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Make this summer a safe one for your children online

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Latest news in Yorkshire: July 04, 2018 02:20:18 PM

***Shared on behalf of Get Safe Online and Yorkshire & Humber Regional Cyber
Crime Unit***

Summer’s here – the sun is shining, school is nearly finished and it’s a
great time for your children to enjoy more time with you. However, the long
days home from school also mean that they will probably be spending more
time online. whether it’s on social media, playing games or watching videos.

You want your children to be sociable and inquisitive, but above all, to be
safe. How much time are they spending online? What content are they looking
at? Who are they talking to? These days, it’s just as vital to make sure
children are safe online as in the street or the park.

Please read our expert tips on helping to protect your children from
increasingly commonplace issues such as accessing inappropriate content via
websites and streaming, sharing too much personal information, believing
fake news and thinking everyone they meet online is a friend.

Our expert tips

. Talk regularly with your children about their and your online
lives. Get them to show you what they’re doing and try some of the
technologies out for yourself. Show you understand how important technology
is to them and talk about the benefits. Don’t shy away from discussing
responsible behaviour, and talk about bullying and adult content in the
appropriate language for their age.

. Set boundaries and rules from a young age. This can include how
much time they’re allowed to spend online for a healthy balance. Set an
example by using your own mobile devices responsibly and at the right time.

. Talk to your friends, family and other parents about how they help
their children to progress and keep safe online. Exchange tips and share
experiences.

. Opt into your ISP’s family filters. But use technological controls
only in conjunction with giving guidance and advice.

. Tell your children that not everyone they meet online is who they
appear to be. Whether they’re on social media, chatrooms, online gaming or
YouTube, be aware that changes in your child’s behaviour or moods could be a
sign of some kind of online abuse. Find out how to use social networks’
reporting buttons and show your children.

. Check lower age limits of social networking and picture sharing
sites. Make sure your children aren’t using age-inappropriate sites, apps or
games. Download apps only from recognised sources such as App Store or
Google Play. Add your own email address when setting up accounts for your
children.

. Keep yourself up to date with new game ‘fads’ especially those
with negative publicity because they may be violent, encourage gambling or
leave the way open for grooming.

. Be aware of the rise in children’s live streaming of themselves
and the dangers associated with it. There is also a danger of children
randomly being exposed to inappropriate content on video streaming sites
such as YouTube.

. Talk to your children about online safety basics such as not
clicking on random links or attachments, good password practice, not turning
off internet security programs/apps and firewalls and not revealing personal
information such as their address, current location or private images.

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