Guarding the Digital Playground: Online Safety for Kids in South African Homeschools

The start of a new school term, or even just a typical week in a digitally-driven world, often means increased online activity for children. While the internet offers vast educational and social opportunities, it also presents a “minefield of online risks”. For homeschooling parents in South Africa, who may rely heavily on online resources, ensuring robust online safety for kids in South Africa is paramount. It’s not just about the pictures and videos shared on social media; it’s about understanding and managing digital footprint from a young age.

Doros Hadjizenonos, Regional Director at cybersecurity specialists Fortinet, warns that young children, tweens, and teens face growing risks from predators, scammers, fraudsters, and bullies online. “Kids need to understand the need to manage their online presence responsibly, as it has a potential impact on future opportunities,” he says. “It’s important for kids to understand that whatever they post on the internet is there forever and everyone can see it. This includes messages, private photos and videos. All of these can be copied and shared”.

The Indelible Trail: Understanding Your Child’s Digital Footprint

Everything children share online – photos, comments, posts, even information shared in games – contributes to their digital footprint. This digital trail is more permanent than many realise and can be accessed by universities and future employers when considering a person’s background. What seems like a harmless joke or an emotional outburst online today can have unforeseen consequences years down the line.

Hadjizenonos highlights that the biggest risks often involve information children willingly, and sometimes unwittingly, share. “Most kids don’t fully understand how the photos, videos and personal information they post can be used against them”. This can range from fraudsters posing as online friends to extort inappropriate photos and money, to reputational damage that affects future prospects.

Key Online Risks for South African Youth

Beyond the long-term implications of a digital footprint, several immediate threats require attention:

• Cyberbullying: Social and gaming sites can unfortunately become platforms for cyberbullying. This can include offensive name-calling, spreading false rumours, sharing embarrassing images without consent, or even physical threats. A 2022/2023 UNICEF and University of Cape Town report, “Disrupting Harm in Southern Africa,” found that in South Africa, 27% of child participants reported being treated in a hurtful or nasty way online in the past year. This underscores the prevalence of cyberbullying prevention SA efforts needed.
• Online Scams and Fraud: Teens are particularly at risk of phishing and online shopping scams. In gaming environments, links and attachments promising gifts or game enhancements can launch malware or steal personal information. The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) frequently warns about various online scams, emphasizing the need for vigilance.
• Predators: Online predators may try to build trust with young people to exploit them, sometimes persuading them to share inappropriate content or personal information.

Building a Safe Online Environment: Practical Steps for Parents

Creating a secure and trusted online space for children involves a multi-layered approach, combining technical safeguards with ongoing education and open communication. Hadjizenonos emphasizes that “kids need a trusted adult they can talk to”. This adult should be available to double-check concerning communications and be a safe person to approach if a child gets into trouble or regrets an online action.

Here are key strategies for protecting children online:

1. Technical Safeguards:

• Update Software: Keep all operating systems, browsers, and applications updated to patch security vulnerabilities.
• Secure Wi-Fi: Use strong passwords for your home Wi-Fi network and consider enabling a guest network for visitors.
• Parental Controls: Utilise built-in parental controls on devices, operating systems, and specific apps to filter content, manage screen time, and monitor activity. The Film and Publication Board (FPB) of South Africa offers guidelines on activating these controls (Online Child Safety Guidelines – FPB).
• Strong Passwords: Teach children the importance of using strong, unique passwords for different accounts and not sharing them. Consider a password manager for the family.

2. Privacy Settings:

• Instruct children to keep their online profiles private, accessible only to known friends and family. Regularly review privacy settings on social media, gaming platforms, and other apps.

3. Education and Awareness (The Best Defence):

• Digital Citizenship: Explain that online actions have real-world consequences. The impulse to post something seemingly hilarious can backfire badly.
• Information Sharing: Teach children not to post sensitive personal information like their full address, school name, or real-time location.
• Identifying Risks: Help them recognise phishing attempts, suspicious links, and grooming behaviours. Discuss what to do if they encounter uncomfortable or threatening content.
• Critical Thinking: Encourage them to think critically about information they see online and people they interact with. Not everyone online is who they claim to be.

4. Open Communication:

• Foster an environment where your child feels comfortable discussing their online experiences, good and bad, without fear of judgment or immediate removal of privileges (unless safety is at acute risk).
• Regularly check in about who they are talking to online and what games or apps they are using.

5. Device Usage Contract:

• Consider creating a family media agreement or “device usage contract”. This written agreement, discussed and signed by parents and children, can outline rules for device use, screen time limits, acceptable online behaviour, consequences for misuse, and what to do if problems arise.

Homeschooling Internet Safety: Tailored Considerations

For homeschooling internet safety, where online resources are often integral to learning, parents can:

• Vet educational apps and websites for safety and privacy standards.
• Utilize safe search settings on browsers and search engines.
• Supervise online learning sessions, especially for younger children.
• Integrate digital citizenship and online safety lessons into the curriculum.

Conclusion: Empowering Cyber-Savvy Kids

Navigating the online wilderness requires ongoing effort and adaptation. As Hadjizenonos suggests, “Once kids realise what digital communication can become, in the wrong hands, they will develop the cyber-savvy they need”. The goal is not to instill fear, but to empower children with the knowledge and skills to make responsible choices online, manage their digital footprint effectively, and enjoy the benefits of the digital world safely. By combining technical tools with open communication and continuous education, South African homeschooling parents can play a vital role in fostering a secure online environment for their children.

What are your biggest concerns or best tips for online safety for kids in South Africa? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Please share this article with other parents and educators, and subscribe to our newsletter for more valuable insights.