CERT issues advisory for parents against rising threats on social media

ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber ​​Emergency Response Team (CERT) has released a key advisory to parents to shield children from the rising threats on social media and online portals.

The advisory asks parents to educate children to be safe and prudent while online and teach them how to secure their data.  Parents are required to monitor social media activities and accounts of children, such as monitoring of messages, images, and posts.

The CERT advisory suggests educating children to avoid sharing their home address, school information, and other such details that reveal their location and personal information on web-based platforms.

Parents also need to make the privacy settings of their social media profiles stronger with the help of their children. CERT advisory also suggests using parental control tools effectively, like Google Family Link, Microsoft Family Safety, etc.

Parents must also see to it that kids are not being exposed to objectionable content, and attempt to cut down their social media time. Teach children to immediately warn them of objectionable content, the advisory advises.

Additionally, parents must teach kids how to handle online challenges and disputes, and bring them to their attention regarding online harassment and cyberbullying, so they can stay safeguarded online.