Keeping Children Safe Online
You can make sure your child is safe online by using technical parental controls and creating your own rules. Rules should cover things like which websites they can visit and how long they can spend online. You should also stress the importance of keeping personal information safe
Parental controls
Computers and other digital technologies like games consoles and mobile phones have parental controls. These let you do things like:
- block selected websites and email addresses by adding them to a filter list
- set time limits for use
- prevent your child from searching certain words
Before you set rules you can check the
equipment’s user manual or the
manufacturers’ websites to see what controls
you have access to. You can also contact
your internet service provider (ISP) or
mobile phone operator to find out about any
child safety measures they offer.
Setting rules with your child
When making a set of rules for using the internet, it’s a good idea to include your child. Being involved will help them understand the dangers and give them a sense of responsibility. It will also let them know what kind of websites you think are suitable.
The best way to keep your child
safe online is to get on the internet
yourself to learn how they use it. This will
help you to set reasonable rules.
Acceptable internet use
Some examples of acceptable use might include:
- the internet-connected computer must
be in a family room with the screen
facing outward so you can see what's
going on
- if your child accidentally goes to
an unsuitable website they should tell
you - you can delete it from the
'history' folder and add the address to
the parental control filter list
- it's never OK to use abusive or
threatening language in any online
communication
- you child should take breaks from the computer every 30 minutes for health and safety reasons
- your child shouldn't download unknown files from the internet without you agreeing - it’s best to never download unknown files at all
Child-friendly search engines
You should make sure your child is aware of child-friendly search engines. These filter out inappropriate internet sites so that they are able to search the internet safely. Your child can also use traditional search engines with safe search settings turned on.
Stopping cyberbullying (online bullying)
Your child should understand that they should never be afraid to tell you about frightening or bullying emails or messages they get with unacceptable content. It’s not their fault that they have received them and the addresses can be added to the parental control filter list.
Your child’s personal safety online
It’s important your child realises that people online might not be who they say they are and could be dangerous. They should also be aware that any personal information they give out can be used in financial scams or for bullying.
To keep your child safe you should tell them not to:
- give out personal information to people they only know online - this includes name, home address, landline and mobile numbers, bank details, PIN numbers and passwords
- supply details for registration without asking for permission and help from you
- visit chat websites that aren’t
fully moderated/supervised
- arrange to meet an online friend in
person without your knowledge and
permission (if you agree to let them,
you should always go along with them)
- give any indication of their age or
sex in a personal email address or
screen name
- keep anything that worries or upsets them online secret from you
- respond to unwanted emails or other
messages
You can monitor your child’s internet use
by checking the history folder on your
browser as it contains a list of previously
visited sites.
If there’s a problem
Hopefully the rules you put in place will mean your child is always able to use the internet safely. However, you should also:
- contact your ISP if your child comes
across inappropriate content or is
subjected to any inappropriate contact
while online
- install and regularly update filtering software to protect against inappropriate internet access
If you are worried about illegal
materials or suspicious online behaviour,
contact the Child Exploitation and Online
Protection centre (CEOP).
