Sylvia Appiah, a data protection expert and the CEO of Information Governance Solutions says parents should show interest in what their children are doing on the internet.
Appiah says cyber bullying is not just technical security but it is also from the everyday conversations that people have with colleagues and what they entertain from strangers as well.
Speaking on Lifestyle ABC on Asaase Radio Saturday (27 November), she said; “There is never an appropriate age but what you put in place at whatever age. They go on the internet so there are things you can do… However, there’s been some research that, where babies and toddlers were put in front of tablets and immediately they knew what to do. We as parents and adults try to entertain and keep some of our children, so we put our babies and toddlers on programmes on our phones for them and they watch. That’s where it starts.”
Appiah said, “Cybersecurity is not just technical security. Everyone thinks about cyber security and we think online. The conversation starts, just like being on the street and someone just says can you tell me your mother’s details or your house address or where I can get in touch with you. So it’s the daily conversations.
“Be familiar and be in tune with what your children are watching and listening to. Get some interest in what they are listening because that will give you the background of exactly where they are going to and which sites they are visiting.”
She also says being intentional about engaging and following what children do on social media is a way of being a part of what they do online.
“I’m not a very social media person but I am visible there but not very active and I’ve set up an account and I befriend them so I can see what they are talking about and the account is set up as a pseudonym. It’s like being part of what they are doing they will experiment, no matter how much you speak to your children. So it’s being part of what they are doing,” she said
Beverley Andoh
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