Online Safety for Kids

Accessing the internet can expose children to potential risks that are harmful:

• Cyberbullying: Children can be vulnerable to bullying and harassment online, which can have serious emotional and psychological impacts.
  
  

• Online predators: Children may be targeted by sexual predators or other dangerous individuals who use the internet to groom and exploit them.
  
  

• Inappropriate content: Children may be exposed to graphic, violent, or sexually explicit material online, which can be harmful to their well-being.
  
  

• Addiction and overuse: Children may spend too much time online, leading to social isolation, decreased physical activity, and reduced academic performance.
  
  

• Privacy violations: Children may inadvertently share personal information online, which can be used to steal their identity or track their location.

Keeping your child safe online requires a combination of education, supervision, and technology.

Here are some steps you can take:

1. Educate your child: Teach your child about online safety and help them understand the potential dangers they may face, such as cyberbullying, online predators, and malware.
   
   

2. Supervise their online activity: Regularly check in on what your child is doing online and monitor their social media accounts.
   
   

3. Use parental controls: Set up parental controls on your child's device and consider using a filtering or monitoring software to block inappropriate content.
   
   

4. Establish rules: Set rules and boundaries for your child's online activity, such as setting time limits for screen time, or prohibiting the sharing of personal information.
   
   

5. Keep the lines of communication open: Encourage your child to talk to you about their online experiences, both positive and negative, and be available to answer questions and offer guidance.
   
   

6. Stay informed: Keep up to date on new technologies and online trends so you can better understand the risks and challenges your child may face.

By taking these steps and remaining vigilant, you can help your child navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

• The Think U Know website has games to teach five to seven-year-olds about online safety, plus advice for 11- to 16-year-olds and for parents and teachers.
  
  

• Even if your children have their own computers, it’s best to set them up with standard user accounts. This will prevent them from downloading programs by mistake or deleting vital system files.
  
  

Links to instructions on how to create a user account and set up family controls are below:

• Create a Windows User Account

• Manage Windows Family Controls 

• Add Apple User Account 

• Manage Apple Family Controls

• Set up a Google Account for a Child

• Manage your Child's Google Account
  
  

For greater control over your child’s online activities, consider using free specialist parental control software. The Tech Radar website can tell you what’s available with features. 

Anyone with any any serious concerns about threats to a child's online safety can report the issue to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP).

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You can make a report whether you are a child or adult, read information on the CEOP site to help guide you.