Monitoring those clicks

The World Wide Web, though one of the greatest inventions ever, is also a trap for unsuspecting  victims. What gives you access to unlimited information and
entertainment, also poses a grave danger sometimes.  

Videos are one of the most consumed content on the internet, especially among children. While there are certain filters that are applied when  children are browsing the internet, there have been instances of a few disturbing videos creeping into timelines.

These show well-known Disney characters in violent, lewd situations and other clips with disturbing imagery. These click-bait videos often cause children to watch them inadvertently. So how difficult is to for busy parents to monitor what their children are viewing online?  

Bindu Sastry, the founder and managing director of 'Mauverick' and mother of 12-year-old Avani, says that she has applied parental control on YouTube and other social media sites so that it limits her usage.

She explains, "We can't be with our kids all the time, so the only way to monitor their usage is to let them know what is good and bad and use parental control options when browsing. With the number of  cyber crimes increasing these days, it's important that we help keep our children safe."  

She also  questions that if people aren't willing to say certain things or have a conversation face to face why  should you do it online.

"That's something that we are helping our daughter understand. If you are not told not to speak to strangers when you are outside, children also need to understand that  the same rule applies to when you are using the internet," she adds.  

For Deepa Murali, a food blogger, she takes a slightly different approach to both her children. "Kids today are a lot more intelligent than we were. When it comes to my 11-year-old daughter, I make sure that I help her understand different situations and give her an answer that satisfies her. My seven-year-old is allowed to access the internet only in our presence," she says.

"Both my children don't have smartphones. They just have a phone to make calls. We have also placed the computer and laptop in the dining room, a place that will be visible from all the nooks and corners of the house. The important thing is to be friendly with them so that they share everything with us," she adds.  

Afeefa Jabir, a kindergarten teacher, says that the best way to monitor such activities is for parents to spend as much as time as they can with their children.

She says, "It's important to cut down on their screen time and get them involved in hands-on activities. Kids these days know to even upload a video which can be dangerous. Be more involved in everything they do and make them understand the situation rather than yelling at them. They are in a vulnerable state and speaking their language is the best way."