First and foremost, education plays a crucial role in protecting children online. Parents and guardians should educate their children about the potential risks and consequences of internet use from an early age. Teaching children about internet safety, privacy settings, and responsible online behaviour can empower them to make informed decisions when navigating the online world. Additionally, parents should establish their rules and boundaries for internet use, including guidelines on screen time limits and which websites and app are appropriate f or their use.

Secondly, parent control tools and software can be valuable resources for managing and monitoring children's online activities. These tools allow parents to block inappropriate content, set up filters, and track their child's online behaviour. By leveraging parental control features, parents can create a safer online environment for their children and mitigated the risk of exposure to harmful content to the individual.

Moreover, fostering open communication between parents, teachers and children is essential in addressing online safety concerns. Parents should encourage their children to talk to them about their online experience, concerns and any troubling encounters they may have had encounter online. Similarly, teachers should create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable discussing internet - related issues and seeking guidance when needed.

Thirdly, involving the child in recreational activities. Recreation is when an individual engaged himself or herself voluntarily in a physical activity at leisure time. It can either be played indoor or outdoor. Indoor recreational activities are recreational activities that can be done inside an enclosed space like a room, hall or gymnasium. Some indoor recreational activities are ludo, chess, monopoly, draught, ayo game, billiards, snooker, snakes and ladders etc. Outdoor recreational activities are the recreational activities for that can be done outside or in an open space like a park, garden, field and sports arena. Some outdoor recreational activities are swimming, cycling, archery etc. The benefits of recreational activities are; they help to refresh the child's body and the mind, the values of fairness, good citizenship and responsibility are developed in the child and mental alertness as well as social and emotional stability is developed.

In conclusion, protecting children from the potential dangers of online technology requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach that addresses that diverse range of risks and challenges they may encounter online. By educating children, fostering open communication, leveraging technological solutions, promoting digital literacy and critical thinking skills and prioritizing their mental health and wellbeing, we can create a safer and more inclusive digital environment for future generations.
Nifemi JACOBS
Graceland College (JSS2B)

Online technology is the electronic interaction with two or more people at the same time. Online technology includes social media, such as Facebook, Twitter (X), Whatsapp, Instagram, Tiktok, Snapchat and many more. Apart from that we have e-learning such as zoom, telegram, u-lesson to educate the children. Besides that, we have e-commerce that deals with buying and selling of goods and services. In addition to these, online technology provides Information about news and metrological events (i.e forecast and many more) in the world.

Despite the numerous advantages of online technology, there are other negative impacts such as cyberbullying, online harassment, sexual exploitation, exposure to harmful content and other social vices. Nigerian children need to be protected from negative impacts of online technology to save them from social vices.

Parents should monitor their children when using phones and computers. They should enlighten them on site to log-into and site not to log-into. Teachers and educational stakeholders should enlighten students on negative influences of online technology

Government should create a censor board to monitor activities of children online and again they should promulgate laws to sanction any site with negative impact on children.

Cyberbullying, for instance, has become a prevalent issue among Nigerian children. According to a recent survey, over 60% of children in Nigeria have experienced some form of online bullying. This can lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicide. Online harassment, including hate speech and hate crimes, is another growing concern. Children may be targeted based on their gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.

Sexual exploitation is another significant threat to Nigerian children online. Predators use social media platforms and online forums to groom and manipulate children, leading to sexual abuse and exploitation. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Nigeria is among the top countries for child sexual exploitation.

Exposure to harmful content is also a concern. Children may access inappropriate content, including violent or explicit material, which can affect their mental health and well-being. Moreover, online scams and fraud targeting children are on the rise, with perpetrators using social media and online platforms to deceive and manipulate them.

To address these concerns, parents, educators, and authorities must work together to create a safe online environment for Nigerian children. This includes:

• Educating children about online safety and digital literacy.
• Monitoring their online activities and setting boundaries.
• Encouraging open communication and reporting suspicious behavior.
• Collaborating with schools and educational institutions to incorporate online safety into curricula.
• Developing and enforcing laws and policies that protect children from online exploitation and abuse.
• Supporting initiatives that promote online child protection and digital literacy.
• Encouraging social media platforms and online service providers to prioritize child safety and protection.

Parents and guardians play a crucial role in protecting their children online. They should engage with their children about their online experiences, teach them how to navigate the internet safely, and encourage open communication. They should also monitor their online activities, set boundaries, and report suspicious behavior.

Schools and educational institutions can also play a vital role by incorporating digital literacy and online safety into their curricula. This will empower children with the knowledge and skills to navigate the internet responsibly and safely.

Policymakers and authorities must develop and enforce laws and policies that protect children from online exploitation and abuse. This includes collaborating with international organizations to combat global online threats and supporting initiatives that promote online child protection.

Furthermore, social media platforms and online service providers must prioritize child safety and protection. They should implement robust measures to prevent online harassment, sexual exploitation, and exposure to harmful content. They should also provide tools and resources for parents and guardians to monitor and control their children's online activities.

In addition, community leaders and influencers can play a crucial role in raising awareness about online child protection. They can use their platforms to educate parents, children, and the wider community about the risks and consequences of online threats.

To protect Nigerian children from the potential harms of online technology, parents and guardians must take a proactive role. This includes setting limits on screen time, monitoring online activities and educating children about online safety. Additionally, parents can utilize parental control software to block harmful content and websites.

In addition, technology companies can develop innovative solutions to combat online threats. For example, artificial intelligence-powered tools can detect and report suspicious behavior, while blockchain technology can ensure secure and transparent online transactions.

Finally, international cooperation is essential in combating global online threats. Countries must work together to share intelligence, best practices, and resources to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.

In conclusion, protecting Nigerian children from online threats requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders. By working together, we can create a safer digital world for our children, enabling them to harness the benefits of technology while minimizing the risks. We owe it to our children to ensure their safety and well-being in the digital age.

Furthermore, parents and guardians must also be aware of the potential risks associated with online technology, such as cyberbullying, online predators, and exposure to inappropriate content. They must take steps to monitor their child's online activities, set boundaries, and have open and honest conversations with their child about online safety.

Additionally, schools and educational institutions must incorporate digital literacy and online safety into their curricula, to empower children with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the online world safely.

Finally, policymakers and regulators must develop and enforce laws and policies that protect children from online exploitation and abuse, and hold technology companies accountable for ensuring child safety online.

By working together, we can create a safe and nurturing online environment that allows Nigerian children to harness the benefits of technology while minimizing its risks. Let us prioritize the well-being and protection of our children in the digital age.

Four major components of attitude are:

• Affective: Emotions or feelings
• Cognitive: Belief or opinions held consciously.
• Conative: Inclination for action
• Evaluative: Positive or negative response to stimuli.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE A POSTIVE POSITIVE

• Motivating those around you with a positive word.
• Using the power of a smile to reverse the tone of a situation.
• Being friendly to those you don’t know.
• Being a source of energy that lifts those around you.
• Being happy even when you have little.
• Having a positive future vision, no matter how bad your current circumstances.
• Not letting others negativity bring you down.
• Giving more than you expect in return.
• Being true to yourself always.

HOW TO PRACTICE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

• Just like productivity is contagious, so is your attitude.
• Your power of attitude determines most of what you experience each day.
• Be with someone who others want to be with, because you lift their energy, attitude, and spirit.
• Choose to have a positive attitude.

BENEFITS OF A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

• A positive attitude leads to success and happiness.
• A positive attitude helps you cope more easily with the daily affairs of life.
• It brings optimism into your life, and makes it easier to avoid worries and negative thinking.
• You become able to inspire and motivate yourself and others.
• Life smiles at you.
• It shows in your attitude.
• It promotes your joy.
• It draws people to God.
• Enables you to show self-esteem and confidence.
• You see and recognize opportunities.

NOTE: A NEGATIVE THINKER SEES A DIFFICULTY IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY, A POSITIVE THINKER SEES AN OPPORTUNITY IN EVERY DIFFICULTY.