Remember that online activities offer your child the opportunity to:

• stay in touch with their friends.
• take part in discussions that are important to them.
• be valued and acknowledged.
• develop their creativity and imagination.
• research topics of interest.
• learn.

Teach your child to protect themselves:

• It is important to protect their personal information and privacy.
• It is essential to use different passwords, regularly change them and keep them secret.
• What your child posts (e.g. photos, videos, messages, etc.) remains online permanently and shapes their e-reputation (the way others perceive them).
• Any personal information they post may be used against them.
• The people they meet on the Internet can lie. We never know who is hiding behind a screen.
• Some online content is not appropriate to their age and may shock them.
• If a photo of your child is posted without their consent, they have the right to ask for the photo to be deleted.

Make it clear to your child that laws apply to the Internet:

• Under the law, users are prohibited from:
  • insulting or threatening a person online.
  • damaging a person’s reputation.
  • publishing a photo or video of a person without their consent.
• If your child finds themselves in one of these situations, they can file a complaint.
• Your child must also comply with the law: in Switzerland, children can be held criminally liable for their actions from the age of 10.

Guide your child:

• Help them configure their privacy settings on social media.
• Learn about the apps your child downloads.
• Be sensitive to their concerns and questions and guide them if they find themselves in difficulty.
• Reduce your own screen time to set an example.

Set rules:

• Set a time limit for screen use to make sure that your child can:
  • stay physically active.
  • have enough sleep.
  • enjoy a range of activities.
• Discuss the rules with your child.
• Suggest writing down the rules and putting them up where your child can see them.
• Adapt the rules according to your child’s age.
• Talk about the consequences of breaking the rules.

You have reasons for concern if your child:

• spends more and more time online and neglects their other activities.
• spends less time with their friends.
• often misses school.
• is getting lower grades.
• is sleep deprived.
• becomes aggressive.
• becomes isolated and withdrawn.