.

• Stay informed: Parents and schools can stay informed about the latest online safety tips, trends, and threats by visiting online safety websites (Examples in the reference section), reading digital security blogs, and participating in online safety initiatives.

• Partner with organizations and institutions: Vendors can work with organizations and institutions that specialize in child safety, such as schools, clubs, NGOs, and government agencies, to help spread awareness and promote online safety. Parents and schools can collaborate with technology vendors to ensure that their products and services are designed with the safety and security of kids in mind.

In 2022, OpenText began a collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana with the purpose of educating children on cybersecurity and how to be responsible when using the internet. This partnership has been successful in raising awareness of the dangers that exist online and the importance of becoming cyber resilient. This campaign is a perfect example of how organizations can contribute towards the goals of Safer Internet Day. We all have a responsibility to prepare today’s youth to be educated on staying safe in an increasingly digital world. 

Safer Internet Day is a reminder that online safety is a shared responsibility and that everyone has a role to play in protecting kids from online threats. Cybersecurity companies can play a crucial role in ensuring a safe and secure online experience for kids. They can accomplish this by implementing data security features, providing education and resources, encouraging responsible online behavior, partnering with organizations and institutions, and fostering a culture of security. Parents and schools play a critical role in ensuring online safety by setting boundaries and rules, encouraging open communication, using parental controls, promoting responsible online behavior, staying informed, and utilizing cybersecurity tools.

• National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA): https://staysafeonline.org/

• ConnectSafely: https://www.connectsafely.org/

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): https://consumer.ftc.gov/identity-theft-and-online-security/protecting-kids-online

• Netsmartz: https://www.netsmartz.org/Parents

• Internet Matters: https://www.internetmatters.org/

• Common Sense Media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

• Childnet International: https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers