Online Safety: Practical guide to parents, caregivers on protecting children on Internet, by NCC

*The Nigerian Communications Commission discloses the online safety tips serve as a practical guide that will help parents and caregivers/guardians during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic era

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in economies across the global, several countries are currently grappling with the impact of the disruptive virus.

ConsumerConnect reports as part of the telecoms/ICT regulator’s consumer education, sensitisation and protection initiatives in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) provides practical online safety tips for parents, caregivers, and children.

The Commission’s online advice covers what to do before things go wrong, while children spend time online, and what to do if things go wrong.

According to NCC, this is offered in view of the fact that several millions of young people are compelled to spend more time at home, which implies more screen time (offline and online).

RELATED: How To Protect Yourself, Children Against Cyberbullying Online ─NCC

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to bear a shift in the regular norms or routine activities, thereby putting more activities, including education of children online, according to report.

It is also indicated that this development has leapfrogged the Nigerian children into the future.

Online activities have acquired new meaning and become the reality of Nigerian parents and children.

Put differently, screen time and screen activities are fast becoming the New Normal in the countries’ economies as well.

Parents are constantly searching for online learning platforms, TV stations are providing more child-based educational content and schools are teaching via Zoom, Google Classroom and YouTube, report

Cyberspace, the internet and online activities are here to stay.

Domesticating COVID-19 Global Online Safety Advice for parents, carers

As several concerned parents have to contend with the overwhelming and scary possibility of a child being hurt by faceless individuals while surfing the Internet, and a perceived inability/incapability to protect the child in the process.

The good news is that the Internet is not all gloom and doom, according to agency report. The Internet has been described as “a world of endless possibilities waiting to be explored by young, adventurous and impressionable minds.”

Certainly, there are sundry great ways children can use connected devices to learn and play, but there are also risks.

RELATED Child Safety Online: Rising Opposition As Apple Releases Details Of Plan To Scan Consumers’ iCloud Libraries

It is believed that with the right tools and strategy, parents, guardians and caregivers have the opportunity to support and guide children to avoid online risks and have safer experiences in cyberspace.

Therefore, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has taken into consideration the International Edition of Europol COVID-19 Global Online Safety Advice for Parents and Carers, and the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Keeping Children Safe Online during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This document (Download Here) serves as a practical guide that will help parents, and carers/guardians during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic period, said the telecoms sector regulator.

Kindly Share This Story