NSPCC campaigns to keep kids safe online

WITH the use of internet devices rising year on year, knowing how to keep children and young people safe online is becoming an even greater challenge.

While the online world provides them with the opportunity to play, learn, create and socialise, to children online friends seem like real friends and online life seems like real life. There is no difference. This leaves them open to the risk of online abuse more than ever before.

A new UK-wide study conducted by Chrysalis Research surveyed 4,730 parents of eight- to 13-year-olds and 4,048 of their children between October-December 2019. The questionnaire conducted on behalf of O2 and the NSPCC revealed that being cyber-bullied is children’s greatest fear when they go online.

Children and young people are becoming increasingly aware of the risks they face when going online.

However, there is still a reluctance from them to seek help. The NSPCC would encourage parents and carers to have conversations with their child about their online life- just as you would about their day at school or other aspects of their life.

It can be daunting to know where to start but O2 and the NSPCC also offer a range of free online resources like Net Aware, a website which explains the social networks, apps or games that children are using most frequently.

Agreeing boundaries that are right for your family is a great way to ensure there’s a shared understanding about ways to stay safe online- our new online family agreement can help get you started.

The partnership have developed a booklet offering parents the latest practical and simple tips on the risks children might face when using the internet, and advice about what parents can do to keep their child safe. The booklet is now available in more than 450 O2 stores nationwide.

Children and young people who are concerned about online bullying, or any other issue, can contact our Childline service online or by calling 0800 1111. The Childline website also provides a range of information and support around online concerns and may be a helpful resource to direct children to you feel this would be helpful.

Keeping children safe online is everyone’s responsibility, and at the NSPCC we are also campaigning through our Wild West Web campaign for an independent regulator to be introduced across the UK. We can all do our part to keep children safe online but we also need to hold tech giants to account and implement tough consequences if they fail. Emma Motherwell

Local campaigns manager, Childline