Online dangers that threaten children and teenagers: what are they and how can we avoid them?

Speaking metaphorically, we could say that the Internet is like a public square to which everyone has access. Unfortunately, this means that malicious actors are also likely to circulate on it.

When it comes to online dangers, some of the most vulnerable audiences are undoubtedly children and teenagers. In an increasingly digital world, they must learn from an early age that this ease also entails certain risks.

The lurking dangers

Here are some of the risks to which children and teenagers are exposed while browsing the Internet!

Contact with strangers

Being able to communicate with the whole world is, undoubtedly, one of the great benefits of the Internet. However, this also means that children may end up coming into contact with or becoming targets for malicious individuals on social networks, chat apps or online games. 

It's not difficult for cybercriminals to impersonate younger people, pretending to be someone with similar tastes and interests to children and teenagers, to gain the trust of their victims more easily. The dangers lurking online are numerous: in addition to the potential theft of personal information, young people can be induced to take part in dangerous activities, become targets of abuse or exploitation, and face a series of threats to their physical and emotional well-being.

Explain to your child that, just like out on the street, strangers on the Internet cannot be trusted. Teach them never to share any information, such as their parents' names or where they live, and always be aware of who they are communicating with online. 

Exposure to inappropriate content

The Internet quite naturally gives us the feeling that we can consume absolutely anything. However, just like movies and TV shows, the content available on streaming platforms or in online games, for example, also has an age rating. 

Even the vast majority of social platforms require a minimum age to sign up. After all, not everything on the internet is suitable for children and teenagers. They may come across visual content, such as images and videos, or texts that contain violence, and sexual content or encourage dangerous behavior.

Always research which age group is appropriate for the content being consumed by the child in your life. This ensures that they are not exposed to inappropriate material.

Remember that you can also use apps or parental control settings to restrict the content displayed in search engines on smartphones and laptops.

Phishing and malware

In general, children and teenagers are more vulnerable to attacks from cybercriminals. This is partly due to their inexperience and their tendency to trust people more easily.

This propensity is a full plate for criminals who use phishing techniques to steal confidential information or spread viruses. Malicious links can be readily sent via instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, inserted into video descriptions or even shared in-game chats. 

Generally, cybercriminals promise that this is a free way to install a certain paid app, offer benefits or rewards in the game in question and, in some cases, present fictitious opportunities for financial gain.

To protect yourself and circumvent these threats, especially in this case, there is no better defense than cybersecurity education!

Cybersecurity education for children and teenagers

Teaching children and teenagers how to protect themselves on the Internet is a role that needs to be put into practice by parents, educators and guardians as soon as possible.  The most important thing when initiating this conversation is to approach the topics in a clear, didactic and age-appropriate way.

Explain to the child or teenager that there are different dangers in the digital world, and that they need to be careful about who they talk to and what information they share. 

Reinforce that certain things cannot be shared with people on the Internet: passwords, personal addresses, phone numbers or credit card numbers. Whenever possible, use examples of real-life situations to illustrate the risks, making it easier for children to understand.

Finally, you must stay on top of cybersecurity dangers and solutions. By staying informed, you can offer the necessary guidance to children and teenagers and always be prepared to recognize and deal with dangerous situations.