As young people spend more time online, there is also an increase in the chances they will see something online which isn’t intended for them. Whether this is fake news, impersonation, or mean comments, there are lots of places you can go for help and advice on how to report this behaviour. Together as a family, you can also help prepare your children and build their critical thinking skills. Please use the following links below for support on how to use apps and websites safely.
Keeping your child safe online
(advice, information and common sense)
In school, internet safety is extremely high, with a built-in firewall, as well as procedures and restrictions to sites deemed too old or inappropriate for the age of the child. Monitoring and appropriate actions are taken swiftly if an incident happens.
At home, it is equally important that parental settings and restrictions are in place to keep children safe online. This can be quite challenging as adults often require a more open internet environment, thus leaving access for children to browse adult-related content.
Nothing is better for keeping your child safe online than on-the-spot parental guidance. Being present when your child is surfing the internet, playing games or just watching videos from Youtube etc., is the best way to control your child’s time and safety online.
However, this is not always possible. Below are links to offer guidance on ways to ensure devices are set up to restrict certain actions and limit time online. Remember, nothing is 100% safe, but with a little time and effort and you can make being online a little safer.
Remember that different versions of operating systems look slightly different but inherently work the same, and it is worth persevering for the wellbeing of the whole family.