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What is ‘Online Safety’?
In simple terms, online safety refers to the act of staying safe online. It is also commonly known as internet safety, e-safety and cyber safety. It encompasses all technological devices which have access to the internet from PCs and laptops to smartphones and tablets.
Being safe online means individuals are protecting themselves and others from online harms and risks which may jeopardise their personal information, lead to unsafe communications or even effect their mental health and wellbeing.
Below, we have listed some organisations which offer further advice to help you and your child keep safe online.
Thinkuknow.co.uk
Excellent online safety advice for parents, carers and children - thinkuknow.co.uk
Internetmatters.org
Tech advice and resources to support families at home to make sure children and parents stay safe - internetmatters.org
Saferinternet.org
Offers advice to children and parents about how to keep safe online - saferinternet.org
CEOP
If there is concern that a young person or child has had inappropriate contact or has been approached by a stranger online, it's essential to report this to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) or the police.
CEOP have produced some resources about keeping safe online for school children and their families. This can be found at www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/
Reporting online material promoting terrorism or extremism can be done via www.gov.uk/report-terrorism - This is an online tool for reporting illegal or harmful information, pictures or videos found on the internet.
Information about popular apps
Instagram released a new update which includes some features which allow the user to:
Manage multiple unwanted interactions
Highlight positive comments
Have greater control over tags and mentions
Please click here on the link to find out more.
Coerced online child sexual abuse - Help for parents (UK Safer Internet Centre)
The UKSIC report that more than a quarter of girls who took part in their survey have had some kind of experience of receiving a request for nude or semi-nude photos or videos.
Children can be groomed, coerced or encouraged into sexual activities online. Any child with unsupervised access to the internet is potentially at risk.
To help parents understand this difficult topic and talk to their children, the UKSIC has produced a checklist and resources about online sexual abuse. Click here for further information.
Microsoft Gaming Safety Measures
Microsoft have announced their new family settings app which is being released soon on Apple and Android devices, meaning that parents don't have to navigate through the Xbox settings, they can control from their phone. Please click on the link below for more information - www.waynedenner.com/blog/new-xbox-parental-control-app/#Safeguarding
Alan McKenzie
Alan McKenzie is an online safety expert working for the Association of Adult and Child Online Safety Specialists.
Further information links provided by Alan McKenzie
5-Rights Foundation - In-Game Purchases
76% of children and young people between the ages 10-16 say that online games try to make you spend as much money as possible. But do you know your loot boxes from dark nudges? The 5Rights Foundation have put together some wonderful information and I'm sharing it with you as the information can be a great way of opening up conversations with children and young people about their concerns, whether they feel pressured to spend money - www.riskyby.design/in-game-purchases
iOS 27 Child Safety Features
If your child uses an iPhone or iPad, Apple's latest software includes a number of new parental-control and safety features.
These include improved Screen Time controls, limits across categories of apps, website controls and additional Communication Safety protections.
The short video below provides a useful overview, while Apple's own guidance explains how parents can set up and manage the controls in more detail.
YouTube – iOS 27 child safety features
Apple – Child Safety
Apple Support – Screen Time and parental controls
For Parents - Gaming Safety for Neurodivergent Children
Online gaming can provide friendship, enjoyment and a strong sense of community for neurodivergent children, but some children may also need extra support around social cues, scams, communication, rules and recognising when an interaction is becoming unsafe.
Internet Matters has produced a practical guide for parents and carers of neurodivergent children, with advice on supporting safe and positive gaming experiences.
It is particularly useful because it recognises the benefits of gaming rather than treating gaming itself as the problem.