Online Safety

Make sure your child knows to always keep private information safe and watch what they say on the internet. People may not be who they say they are online, and it’s not always possible to control who can see your child’s information.

Your child should know not to give out information such as:

• their full name
• photos
• postal or email addresses
• school information
• mobile or home telephone numbers
• details of places they like to spend time.

Make sure your child knows that they shouldn’t arrange to meet people that they have only met online. Even if they have been chatting with someone for a while, that person is still a stranger.

You can help keep your child’s information safe by setting privacy settings. This can restrict access to personal information and photos on things like social networking sites.

You should also encourage your child to use a nickname instead of their real name in chat rooms or on instant messaging services. To stop people accessing your child’s online accounts, encourage them to keep their passwords secret, and to change them regularly.

Get your child to block people who send offensive messages and tell them not to open unknown links and attachments. They should delete any suspicious emails or attachments as they may contain something offensive or have a virus that can cause damage to the computer.

One of the main ways children can come across inappropriate content online is through search results. Most search engines include a ‘safe search’ option that excludes results containing inappropriate images or key words.

You can also install parental control software to filter out harmful and inappropriate content for computers and some mobile phones and games consoles.

Your child should come to you or a trusted adult if they are worried or unhappy about anything they see online. They should also do this if a friend they have made online has asked to meet them in the offline world.

If your child does experience inappropriate content online, report it to the website it appears on. The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) has developed an internet safety ‘one stop shop’ with more information.

Parents can set filters on all devices you have at home, as all internet providers are now required to offer this as standard. Filters can limit the content your children can access – but they are not fool proof, and your child may need support finding content that is right for their age.

Online resources like Common Sense Media provide information for parents on content of films, games, and other content to help find activities that work for your child. PEGI ratings on games also offer a guide on whether the content is right for your child’s age.

Technology can be terribly tempting for our children and young people. The University of Brighton Academies Trust recommends that access to online devices is limited to family spaces, and children do not access online activities in their bedrooms, a space that is by nature, more likely to unsupervised and unsupported for longer periods of time.

All the major providers of social media platforms clear that primary school age children are not permitted to use them. We would urge parents to ensure their children are not using these sites - in our experience they can contribute to stress, anxiety, bullying as well as being adult worlds that are simply unsuitable for young children. Young people of 13 and over should be helped to use these sites safely, responsibly and respectfully.

The online world changes at an astonishing rate. Staying informed of new trends, popular activities and potential risks to your young people can help avoid tricky situations before they arise. Academies will often share information on new developments or offer advise on certain popular games or activities.

Joining your child in their adventures online or in the world of gaming can build relationships, help you understand their interests and develop a connection.