How to Prepare Kids to be Global Digital Citizens

By Tripti Ahuja and Bhavik Rathod

We live in an increasingly digital world. In just a few generations, we have gone from no smartphones, no social media, and no internet, to everything we do — from school, to work, to healthcare, and more — being handled digitally. We need to prepare our children to be responsible global digital citizens.

Today’s children have been thrust into this digital world, with many learning their way around a tablet or their parent’s phone before they can even form complete sentences. According to an article in Consumer Affairs, 66% of parents say they allow their children to surf the internet unmonitored. 

Instilling safe internet practices in children is a significant part of modern parenting. If we want our children to grow up to be responsible global digital citizens in the digital age, the lessons need to be frequent and start early.

The Person on the Other Side 

The internet can be an excellent place for kids to explore, meet people, learn new things, and get creative. When a child is exposed to digital media from an early age, it can be easy for them to forget that there are people on the other side, especially on social media. Cyberbullying, doxxing, and other inappropriate behaviors run rampant on the internet. Children can find themselves in scary situations without the proper tools to identify and communicate with or avoid these people. Teaching kids from the start that there is someone real and human on the other side of a social media thread or game can instill in them the importance of kindness and safe behavior. 

Once kids have ventured into the digital world, how they behave may also concern parents. It can be devastating to a parent to find out a child is participating in cyberbullying or online intimidation. Instilling values of kindness and empathy in children from an early age can help them avoid becoming unkind people online. Making sure kids spend time on sites with people who model pro-social behavior could be vital in laying the groundwork for healthy digital activity. 

Introducing Children to the Internet 

Many parents today will even let babies play with their phones, especially if it keeps them from throwing a massive fit in the middle of a store or restaurant. However, studies show that it’s safer to wait until a child is between 4 and 5 years old before they can start exploring the world wide web. Young children should always be supervised, and the content they view should be regularly monitored. 

One of the most dangerous aspects of the internet is allowing children unsupervised access to Google; literally, anything can be accessed from a simple Google search, and there could be many things you don’t want little eyes viewing. Using a kid-safe browser such as KidSplorer or Pikluk can help reassure parents that searching for something innocent won’t return unsavory results. 

When choosing appropriate sites for your children, factors such as their age, emotional maturity, and your comfort level with the site all need to be taken into consideration. Sites geared towards children are typically a safe bet, though overall, common sense should prevail when allowing your kids to explore the internet for the first time. 

The Folly of Banning the Internet 

Some parents may want to take a scorched-earth approach to internet use and ban it entirely in the home. But this all-out ban could actually end up harming them, and their children, in the end. While it prevents children from viewing anything a parent may find inappropriate, it does not prepare them for living in a digital world as responsible global digital citizens. 

Experts have their own opinions, with one sociologist, in particular, calling the practice of banning children from the internet “abusive.” While that may be an incendiary opinion, banning the internet completely could be seen as counterproductive to raising healthy, happy, well-adjusted children. 

The crux of the issue is moderation. No child should have free reign to surf to their heart’s content, but completely sheltering children from the digital world will leave them wholly unprepared to navigate that world as adults. For instance, consider the learning curve of those who didn’t grow up with computers or the internet. The lack of internet connection, even if it wasn’t by choice, hindered education access during the pandemic. As educational institutions and workplaces turn more towards digital media, children will need to be comfortable working within those spaces too. 

The Specific Approach of DIY.org

DIY.org was formed to give parents a safe, secure, and fun place to send their kids online. Kids can learn new skills, explore their various creative sides, and log guilt-free screen time that serves a real purpose. Kids also learn how to build a digital community alongside Junior Moderators and kid-led activities, where they learn to work together in a harmonious manner. 

We have also made sure bullies, creeps, annoying ads that target kids, or harmful content are nowhere to be found on the site. The site is enjoyed by kids all around the world, so kids can meet others with similar interests no matter where they are on the planet. This is the bedrock of what is so great about the global digital citizenry, and sites like ours allow kids to build that foundation safely. 

Many companies, DIY.org included, have gone above and beyond to provide a safe space for children online. Features like parental controls, 24/7 live monitoring, and content oversight have made parents feel safe about sending their children out into the digital ecosphere. 

The internet, when used right, can be a wonderful playground of learning opportunities, community, exploration, and fun. By leading children into the digital world with common sense and with the online tools available to ensure safety, kids get the most out of their digital experience.