Feature on Online Safety for All About Family
There’s no doubt that the online world is a significant part of children’s lives today. From gaming and social media apps to completing schoolwork online, technology can be extremely beneficial for children’s learning and development. But it can also represent a very real and ever-present danger if not used safely.
For parents and carers everywhere, there are lots of safety factors to consider when children explore the online world.
One worry is the introduction and rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In a recent YouGov survey commissioned by the NSPCC, results showed that among 3,356 people from across the UK, 89% have some level of concern that this type of technology may be unsafe for children.
Other concerns that parents may have while their children are online is the use of social media platforms, gaming, cyber bulling and the risk of online grooming.
But what can parents and carers do to ensure that their children are safe when online?
It’s good to talk
The NSPCC recommends parents talking to their children openly and regularly about how they navigate the internet and its many platforms.
Technology can move at an extraordinarily fast pace. It can be tough to know how to start talking to children about what they are doing online, who they might be speaking to or discussing the potential risks and issues.
But making it part of daily conversation, just like asking about their day at school, will help them feel relaxed. It also means when they do have any worries, they’re more likely to open up and talk about it.
It’s vital for parents to use language that their child will understand, and important to consider every child’s age and ability as it will help to decide how to speak to them.
For example, for under 11s, the NSPCC has resources like Talk PANTS – a simple conversation to help keep your child safe from sexual abuse, and Techosaurus – the charity’s new friendly dinosaur helping children to form healthy online habits, routines and behaviours from a young age.
What about older children?
When it comes to older children and teenagers, their needs and behaviour will be changing, and they may find talking to parents embarrassing when discussing difficult topics.
However, they still need support so it’s always worth continuing to check in with them regularly, even if there’s nothing they want to talk about. The NSPCC’s Positive Parenting guide can help with this.
As with any conversation it helps to stay calm, balanced, and non-judgemental. From this, parents can get a good insight into their child’s online activities so they can consider if any further steps need to be taken to ensure their child’s safety.
Parental controls are a good way of keeping their experiences safe and checking whether the games and apps they’re using are appropriate for their age.
Be a good digital role model
Children look to their parents and carers for guidance, so it is important to be a good digital role model. There are lots of things you can do to set a good example.
Things such keeping passwords safe and reminding children that they are private and shouldn’t be shared are a good start. Making sure to have a break and turning off notifications sometimes also helps, as well as talking about the things you read online. There is a lot of false information shared in some areas of the internet, so it’s always helpful to talk to children about what they have seen and the importance of using trusted news sources.
As parents, we may tell children to be careful about the pictures they share online, but parents also have to stop and think carefully about what they post too.
Further support
It’s important for children to understand that they have someone to talk to about anything that they’ve experienced online. If they don’t feel comfortable speaking to a parent or carer, remind them they can talk to a teacher or one of our dedicated volunteer counsellors at Childline.
They can call for free and confidentially 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0800 1111 or visit the Childline website for support.
Parents and carers can find more information about children’s online safety on the NSPCC website.