​Teaching Kids About Shopping Online Safely

Online shopping has become a well known, popular trend thanks to its convenience and simplicity. However, for all its usefulness the Internet can also be a dangerous place to spend money. This is why it is important to teach kids how to stay safe while online shopping.

Follow these quick tips for buying online to ensure your child has a good understanding of online safety;

• Show your child what sites are safe to buy from, how to find items, review their cart and process the sale. Guiding them step-by-step through the process will show them that safe online shopping can be fun if done correctly
• Make sure they always log out of their accounts
• Encourage them to always stop and seek help if something comes up that they don’t fully understand, or if they think they've made a mistake
• Habitualise checking and double-checking all totals and cart items before submitting any payments
• Remind your child to always stop and think before applying to a subscription or making additional purchases that pop up unexpectedly. These are sometimes scams and should be treated with caution!
• Show them how to comparison shop and do product research to make sure that they are getting the best price and the right product.
• Always use a secure internet connection and antivirus software
• Remind your child that internet shopping costs real money. Limit overspending by letting them use a prepaid card. That way they have a set limit and an idea of how much money they are spending

Payment Methods and Personal Information

Providing personal information is a necessity of online shopping, however this information should always be given out cautiously. Explain to your kids that a site should never ask for personal information like Tax File Numbers, Social Security Numbers or other information that doesn't include a shipping address and payment method. Common payment methods include credit cards, debit cards, PayPal and prepaid cards. The most recommended choice is to stick with prepaid or debit cards to limit overspending.  If using a credit card, always check your transactions and query any that you do not recognise.

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