Connected and Protected
An Online Safety Guide
Understanding Online Risks Grasping the potential dangers of the internet is crucial for creating a safe digital environment for our children. Risks range from exposure to inappropriate content and cyber-bullying to privacy breaches and encounters with online predators. Knowing what to look for and how to prevent these risks is the first step towards effective internet safety.
The importance of internet safety for children cannot be understated in the digital age, where risks such as cyber bullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and online predators are prevalent. Early and ongoing conversations about these dangers and proper online behavior are crucial in protecting and empowering your kids as they navigate the digital world
Setting the Foundation
Basic Rules and Tools To ensure your child's safety online, it's essential to establish basic rules.
● Discuss the importance of not sharing personal information, this includes location sharing, posting pictures of uniforms or speaking to others about their school or landmarks that can be traceable.
● Utilise tools like parental controls to help enforce these rules and monitor their activity.
● Discuss the difference between appropriate and inappropriate content.
● Ensure they are comfortable to speak to you, the necessity of informing an adult if something uncomfortable arises
“When I am playing Roblox it makes me stressed and annoyed but I still play”
Empowering Your Children
Teaching children about internet safety is empowering, giving them the knowledge and tools to navigate online spaces confidently. Open communication encourages trust, making them more likely to approach you with their worries or doubts. Discuss with them what cyberbullying is, privacy, and the reliability of online information emphasising critical thinking in all their digital interactions.
Do you know all the areas of the web?
There are 3 parts to the internet.
Open Web: That is the part of the internet that we all access, where the big search engines are and where children are likely to explore.
Deep Web: This is where people might use internet banking, access the internal work intranet.
Dark Web: This is accessible through anonymity software and it is hard to 'stumble upon it', it is not illegal to access and if your child is on it, it doesn't mean they are doing anything wrong.
Lets think of it this way…. The internet in general is a place children should be monitored, guided and supported to navigate. Think of it as no less than going into people's homes, the open internet is going to a family friend's home that you know well, the deep web is going to a distant relatives house and the dark web is going to a stranger's house. All these parts of the web hold risks and we know that a child is more likely to be harmed by someone they know than someone they do not. So we must not be complacent when it comes to any parts of the web.
Family Plan
Set Daily Screen Time Limits
Set specific time frames for internet use
Discuss and agree on exceptions for other family activities
Privacy Settings Check up
Review social media privacy settings
Enable privacy filters on browsers and search engines
Weekly Family Tech Talks
Set aside time each week to discuss new apps, and online experiences as a family, this can also be done in an school setting too. Listen to the app they are talking about.
Just find out what your children know.What is the new 'in’ game'?
Internet Safety Course
NSPCC has great support links.
Here at RiseStrong we will also produce some internet safety courses for members.
Doing this as a family, will show your children your commitment to their safety and you will speak the same language.
Response to Inappropriate Content
How do you respond as a family when something happens online, it starts with a conversation.
Do not overreact to alarming content, stay calm
Let them know they are not in trouble: If they’ve come across inappropriate content, reassure them that it’s not their fault. Many kids stumble upon things by accident.
Thank them for talking to you about it, and emphasize that you’re always available for such conversations.
Talk through what has happened and why.
The Internet Watch Foundation has a great tool to report sexual images- direct link can be found here
Get involved
Have a go! Play the game, get a feel for what they are playing- scope any potential risks or enjoy the benefits with them?
Note behaviour changes after playing? Is it excitement and wanting to share what they have done, is it frustration, how can you help them navigate through this? Are they short tempered and irritated?
Know what social media platforms they are using (remember the age for most are 13+) Follow them on them, ensure their profile is locked, know who their followers are.
Do you know the lastest app, have you explored the risks and operating platforms. Do you know how to put on parental controls
Scenarios Examples- Conversation starters.
Do some scenarios with them, this helps develop critical thinking and you can gauge what they may do if they were confronted with a problem.
What would you do if someone you didn't know tried to add you as a friend on your game or a social media platform.
Someone you have spoken to on Roblox (or like game) said they think you are such a good player and that you should set up a private game? Does this sound fun? Like a good idea? What would you do?
Your child is 11, all their friends have Instagram, they ask you for it? What do you say? What are the considerations?
A friend your child goes to school with asks them to buy credits for the online game. What would your child do?
Ask your child to explain what they love about the game they play, is it the characters , the storylines etc.
Statistics
Statistics
Data from the 10- to 15-year-old’s Crime Survey for England and Wales
More than three-quarters of children said they spent three or more hours online a day at the weekend.
1 in 5 (22%) spend seven or more hours a day online at the weekend. Almost half of the children spent three or more hours online on an ordinary school day.
An estimated 5% of children aged 10 to 15 years met up in person with someone they had only spoken to online (equivalent to 212,000 children) in the previous 12 months.
Around 1 in 10 children (11%) aged 13 to 15 years reported receiving a sexual message, while 1 in 100 reported sending a sexual message, in the previous 12 months.
Children were asked about how they felt before meeting up in person with someone they had only spoken to online. The majority of children felt excited (35%) or happy (33%), while 11% felt nervous and 10% felt confident.
But it isnt all negative
The UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) shares some research stating that 61% of young people have sent a message online in support to a friend who has shared they are feeling sad or unsafe.
64% of 15 year olds have changed their profile picture online or added a filter to support a good cause or campaign.
The online world can create a safe community, a source of information but it is important to monitor this, just like you would in the real world. Know your children’s friends etc.
The online world offers young people a platform to connect with peers, access educational resources, and explore their interests, fostering creativity and learning. However, just like in the real world, it's essential for parents to monitor and guide their children’s online activities, ensuring they engage with safe, positive content and relationships.
Join us next time
For a blog on Safeguarding
