This means that everyone should be aware of the dangers of being online. I’m not talking about obvious threats like phishing or malware. (Of course, you should take steps to defend against these obvious threats, such as installing a firewall.) Rather, this article focuses on the more insidious and sophisticated threats that are part of online life. , explains what you can do to protect it. yourself and your loved ones.

1. Digital Addiction

This can range from social media addiction, internet addiction, phone addiction, gaming addiction and all kinds of addictions related to digital entertainment. By design, social media addiction is of particular concern.Given this, it is not surprising to presume 210 million people People all over the world are suffering from social media addiction.

But it’s not just social media sites that are addictive. 75.4 percent of Americans Consider yourself addicted to your smartphone. Again, much of the time spent on smartphones may revolve around social media, but smartphones themselves automatically turn their hands on them when they feel warranted or want to immerse themselves. There is no doubt that it is something that stretches. We are losing the ability to be alone without thinking, even for a moment.

So how do we turn the tide? Here are some tips:

· You can set time limits for specific apps to reduce the overall time you spend on your phone. (Do this in your phone’s settings.) If you’re going down the Instagram rabbit hole, you’ll be amazed at how quickly 20 minutes go by.

· Set “Bedtime” or “Do Not Disturb” to turn off app notifications in the evening and morning.

· Even better, you can turn off app notifications entirely. Instead, log into the app at a time that suits you and on your own terms, not because you’re obsessed with notifications.

· If you want to be really strict, you can remove the most distracting apps from your phone (you can always log into your computer if you feel a pressing urge to see Cousin Gary’s holiday photos).

Help your child build health (or health)house) digital habits. For example, my family has a “one-screen rule.” This literally means using her one screen at a time. So you don’t have to fiddle with your phone while watching movies with your family. Of course, my wife and I follow the same rules.

· Learn how to spot the signs of digital addiction. Depression is a particularly important indicator of social media addiction. For example, teens twice as likely Using a smartphone for more than 5 hours a day causes symptoms of depression.

2. Cyberbullying

According to Bullying UK, the UK’s leading bullying charity, 56% of young people I have seen other people being bullied online. We all need to be aware of cyberbullying, teach our children what cyberbullying looks like, and learn to take appropriate action when it occurs.

what can you do about it?

· First, understand what is considered cyberbullying. This is basically any form of bullying that takes place online or via smartphones and tablets and includes text messages, messaging services like Snapchat and WhatsApp, gaming sites, social media platforms, chat rooms, message boards, etc. increase. Cyberbullying can be harassment (such as sending offensive messages or making offensive comments), sharing harmful photos, threatening, spreading false rumors, stalking, or even deliberate exclusion from online activity. may take shape.

· Learn how to spot the signs your child is being bullied online. For example, being visibly agitated when on the phone, showing signs of depression, not participating in activities they used to enjoy, not engaging with family and friends, and feeling unmotivated. school grades.

· Understand your rights, especially as to whether cyberbullying is a crime in your country or state. For example, in the UK it is against the law to inflict pain using the telephone system, including the Internet. Report cyberbullying, especially threats of violence, to the police if it is criminal activity.

· For children, cyberbullying must also be reported to the school.

· Always keep proof of cyberbullying logs (such as screenshots) in case you need them.

· Social media and message boards allow you to block specific users or report them to the platform in question. Or, for a more discreet approach, both Facebook and Instagram have a feature called “Restrictions” that allows you to block certain users without their knowledge (basically bullies will continue to post comments and you (You can see comments on other users’ posts, but other users won’t see what they say). Both sites have settings you can turn on to automatically filter offensive comments and DMs.

· To remove offensive or inappropriate content, report it to the platform in question or the organization Remove Harmful Content may help.

3. Digital spoofing

As more of our lives go online (including our images, videos, and recordings), digital identity theft is an increasing threat. Social media impersonation is a particularly sensitive threat. Here, scammers create social media accounts that use other people’s (or organization’s) names, images, and other identifying features to create fake accounts. I have experienced this myself and my public photo has been used to create a fake (but real looking) Facebook account with my name. Even if you don’t, you may be interacting with a fake account online.

Below are some practical steps you can take.

· Beware of fake social media accounts. As a rule, fake accounts are recently created and may have few friends or pictures in their profile.

· To avoid being targeted by fake accounts, you can adjust your privacy settings so that your profile is private and only your friends can see your posts.

· Whenever you accept new friend or follower requests or follow new accounts yourself, be cautious. Do not rush to share personal information or images. Also, never give money to someone who asks for it online.

· If you’re worried someone might use your identity, search your name regularly and look for pictures of yourself. (Reverse image search allows you to upload images and find out where they live online.)

· Think carefully about the information you share on social media (personal information, photos, etc.). All of these could be used to create a lifelike account in your name.