Internet Safety for Kids Episode 10 - So, you did something wrong, now what?

Internet Safety for Kids Episode 10 – So, you did something wrong, now what?

Hi, welcome to Internet Safety for Kids and thank you for joining our program!

As always with our program Internet Safety for Kids, please make sure to watch this episode together when possible, so you all learn and understand these important topics. Don’t allow the adults to say that they already know everything because there will be plenty to learn for them, too!

Today we will have a look at what you should and should not do when you have made a mistake. But before we go into that, I want us all to understand something very important. No matter how much we try, it can still happen that we make mistakes. In fact, we all make mistakes whether we like it or not. What matters is how we respond to these mistakes. What do we do to undo the impact of a mistake? What do we do to learn from that mistake? Are we willing to admit our mistake and apologize? All these things are very important.

And there is something else which is very important when you realize that you have made a mistake. It is important that you accept the mistake and your own responsibility for it. But that can be very difficult. Especially when you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed by your mistake. And it can be even more difficult when you fear the consequences. You might even think that it is better to hide it and hope that nobody will find out. But that is not the right way to handle it. When you feel that you are not able to come clean with the mistake you made or fear the consequences when someone might find out, we recommend that you seek help. Maybe there is someone in your family you can trust or there might be someone in your school who can help you. There are even many organizations who specialize in offering support in difficult situations. Reach out when you need help! This is of course not just about computers or the internet. We recommend this for all situations. You are not alone. There are people who are willing to help you!

We will explain why is it important, what does it mean, and what should you do. Are you with us?

OK. Let us have a look at how most internet mistakes are made and how you should respond. One thing that happens a lot is that people did not realize they made a mistake and only find that out later when things start to go wrong. For example, because they opened an attachment that was a virus or because they shared personal information that they should have better kept to themselves. Doing nothing and hoping it will all go away all by itself is definitely not the smart thing to do because it will not go away. In fact, in most cases it will only get worse unless you take actions to correct it.

Let us look at the example of a virus. Most viruses are designed to cause harm to the device they infected and spread to as many other devices as they can until they are detected and eliminated. So, if your system would get infected and you would not correct that, you allow the virus to spread and infect others, right? But some of those viruses are so advanced that you can not simply remove them with normal tools. Some are even so advanced that they can trick the antivirus software in believing that the problem is solved. In that case you will need support from someone who really knows how to deal with that.

This example of a virus shows you the importance of taking responsibility for your mistake. When you do not act to make the needed corrections, you allow the virus to continue infecting others. And when you do not know how to solve it yourself, you will need to get help from someone who knows how to handle it. The cool thing about reaching out for help is that you might learn something and before you know it you will be able to also help others. It is also very important that you take a moment to think about what you can learn from this mistake and how you can prevent it in the future. Or even better, how you can help others with what you have learned. Let us make some notes.

  • We can all make mistakes, and it is important that we take responsibility for our mistakes.
  • When you take actions to correct our mistakes, you also take action to prevent the mistakes from continuing.
  • When you can not solve the mistakes yourself, you should reach out to someone who can help you.
  • It is important to take a moment to learn from the mistakes and how you can prevent them in the future.

Whatever happens and whatever the situation is, please always remember that there are people who are willing and able to help you. You are not alone. Reach out when you need help.

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