The theft of personal data, such as stolen passwords, hacking into emails or social networking accounts, sending intimate photos, talking to and being manipulated by strangers, can expose children to a wide range of unsafe situations online. Cybersecurity experts and psychologists offer advice on how to help children recognise cyber dangers and talk about them from an early age, and how to develop everyday habits by showing practical examples.

“Talking about the virtual world should be part of our daily lives and it is recommended to talk about it from an early age to build a strong bond with your children. It is important to understand and accept the internet not as a threat, but as a world where the rules are similar to the real one. This way, children’s confidence will grow, topics about the internet will be natural, and they will be more willing to share later how they got on with the game or what challenges they faced on social networks,” says Eglė Tamulionytė, coordinator of the Children’s Line’s project “Beyond bullying”.
Dr Vilius Benetis, a cybersecurity expert, agrees. “The virtual world is just as dangerous as the real one. If children realise this, they will naturally start to watch out and talk. In other words, their critical thinking skills will grow, and they will have more questions about what decision to make in one situation or another, and whether I will be harmed, which is important for avoiding the dangers of cyberspace. After all, criminals specialise in disconnecting critical thinking, taking advantage of people’s emotional vulnerability and reaping financial or other benefits,” says director of NRD Cyber Security.

A cybersecurity expert notes that children are curious and more gullible, and often cannot predict the consequences.
“A stranger asked for a photo and a child sent it. In the physical world, children know how to deal with strangers, but in the virtual world the perception is a little different, and it is easier for criminals to impersonate someone else to deceive. So it is worth remembering for both parents and children that the same safety rules apply in the virtual world,” points out Dr Benetis.

Not all people on the internet are who they say they are

One of the biggest dangers of the virtual world is the theft of personal information. According to Aurimas Rudinskis, cybersecurity expert at Vinted, social networks such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat are particularly popular with children, and it is on these platforms that you need to be particularly vigilant and critical.

“Instagram and Snapchat are distinctive in that children share photos and personal information there. TikTok attracts them because of its entertaining content and also encourages them to take part in dangerous challenges or spread false information. Criminals can try to extract children’s login details to their parents’ e-banking and use them as intermediaries to commit various criminal offences,” Rudinskis said.

According to the expert, it is important to explain to parents that not all people on the internet are who they say they are and why they should not share personal information or photos with strangers.

“I recommend helping children understand how privacy settings work on social networks and the importance of strong passwords and two-factor authentication. Parents should set an example by following their own rules for safe online behaviour and encourage their children to use the internet responsibly by explaining the consequences of excessive use,” says Rudinskis.

Always think about what information to make public

Cybersecurity experts point out that parents themselves should talk to their children about the virtual world and help them to make a rational assessment of its threats.

“Virtual space should not become incomprehensible and mystified in parents’ explanations. It is possible to give children an example: ‘here is a strange message, but I didn’t click on it’. The child may then be curious to click and see what happens. You can think together and explain what would be the worst thing that would happen if you clicked the link. You can turn the introduction to virtual space into a game, for example, whoever notices a scam, gets a prize,” advises the director of NRD Cyber Security. Dr Vilius Benetis recommends that when browsing the internet, you should always think about what information you need to provide and make public. Do you really need to give your phone number, enter your date of birth, send an image, and are all apps useful and necessary?

It can feel shameful to talk to parents

Children’s Line receives a wide range of questions about the challenges of the virtual world. Bullying is a particularly common topic. “There are cases of children sharing intimate photos with a trusted friend or girlfriend, and then, when the relationship breaks down, they are published in virtual space and on social networks. Children then come forward both because of their feelings after the break-up and because of bullying at school,” says the Children’s Line representative. Children also receive shocking photos from their peers, she says. Then they turn to them because they don’t know how to react.

Other topics related to virtual space are online relationships. For example, advice is sought on how to communicate with someone they have met online and do not know if they can trust them or if they are real. Children are also concerned about the various restrictions imposed by their parents on the internet – for example, how to agree with their parents about playing time online or browsing social networks. According to E. Tamulionytė, the Children’s Line is the place to write or call when you are not comfortable talking to your parents. “Children may not want to talk to their parents about sensitive topics, and this is normal. They think adults don’t know what games they play or how certain social networks work. Another reason is the fear of parental condemnation. For example, how to start talking about intimate photos that have been made public and what parents’ reactions will be,” says the coordinator of No Bullying.

According to the expert, children are afraid that parents will call their classmates’ parents and teachers, making the situation worse. Or, if they confess, their parents will ban them from using the computer, the phone, or stop them from playing a game that they think is very important to them. Therefore, they decide not to talk to their parents about their experiences and try to stay away, which can have negative consequences.

Children’s line volunteer counsellors listen to the child, help them to understand what has happened, encourage them to seek help from their relatives if necessary, and can help them to think of ways to talk to them about the situation.

This article is part of the SOCshare project, which aims to promote more effective sharing of information on cyber threats and how to detect them. The project is partly funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Cyber Security Centre of Excellence. Neither the European Union nor the European Cyber Security Centre of Excellence can be held responsible for them.

The article was distributed as a press release and published in 15min.lt, lrytas.lt and “Your Child“. Also, Vilius Benetis, Director of NRD Cyber Security, was also invited to speak about this topic on Lithuania’s national television LRT live programme “Labas rytas, Lietuva“.