Online safety - Print version

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The internet is increasingly present in the lives of children and young people and being online is more common than ever. 'Being online' includes using anything that requires access to the internet. For children and young people, this can include:

  • computers
  • laptops
  • smartphones
  • tablets - e.g. iPad, Amazon Fire, Lenovo Tab, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Android Tablet
  • gaming consoles - e.g. PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch (these can be used online and offline), Steam Deck
  • other devices that connect to the internet or games that require Wi-Fi to play

Anyone with a device that can connect to the internet can go online, so knowing how to stay safe online is important for all of us.

Going online can be a source of entertainment for children and young people, but it can also be a great tool for:

  • socialising - e.g. Zoom, Skype or MS Teams to video call with friends and family, playing online games with friends, using social media
  • communicating - e.g. messaging via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, Email
  • learning - e.g. online classes using Zoom or other video call platforms, educational videos and tutorials, reading eBooks

It is important to recognise that being online also presents risks that may be upsetting or cause harm to children and young people.

Helping your child to understand what online safety is and how to stay safe when they go online can help them have positive experiences.

Understanding how to stay safe online can be overwhelming, but there are lots of resources with clear and simple information about being online that can help you support your child to be safe.

The Government's Kids Online Safety Campaign [https://kidsonlinesafety.campaign.gov.uk/] has lots of information about the importance of keeping your child safe online and guidance on how you can protect your child online.

Getting started online

It is important to adopt good practices and set boundaries when your child first starts using devices and entering the online world. Their first time may be the moment they have their own smart phone, games console, laptop or tablet or have access to someone else’s.

Knowing how and when to introduce your child to the internet, digital devices and going online is an important decision, which can feel daunting. Breaking it down into small steps will help you and your child build confidence being online together.

Setting up their first device

Consider what you want your child to get out of their device and being online. Talk about what they might use their device for, this might include:

  • Playing games
  • Reading e-books
  • Getting creative

Explore different age-appropriate apps and games together and talk about what your child likes about them. This is a good way of learning what your child likes to do online.

Parental controls

Setting up parental controls on the device your child uses can help protect them from inappropriate content.

You can also set screen-time limits, helping them strike the balance between being online and doing things offline (in the real world).

Internet Matters [https://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/] has simple guides on how to set up parental controls for different apps, games and platforms.

Managing screen time

Did you know, the Government recommends no screen time for children under 2 years old and no more than 1 hour a day for those aged 2 to 5 years.

Encourage your child to adopt positive screen-time habits and digital routines by setting boundaries like the following:

  • No screens during mealtimes
  • Keeping devices in communal areas
  • No screens at bedtime

Screens should not displace sleep, face-to-face friendships or physical exercise.

The Children’s Commissioner’s ‘Digital 5-a-Day [https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/digital/5-a-day/]’ framework can help your child find a healthy balance of online and offline activities.

Where to report if things go wrong

Occasionally, things can happen online that may upset or harm your child. It's not your or your child’s fault, but it’s important to act.

Understanding what has happened to your child, or what they have seen, will help you decide what action to take. It’s important to remember to:

  • Stay calm
  • Reassure your child you can help them solve the problem
  • Ask non-accusatory question to gain understanding

Reports can be made to the following:

Many social media platforms and online games have their own reporting tool. Internet Matters [https://www.internetmatters.org/report-issue/] has helpful guides on how to report harmful content across several popular social media platforms and video games.

If you feel your child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Speak to an expert

If you feel you need more support or have questions about staying safe online, helplines are available to you and your child offering expert advice on how to stay safe online, or support if something upsetting has happened:

Talking to children and young people about being online

Talking to your child about online safety can help them feel safe and confident navigating the digital world. Short, weekly-check-ins make it easier to talk openly about what your child sees online and will help them build healthy online habits.

Why is talking about being online important?

Setting up parental controls is a useful step in preventing children from seeing harmful content online, but it cannot protect them completely. Talking to your child about online safety can help build trust and let them know that they can talk to you if they see something that worries them, or if something happens online that makes them feel unsafe.

Having conversations when your child is young is the best way to establish trust and open communication. Talking to teenagers and young adults about what they do online can feel impossible, but there are simple things you can do to normalise talking about their online activity.

Starting small

Starting with a quick check-in question every day can be a useful way to open the conversation.  Showing an interest is a good way to learn about their online life. Try questions like:

  • Have you seen any good posts lately? Anything that made you laugh?
  • Who’s your favourite YouTuber/Streamer? What sort of videos do they post?
  • How did your game go? Who do you play with?

It may feel awkward or uncomfortable at first. If they don’t want to talk, don’t push them. You could try sharing some of your own experiences first and asking if they’ve ever come across something similar. If it doesn’t work the first time, try on another day.

Knowing what to trust online

Being online can be useful and entertaining, but it’s possible to come across false information, especially with the growing use of AI technologies.

Talk to your child about what they look at online and explain not everything is true. Try discussing and questioning content together using the following questions as a starting point:

  • How does this post make you feel?
  • Who shared this content? Why do you think they shared it?
  • Are they being fair or could they be biased?
  • Could this have been made by AI?

If your child feels comfortable, scroll through their social media together and talk about what comes up in their feed. Encourage them to follow accounts with different ideas from trusted sources. You could start by going through your own social media or have a family discussion too.

Spotting misleading or false content

Anyone can post online. Some posts may be misleading or made up to grab attention. Encourage your child to think for themselves and check where information comes from before believing or sharing it.

Key signs to look out for:

  • Exaggerated or emotional language
  • No sources or unverified claims
  • Jumping to conclusions without proof

Talking about limits and negative experiences

Explaining to your child what parental controls you have in place and why can make them feel more included in the decision to use them. Discussing the possibility of changing them or lifting some restrictions as they get older gives them a sense of responsibility and a goal to work towards.

As your child gets older, it is normal for them to question restrictions and attempt to get around them to access content you don’t want them to see. Pushing boundaries is normal.

If your child tells you they have come across something inappropriate, harmful or upsetting online, let them know it’s okay to be open and honest with you and not to worry about getting into trouble.

If your child tells you about something they’ve seen, or something that has happened online that puts them in danger, act quickly to resolve or report it.

If your child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Reporting concerns

Anybody can make a report, it doesn't have to be you and it doesn't even have to be an adult. The following content can be reported:

  • Child sexual abuse
  • Terrorism
  • Bullying, threats, harassment, hate speech and content promoting self-harm or suicide
  • Accounts that pretend to be someone else (impersonation)
  • Online abuse, unwanted sexual advances and violence
  • Pornographic material that appears on non-adult websites

Where to make a report

If you or your child come across harmful photos, videos or messages on a specific app, such as Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube or other popular social media platforms, you can use the built-in reporting tool on the relevant platform. 

Internet Matters [https://www.internetmatters.org/report-issue/] has helpful step-by-step guides on how to report harmful content across several popular social media platforms and video games.

Find out more (training and resources)

The Prevent team and West Midlands Police offer a free workshop for parents and carers to help keep their children safe online. The training looks at:

  • Apps and appropriate ages
  • Safety settings
  • Grooming, sexting, bullying, radicalisation and extremism
  • Gaming
  • Introducing house rules
  • How to approach conversations and what to do if your child is a victim

Book onto training [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Coventry_Safeguarding_Children_Board_training_booking]

SWGfL worked with TikTok to provide a free online event, exclusively for professionals working with children and young people, to explore what digital wellbeing looks like in 2022 and provide information and tips to stay safe online. Watch the video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb2hhcYJV5I].

Online safety resources

Parents Supporting Young People Online [http://www.childnet.com/resources/supporting-young-people-online] – Childnet provides advice for parents in twelve different languages including Bengali, Urdu, Polish and Arabic.

https://youtu.be/MY5NDhvVkG4 [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/3l0mCy8Z6SlZ3xRtZfLhxGEs6?domain=youtu.be] This is a YouTube link providing awareness on supporting parents and carers with the children’s online safety, delivered by the NSPCC.

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