Internet safety

The Internet is a relatively new resource, which has greatly enriched our lives, opening up new and exciting opportunities for learning and communicating around the world. However, the rate of technological advancement has been, and still is, phenomenal. Many professionals, parents and carers find themselves overwhelmed by these developments and, in many cases, the young people they work with, (and their own children) are streets ahead in their knowledge and use of this resource.

The Internet can contain material and websites that are inappropriate for children and young people; promote racial, or other hate ideologies; and, can also provide an opportunity for abusers to target, contact and ultimately abuse children and young people. It is important that professionals are aware of the dangers and are able to direct and support young people and their parents/carers in safe use of Internet based services.

What is Online Abuse?

Online abuse can take many forms:

Content: being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful material; for example pornography, fake news, racist or radical and extremist views;
Contact: being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users; for example commercial advertising, as well as adults posing as children or young adults; and
Conduct: personal online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm; for example making, sending and receiving explicit images, or online bullying.

Children and young people and their parents or carers should be made aware:

of the risks
of ways to keep themselves safe
of how to raise concerns.

Inappropriate websites and material

Whilst using the Internet, it can be very easy to accidentally access websites with adult or illegal content. Also, there can be issues with “spamming”, where pop-up adverts or emails can be sent to your computer which are inappropriate for children.

“Cyber bullying”

Young people being teased, perhaps by children from the same school, and sometimes linked to actual assault. This can sometimes take place via chatrooms, emails and by mobile phone texting.

Chatroom contact

Real time interactivity, and the potential anonymity of chatrooms, can make young people vulnerable to the activities of abusers, who may pose as other young people. This can take the form of indecent proposals or sending of indecent images, which can be disturbing and distressing. There have been cases of abusers using chatrooms to “groom” young people and try to set up meetings with them, with the intention of perpetrating abuse.

Internet safety Checklist

It is important to discuss ground rules for computer use with young people, and to talk about what they have seen and who they have met
Personal information, including real name, age and contact details, should not be given out on websites or in chatrooms
Adults should monitor the services and websites accessed by children in their care, preferably placing computers in more communal areas
Young people should be encouraged and feel able to tell adults about any obscene images and suggestions, or information and contact that has made them uncomfortable

Sexual Abuse Online

The Marie Collins Foundation in partnership with the National Working Group have developed a new resources to support parents/carers with regards to how to respond when it is discovered that a child has been harmed online.

How can I help my child? is a new leaflet to offer help and advice.

Useful Links

Think U Know - a website aimed at children and young people provided by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre. Contains very useful information about how to stay safe on line.

Childline - a website run by the charity and sponsored by major UK children’s’ charities aimed at parents and young people.

Net Aware - the NSPCC's guide to the social networks your kids use. Stay up to date and keep your child safe in today's digital world.

Childnet - an interactive safety programme website for schools, young people, parents and agencies.

Internet Watch Foundation - the UK hotline for reporting illegal Internet content.

Safekids - an internet safety resource for children.

Parent Info - provides up-to-date, expert information for parents on a range of concerns they may have about children and young people, which is designed for schools to post on their own website.

UK Safer Internet Centre