In this digital age, children and teenagers spend a lot of time online, where they have many new opportunities to communicate and learn. However, as the use of digital technology increases, so does the risk of encountering issues such as cyberbullying, trolling, phishing and breaches of personal data. In this article, we look at what psychological safety on the Internet is and how parents can keep their children safe by providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills to behave safely and positively online.

What is psychological safety on the Internet

Psychological safety on the Internet is a state in which a child feels comfortable and secure in the online environment, without fear of emotional or psychological abuse, humiliation and threats. This concept includes several key aspects:

1. Protection from cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is aggressive behavior or bullying carried out through digital platforms. Psychological safety involves having protective measures in place to help prevent or minimize the impact of cyberbullying.

2. Privacy and personal data protection: protecting an individual’s private information from unauthorized access, thus avoiding various forms of identity exploitation, including psychological manipulation.

3. Emotional support and equality: It is important that online spaces provide opportunities for positive communication and emotional support, minimizing the risks of discrimination or emotional abuse.

4. Content control: Psychological safety includes the ability to control what content a user is exposed to, avoiding unwanted or traumatizing information.

The main threats to psychological safety on the Internet

1. Cyberbullying: Aggressive actions aimed at humiliating and intimidating other users. This can occur through social media, messengers, forums and other online platforms. Cyber-bullying is the most common among children and teenagers.

2. Trolling and Hate Speech: Intentionally provoking or spreading hate speech that may negatively affect the victim’s emotional state.

3. Stalking: Showing excessive monitoring or harassing of a user through their online activity.

4. Phishing: Fraudulent attempts to obtain personal information ( passwords or bank card details) through deceptive means that can be used for further psychological abuse.

5. Destructive online communities: Groups or forums that promote ideas or actions that are harmful to mental health.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is a form of aggressive behavior that is carried out using digital technology. It can include threats, insults, dissemination of defamatory material, malicious exclusion from social media groups, ignoring, and more. Unlike traditional bullying, in the case of cyberbullying, the aggressor may act anonymously, making it much more difficult to identify and stop.

Signs of cyberbullying

From my professional experience working with children, I can say that cyberbullying is most often covert. The aggressor seeks to intimidate the child, who, due to little life experience, easily believes threats and hides the problem from parents. Therefore, parents should be attentive to the following signs that may indicate that their child is a victim of cyberbullying:

1. Sudden changes in the child’s behavior: withdrawn, withdrawal from usual communication with family or friends, irritability “for no good reason”, decreased interest in studies or regular activities.

2. Avoiding the use of internet devices: children may refuse to use the computer or their smartphone. The point of comparison is important here: if the child spent a lot of time on gadgets, and now he/she doesn’t. What was the motivating reason?

3. Physical symptoms of stress (psychosomatics): headaches, digestive problems, sleep disturbances, etc.

4. Deleting accounts or frequently changing passwords: perhaps the child is trying to avoid communicating with the abusers.

How can you stop cyberbullying and protect your child?

1. Open communication: Create a trusting environment where your child is not afraid to talk about his or her problems. Discuss with him/her what cyberbullying is and how to deal with it. According to my observations, children in families that have difficulty communicating with each other are more likely to be exposed to this threat. Honestly ask yourself a simple question: Why might my child be afraid to tell me about this?

2. Observation: Watch for changes in your child’s behavior and be ready to intervene at the first sign of a problem.

3. Documentation: If cyberbullying occurs, save all messages, screenshots, and other information you may need to contact law enforcement or platform administrators.

4. General rules for internet use: Set clear rules to help your child use the internet safely. This may include limiting the time they use gadgets, setting up privacy settings on social media, and having regular discussions about internet safety. Be sure to explain to him why this is necessary!

5. Professional help: If the situation is out of parental control, seek advice from a school counselor or mental health professional.

How to help your child protect personal data on the internet ?

Internet safety is not just about combating cyberbullying. It is also very important to protect your child’s personal information to prevent malicious users from using it. Here are some tips for parents:

1. Profile privacy: Discuss with your child the importance of setting up privacy settings on social media. Make sure his or her profiles are only visible to friends and acquaintances.
2. Personal Information: Explain to your child why personal information (address, phone number, school number) should not be shared online without your permission.
3. Complex passwords: Help your child create complex passwords and teach them how to change them regularly. Using two-factor authentication can also greatly increase account security.
4. Educational platforms: Use educational resources and programs that teach children about cybersecurity and privacy. Many schools, Youtube and online platforms offer such courses for free.
5. Monitoring and supervision: Use apps and services to monitor your child’s online activity. Discuss with him/her that this is not to invade his/her privacy, but for his/her safety. Life experience as an adult allows you to recognize a threat more quickly and stop it.

Nowadays, the internet opens up many opportunities, but also carries certain risks, especially for children and adolescents. Protecting their psychological safety requires the active participation of us as parents, readiness for trusting conversations and the use of modern control technologies. By joining forces, we can create a safe and supportive digital environment for our children that will help them not only avoid potential threats, but also enjoy all the benefits that the Internet offers.