All you need to know to secure kids online

The Internet has become part of our daily lives. Even little children whose minds are not fully developed access the Internet for one reason or another. It is therefore cardinal that we assure their safety on a communications medium that is not supervised by any single authority.

Public places that have activities/products deemed harmful to young minds are regulated in all communities. An underage is not allowed in a pub, night club, brothel, sex shop, gambling house or any such place. If owners are found to have allowed under aged patrons, they are subjected to punitive measures. The Internet is the world laid bare with no restrictions. When one owns an Internet accessing gadget like a smart phone – it literary means they have the world raw in their hands. Young minds are naturally inquisitive and if we do not control what they access online; we increase their vulnerability living them at the mercy of predators and cyber criminals. They will innocently share sensitive information or equally access emotionally damaging material. Once an insecure child becomes a target of hackers – the risk will spread exponentially through their circle of friends.

The safety of children online is crucial. Any compromise on Internet security can have far reaching implications. Cyber criminals can have access to sensitive information through clumsy actions by kids. Besides Cyber Crime; children are also targeted for Cyber bullying, violent and adult content. This sort of material has potential to cause emotional damage to young minds. With the advent of Education Technology it might be impossible to block kids from accessing the internet – we can only assure their Safety Online. The average parent might not be well versed with means of securing the safety of minors online. Most of us are actual at risk from cyber attack whether at work or through our personal cyber accessing devices. 

Innovation and Technology have been by far the major contributors to economic development. The world fastest growing companies – Facebook/Uber/Starbucks – testify to this fact. Most Schools are aggressive in their pursuit of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths). This program would be impossible to effectively roll out without access of the Internet by both Educators and Learners. Some subjects will require practice which can only happen with Internet access. Through Technology, innovation has caught up with the education process. There are now more efficient academic processes and products like smart classrooms, gamification of learning, use of mobile applications and the Internet as a research methodology. This has shifted attention from whether a school needs Internet Connectivity to whether the school has the best Internet connectivity. The Internet is known to be infested with Cyber Criminals of all sorts. Being online has various risks. How safe are Educators and their Learners when they are online? 

The Internet has become an integral part of the learning process. Every school needs Internet connectivity. With the Internet administration processes including communication are streamlined. Education Informatics makes it possible for Technology through Innovation to improve the learning experience and administration processes. Effectiveness and efficiency in classroom and all learning activities are improved through Technology. Most Innovations that are available online do not cost much. Infrastructure including hardware does not need huge capital outlay as most if not all stakeholders posses cyber accessing gadgets. A strategy to utilise owners’ gadgets is promoted through the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). The Internet is a haven for Cyber Criminals and a host of content that is harmful to Learners. It is therefore cardinal for any School to have an Internet Policy that protects the institution against Cyber Attacks.  Every School Administrator needs to be aware of best practice methods in formulating Internet Policy that protects the Institution whilst promoting the exploitation of Online Technologies for academic excellence. School Administrators ought to be equipped with the necessary knowledge that will help them maintain a safe Online Environment in their Institutions.  

We run a series of training for School Kids below 15 years; Parents or Guardians; Educators; School Administrators. For more details and bookings kindly visit the events page of our website

A Survey on the effects of the Internet and Child Development

We are experiencing a Technology Revolution that is so fast paced leaving us struggling with some of its developments. Internet activities can be harmful to mature users, it is therefore important to secure the safety of all vulnerable groups. Child Development and the Education systems have not been spared of these developments. Since our children are vulnerable and easy targets in the cyberspace, it is cardinal that we keep abreast with best practices in their online safety. There has not been much attention paid to internet governance and child protection. As responsible citizens parents & guardians - it is upon us to create an environment conducive for the upbringing of future generations.

As Alef Innovations we invite you to participate in our survey as we seek to influence a safer internet environment for our children. The survey aims to conscietise parents, alert educators and inform children about online safety. The survey will also help various stakeholders that deal with children. Ultimately we want to influence Internet governance with more emphasis on the protection of children and safety for all internet users. If security is compromised through a minor - the whole family ends up compromised.

We also offer personalized consultancy for specific needs should that be your requirement. Don't forget that distance is no longer a barrier - the same technology we are discussing, makes it possible for us to interact with you where ever you are located.

To complete the survey, kindly follow the links below:-

A survey for the Child who owns a smart phone/laptop or has any form of access to the internet

A survey for the Parent / Guardian

A survey for the Educators

Responsible Parenting and Cyber Gadgets

The 6th of December was my son's 11th birthday. For his present he wanted either a smartphone or a smart watch. We settled for a smartphone. The first thing we did after acquiring it was to make sure it is installed with software that blocks access to sites that have content above his age. Then we had to set rules on how he should use his gadget. We have WiFi at home and through his phone he has access to the internet. Almost all his classmates have smart phones and they have a class chat group on WhatsApp. This group can get very active and at times when I am working late they are messages that beep into his phone. The night activity of this group influenced another rule, that the phone does not go into his bedroom when he goes to sleep. Over the holidays we discovered that he was being bullied by one of his friends, a situation we had to address. Does this sound normal to a teenage parent?

As technology develops, it comes with challenges of varying degrees. I understand some kids as young as 5 years own smartphones or tablets. The challenge we face then is when we react to the hazards that come with these gadgets. At schools and at our work places, there are rules and regulations that govern the use of these gadgets. Unfortunately some of our homes are a free for all. We end up with kids who are addicted to online activities. Besides cyber bullies and sexual deviants, another danger our kids are exposed to online is Social Media communities. It becomes harmful when we fail to give them proper guidance on how to navigate this technology jungle. Maybe the bigger challenge is that we don't know how to handle it ourselves as guardians. Digital Marketing analyst Brian Solis says, "Social Media is about sociology and psychology more than technology." So, as a parent, its not about how much you are technically knowledgeable, its more about how your child is being influenced online. There is an African saying which goes, it takes a village to raise a child. That village used to be our physical neighbors. With connectivity and mobility, you have a million possible characters that have the potential to influence the character development of your child.

The academic space is equally moving with times. There is e-Learning and all schools are taking advantage of technology. Some schools have websites and are active on Social Media. This improves communication with stake holders. When there is an important message - it can be shared in real time at the click of a button instead of making numerous phone calls. Teachers can utilize various online programs for information dissemination and or conducting experiments. Carrie Snow, a stand up comedian and TV Series writer states, "Technology....is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other." Quite a mouthful. So as we cherish the advanced development that comes with technology like Social Media applications, let us beware of the hazards that come with it. Knowledge is power and we get knowledge from information; information is now readily available on the internet. However we ought to take heed of these wise words from Mitchel Kapor the founder of the spreadsheet Lotus 1-2-3, "Getting information off the internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant." The pressure can inflict serious injuries - although they can be physical, most are emotional and emotional injuries take time to heal. As a responsible parent, you would want to guide your child's Cyber Space experience.

We will be hosting a conference on Social Media and Minors in Cape Town, on the 3rd of March 2016. If you are a stakeholder in the provision of a safe environment of children, join us in this important discussion. For more details visit alefinnovations.com