News

The Easter School holidays are just around the corner and children will have more spare time on their hands.

What’s almost certain is that during the school holidays, they’ll be going online much more than in term time … for entertainment, keeping in contact and chatting with their mates, gaming, and the multitude of other things kids use the Internet for.

With all the additional time spent doing more online, how can you be sure that the young people in your family are safe from the issues they can encounter every day?

The Internet lets children connect with friends and learn new things. But there are also dangers to going online, and children can be particularly vulnerable.

Talking to your children is one of the best ways to keep them safe online. By understanding the risks, and keeping yourself up to date on the latest technology, websites and social networks you can help your children enjoy the Internet safely and securely.

To help protect your children online:

keep computers, phones and games consoles in family rooms where you can monitor activity
install parental control software or activate parental controls through your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to prevent access to inappropriate content
‘friend’ or ‘follow’ your child on social networks, so you can see how they're using them
check age restrictions for websites or social networks to make sure your children are allowed to join
advise your child not to post personal information, or any images they wouldn’t want everyone to see
check their social media accounts’ privacy settings, so their posts are only seen by friends and their location isn’t tracked
avoid using webcams, unless talking to close friends or family, and consider covering it when not in use
monitor how your children use the Internet and watch for any secretive behaviour
encourage your child to be open about what they do online, and who they’re talking to
insist you go with them if they wish to meet online friends face to face
ensure the games your children play online are age appropriate
SOURCE: METROPOLITAN POLICE

Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours