Online Safety Guidelines: Tips for Caregivers of Autistic Individuals
Online Safety Guidelines: Tips for Caregivers of Autistic Individuals
Mistakes can easily be made on the internet if you are not sure what to look for – specifically, clicking on spam links or surfing unsecure websites can lead to downloading viruses or unintentionally sharing personal information. The Southwest Autism Research and Resources Center recommends that you teach your child about online safety using interactive slideshows and role playing scenarios (rather than starting online). Once you are confident that your child understands what safe online behavior looks like, then consider shifting your teaching online. Here are some online safety do’s and don’t’s:
Do:
- Instruct your child using interactive slideshows and roleplaying scenarios before starting their online journey.
- As a parent, use safe online behavior. Remember, kids are always watching and learning. More often than not, they will follow what you do more than what you say.
- Confirm that your child understands what safe online behavior looks like. Ask them to tell you how they can tell if a link is unsafe or if a website is not secure.
- Begin shifting teaching to being online and showcasing the tools to help the child browse the internet safely.
- While kids are still learning about online safety, ask them to do their browsing (be it on a home computer or on a device) in a common space within the house (like the living room). That way you can check in with them more easily.
Don’t:
- Click on spam links – they can cause viruses to download and/or personal information to be shared.
- Browse unsecure websites (websites that lack an “https” prefix) – they can also cause viruses to download and/or personal information to be shared.
What are the benefits of autistic people spending time online?
While autistic people are at risk for some specific types of online danger, spending time online can also provide autistic people with a social outlet. Socializing online benefits autistic people by:
- Giving them a low-stakes place to practice social skills
- Eliminating the pressure to make eye contact
- Establishing a safe space by providing a predictable environment for socializing (online forums require that people talk to one another using a set format)
- Limiting stressful encounters and stimuli
- Reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation
- Giving autistic people a way to choose their level of engagement
- Helping them stay in touch with loved ones
Like all good things however, time online should be enjoyed in moderation. Time spent online might be a problem if it results in any of the following:
- Feelings of anxiety or depression
- Building friendships with people who may be unpleasant or inappropriate
- Difficulty managing the amount of time spent on electronics
- Preoccupation with spending time online
- Decreased quality and amount of sleep
What are some helpful parental monitoring apps?
- Bark is an app that focuses on prevention as well as controlling online use. It examines what your child is doing on their device and searches for issues concerning self-harm, depression, cyberbullying, online predators, and dangerous situations such as a student stating they are going to bring a gun to school. While monitoring up to 24 different apps and reviewing emails/texts/photos/videos, alerts will be sent to the parent if anything harmful has been found.
- Qustodio allows parents to block content on their child’s phone, monitor their activity, set time limits, and receive reports if the child tries to access blocked websites or receives troubling messages. The app also has a panic button that the child can press if they are in trouble and parents are also able to see the location of their child in order to assist them
Here is a link (page 19-22) to questions that will assist you in evaluating your child’s behavior in various scenarios. The FBI also offers fun interactive games for those in 3rd to 8th grade to learn more about online safety.
Article by: Nicole Steel and The Autism ToolKit
Resources
https://nextforautism.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sarrc-online-safety-manual_3-e.pdf
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