Online and E-safety
The amount of time children spend online has increased dramatically – whilst it is a great way for them to have fun, socialise and learn, it can also expose risks that can be hurtful and inappropriate. Today, more than ever, it is important for parents and carers be aware of the risks and support schools in educating and protecting children whilst they are online.
Technology can feel daunting but understanding what your child may be exposed to will help you to help them keep safe online.
Safe Online Chatting
- Know who they are talking to
- Talk and get to know who they are talking to and what content they are viewing
- Remind them to keep information private
- Private messages should only be with people they know and trust
- Make sure they know how to block someone
- Explain they should not have one-sided webcam conversations (the other person’s camera is broken)
- Become familiar with the chat functionality and the built-in safety functions
- Use parental functions – internet/mobile service provider, filtering options, online content/game console
- If you discover inappropriate content, stay calm, investigate the facts and seek expert help.
Safe Online Gaming
- Know the age ratings, online chatting functions and game content
- Agree time restrictions and appropriate games
- Join in the fun to help understand their experiences
- Discuss the rules about not sharing personal information
- Teach them how to report inappropriate behaviour
- Explore parental controls – e.g. disable online purchases
- Use built in safety measures – more information can be found out here.
Understand the risks
- Cyberbullying – harassing, threatening, targeting and embarring another person
- Online exploitation – grooming – posing as a younger person inappropriate content,
- Image sharing – blackmailing, CEOP have this guidance.
- Inappropriate content – extremist, sexual or violent material
- Misinformation – fake news and false information
- Sextortion linked to exploitation – more information can be found here.
Positive Tips for Parents
- Stay updated with online risks and trends
- Communicate to understand online activities – promote sharing concerns
- Demonstrate good online practices
- Check parental controls on a regular basis
- Discuss scams/fake news and how to spot them
- Encourage offline activities
- Establish rules for internet usage
- Use the latest anti-virus and spam protection
- Be mindful of phishing emails and scams