Tips for good use of the internet and preventing cyberbullying

Healthy habits for internet connection and prevention of cyber-bullying for girls and boys

• Sleep away from electronic devices. You don’t need your cellphone for sleeping.
• Never ‘go online’ during family meals.
• Monitor your connection time, and try not to stay online for more time than necessary.
• Remember that there is time for everything: doing sport, laughing, reading, studying, playing music…

Online security precautions for boys and girls

• Activate the parental control option in all the apps and devices you use.
• Turn off or cover the camera of your cellphone or tablet.
• Do not trust any ‘amazing offers’ or ‘presents’ that you may receive from unknown sources.
• Keep your profile private at any social networks you use.
• NEVER share or provide your personal information: your name, your address…

Keeping a safe online profile

• Have a safe password and change it frequently.
• NEVER lend your cellphone or device to other people.
• Keep the geolocalization (GPS) in your device(s) turned off as much as possible.
• Configure your privacy settings in all your online profiles: social networks, apps…

What is 'grooming'?

• ‘Grooming’ consists on an adult person approaching with sexual intentions a child or youngster through a fake profile in the social networks and/or online games or apps.
• When using social networks, it is important for children and youngsters to NEVER accept strangers as friends and NEVER chat with strangers.
• Parents should speak with children and to keep informed about their virtual friends and acquaintances.
• Parents should check if their kids consider some online gaming colleague as his or her friend.

Let’s accompany our children

• These days are the perfect time for us to familiarize with the digital world that our children are in.
• Let’s surf the Internet, chat and play through the social networks with them so that we can see the places they usually visit.
• Let’s help them detect the sites and the practices that are not appropriate for their age.

How to prevent cyberbullying?

• Children must be careful when it comes to publishing /uploading content online (not only their own content but also if it belongs to others).
• The content that is uploaded must be respectful.
• It is very important for them to have a private profile in order to avoid suffering cyberbullying.

Do you need help against cyberbullyng?

• Children victims of cyberbullying usually do not speak about it, neither to their parents nor to their teachers. Consequently, it is important to speak regularly about this topic with them.
• The bullies can be blocked online and if necessary their actions can be reported to the authorities.
• You can call the Children’s Assistance Telephone: 116 111 if you require assistance on this matter.

What is the digital identity of my children?

• In front of a computer screen it is a lot easier to say things that we wouldn’t dare say face to face.
• It is also a lot easier to become the spectator of bullying and of humiliations.
• We need to inform the children that all that happens online is recorded, which can have consequences, even legally.

Which content do we publish on the internet?

• The moment that any content is published or uploaded to the Internet, we lose control over it.
• Such content can circulate around the Internet and reach some people we would not want to have it.
• It is important for children not to publish or upload content that they could feel ashamed of in case it reached other people.