Children today are exposed to the World Wide Web from birth, both as an advantage and as a threat. Parents frequently worry about cyberbullying, inappropriate content and sexting online; but one digital threat not frequently discussed enough is Dark Internet use by tweens and teens – it is terrifying when one discovers their child has gained access to this part of the Internet and accesses illegal activities that take place here.

The dark Internet is an obscure portion of the World Wide Web that cannot be easily accessed; it requires special software and knowledge in order to gain entry. While websites on the surface web such as Google or Bing allow access, Tor software or similar applications are needed for accessing sites on the Dark Web containing illegal drugs, weapons, pornography images and child abuse related images as well as illegal information available through hidden services or forums.

Know what you need to about the Dark Internet so that you can keep your children safe online. Educating them about its dangers helps instill logic and sensibility so they won’t be drawn in by its temptations; have an open discussion with your kids about why the Dark Net can be dangerous to their wellbeing.

Dark internet (Dark Web) is an anonymous network of websites that allows its users to anonymously communicate, exchange and purchase goods and services – such as e-commerce, darknet marketplaces, escrow services and criminal vendor sites for illicit drugs, firearms or even stolen credit card details. Unfortunately this underground ecosystem can become home for predators who exploit its anonymity for criminal activities against children or others.

Unfortunately, as a parent you’re powerless to prevent your children from accessing the Dark Web. Kids often seek access to it in order to obtain illegal goods and services such as videos, pornography, weapons and drugs; their natural curiosity drives them further into this uncharted online realm.

So if you want to keep tabs on your child’s online activities, monitor their browsing history and look out for any.onion domain urls in their search history which indicate they might be using Tor to access dark web sites. Use parental monitoring apps like Xnspy to track their activities and prevent them from becoming involved with malicious situations. In addition, check their devices regularly for unknown software and applications; make sure not to allow any sexual or pornographic websites access; this could have serious long-term repercussions in later years.