Online safety
There are many positive aspects to children and young people using the internet, but we also need to be aware of the potential risks. Children and young people go online to connect with friends, to browse the internet for information, watch videos and play games. Parents, carers and young people need to understand how to be careful about who they share information with. Cyber bullying is a significant concern which can involve e-mails or messaging via social media platforms. It can be very frightening.
What can Parents do?
- Know what your children are doing online and who they are talking to. Ask them to teach you how to use any apps that you have never used.
- Help your children to understand that they should never give out personal details online.
- Help your child to understand that some people might not be who they say they are.
- Always keep communication open for a child to know that it's never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable.
- Let the young people know about organisations such as ChildLine who are there to support them when they need it.
- Help your child to think carefully before posting a picture or video of themselves online.
- Help your child understand about privacy settings and set them as high as possible.
Parent's guide to online safety
- Useful guidance for parents about online safety from SWGfl (opens new window)
- Government guidance about child safety online (opens new window)
- NSPCC offers information and resources for parents on online safety (opens new window)
- Safer Internet offers information and resources about online safety to parents and carers (opens new window)
- Further information for Children and Young People from Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership - includes age appropriate videos that demonstrate how things may go wrong
- Other information for Parents, Carers and the Community from Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership - includes 'what parents need to know' about specific apps- eg tik tok, momo, fortnite
- Information, Advice and Support to Keep Children Safe Online from internetmatters.org - includes age and device specific advice for setting parental controls
- Talking to your child about online safety from NSPCC - includes advice about how to start a conversation on online safety
- Keeping young children safe online from Childnet- advice for under fives (Ofcom says 86% of 3 yr olds have access to a device)
- Thinkuknow home - an online safety education programme from National Crime Agency's Child Exploitation division
- Childline - Feeling Good on Social Media
- Childline - Deaf Zone (opens new window)
- BBC Online - Staying Safe Online
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