Parents and Carers play a key role in helping children and young people to stay safe online.
The internet has become part of everyday life for people of all ages. However, it can be a useful tool for people wishing to exploit children and it is important to protect children using the internet.
Recent high profile cases in the news have revealed that internet chat rooms, social media and web gaming chats can be used by paedophiles to establish deceptive relationships with children. They then ‘groom’ children to become victims, either psychologically on the internet itself, or by arranging to actually meet them. Often victims believe that they are chatting to other children on-line.
Internet pornography can cause psychological damage to children who are exposed to it. Worse still, the internet is a major method by which pornographic images of children are obtained and exchanged by exploitative adults. Sadly such images are high in demand, so pornographers will go to extreme lengths to entice and coerce children into getting involved against their will.
Concerned about a child?
- 01454 866000 ‐ Monday to Friday
- 01454 615165 ‐ Out of hours/Weekends
- In an emergency please ring 999
- Tik Tok – Advice and Guidance for Parents
Please click on the below link for the Parents’ Ultimate Guide to Tik Tok (Commonsense Media)
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/parents-ultimate-guide-to-tiktok
Please click on the below link for Tik Tok App Safety – What Parents Need to Know (Internet Matters)
https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/esafety-news/tik-tok-app-safety-what-parents-need-to-know/
Click on the images below to view the full sized versions:
Top Tips for Keeping Children and Young People Safe Online:
- Monitor Viewing Habits – keep an eye on what they are watching and doing and when.
- Check Online Content – have a look yourself at what is ‘trending’ at the moment.
- Check Age Ratings – make sure they are old enough for the app or game.
- Change Privacy Settings – Make social media and gaming profiles private and set content so only friends can see.
- Spend Time on the App – Look at what is on the app they are using and what content they are seeing.
- Let Children and Young People Know You Are There – for support and advice.
- Encourage Critical Thinking – talk about what people post and why it might be distressing.
- Learn How to Report and Block – Make sure they know how to report and block people on social media and games.
- Keep an Open Dialogue – if they see something distressing online listen to their concerns, empathise and reassure.
- Seek Further Support – if your child has been affected by something they have seen please seek support from us on the numbers above.
Keeping Children Safe Online
Mental Health
Social Media/Messaging
Gaming
Online Risks
