Parents need to know risk of online games

TDT | Manama                                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Zahra Ayaz  

The Child Protection Unit advises parents to educate their children about the risks associated with using electronic devices, social media, and playing online games.

According to child protection in cyberspace, parents must constantly monitor their kids’ use of applications and teach them appropriate behaviour when faced with threats or dangers.

An increasing number of reports claim that fictitious names and accounts were used in these applications by unidentified foreigners with the intent to threaten youngsters.

They threaten children after obtaining previous conversations or private photos from the child’s account on the application that he uses. Keeping threats related to social networks at bay is not child’s play. But children can be taught to make it easy.

They should be told to be “friends” online with only those who they know personally, say cyber experts. “Besides, kids must be made aware that going overboard with giving out personal information online could be damaging, as this can be misused by abusers.

Teaching them the risks involved in opening links from unknown recipients is crucial too.” Most parents, almost 20 per cent according to some studies, don’t monitor what websites their children and teenagers go on, which may be inappropriate for them as they are only suited for adults.

“Additionally, this can lead to children being harassed online or seeing things that might affect them.”

Parents are advised to submit an official report about such violations or threats by reporting personally to the unit, calling the hotline (992) or sending an email to the unit (cpcu@inetrior.gov.bh) to take necessary legal measures to preserve the rights of the child and his/her family.