Online Safety

This year in the UK, Safer Internet Day will focus on how consent works in an online context and will ask young people to explore how they ask, give, and receive consent online. This could be in their friendships or relationships, how they take and share images and videos or how they manage their privacy and data.

The campaign encourages young people to explore how the internet works, who owns the information that is shared on it, and how they can actively take ownership of digital spaces. We want Safer Internet Day 2019 to empower young people to take control of their online lives and to feel that they can harness and use the positive power of the internet for good.

We invite everyone to join us, and Safer Internet Day supporters across the globe, to help create a better internet on Tuesday 5 February 2019 and, indeed, throughout the whole year.

E-Safety Advice for Parents

Please go to www.thinkuknow.co.uk for lots of helpful advice for all ages. Also visit www.ceop.police.uk for films and more advice on not only keeping safe but what to do to report abuse online.
It is advisable to watch the CEOP materials first before watching them with your child as you may find them shocking.

Tips for Parents From The CEOP Website

As a parent you’ll probably know how important the internet is to children and young people. They use it to learn, play,
socialise and express themselves in all types of creative ways. This may be through sharing photos and videos, blogging,
gaming, or even developing their own apps. It is a place of amazing opportunities.

The technology children use in their daily lives can seem daunting. You might worry about the risks they can face online,
such as bullying, contact from strangers, as well as the possibility of access to inappropriate or illegal content. To help
them stay safe, it’s important that you understand how your child uses the internet.

By following this simple checklist, you can start to protect them and decrease the risks
they face:

I have asked my child to show me sites they use - By doing so, your child is including you in their online life
and social activity. Show an interest and take note of the names of their favourite sites. You can then re-visit
these when you are alone. Take your time and explore the space, find out how to set the safety features and
learn how to report any issues directly to the site.

I have asked my child to set their profile settings to private - Social networking sites, such as Facebook, are
used by children to share information, photos and just about everything they do! Encourage your child to set
their privacy settings to private. They need to think about the information they post online as it could be
copied and pasted anywhere, without their permission. If it got into the wrong hands, somebody may wish to
use it against them or worst of all try to locate them in the real world.

I have asked my child about their online friends - We know that people lie online about who they are and
may create fake identities. It is very important children understand this. Whether they are visiting a social
network or a gaming site, the safety messages are the same. Children and young people must never give out
personal information and only be “friends” with people they know and trust in the real world.

I have set appropriate parental controls on my child’s computer, mobile and games console - Filters on
computers and mobiles can prevent your child from viewing inappropriate and possibly illegal content. You
can activate and change levels depending on your child’s age and abilities. You can also set time restrictions
for using the internet or games. They can be free and easy to install. Call your service provider who will be
happy to assist or visit CEOP’s parents' site for further information. Explain to your child why you are setting
parental controls when you talk to them about their internet use.

My child has agreed to tell me if they are worried about something online - Sometimes children get into
situations online where they don’t feel comfortable or see something they don’t want to see. By opening up
the communication channels and talking to your child about the internet, their favourite sites and the risks
they may encounter, they are more likely to turn to you if they are concerned about something.

I know where to get help if I’m concerned about my child - The CEOP Safety Centre provides access to a
range of services. If you are concerned that an adult has made inappropriate contact with your child you can
report this directly to CEOP. You can also find help if you think your child is being bullied, or if you’ve come
across something on the internet which you think may be illegal.

The following weblinks are particularly helpful for children with ASD

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/Does-your-child-have-Autistic-Spectrum-Disorder/

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/Films-to-watch-with-your-children/Josh_and_Sue_original/

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Walker Online Safety Policy

Online Safety Guides from National Online Safety

E-Safety Information for Parents and Carers