How parents can protect their children from online dangers
Parents whose children have smartphones, tablets or game consoles are being urged to make online safety a priority.
The advice from the NSPCC and O2 comes as a survey1 of 442 parents of 5-10 year olds found that 46% do not have parental controls set up on internet-enabled devices used by their children and only 30% have them installed through their home broadband.
The YouGov survey also revealed that only 29% of the parents said they were confident the online parental controls they had in place were sufficient.
Parental controls help block or filter the content a child sees when searching online.
They can also be used to limit the time a child can go online and stop young people downloading inappropriate apps.
The NSPCC and O2 joined forces in 2015 with the aim of helping parents keep their children safe online.
The partnership now offers advice to parents through Net Aware (www. net-aware.org.uk), the Icebreaker email series and the Online Safety Helpline.
Parents can also book an appointment with an O2 Guru in their local O2 store to get free advice on keeping children safe online or setting up parental controls.
Helen Westerman, NSPCC Campaigns Manager for the North of England, said: “The online world can be full of fun and wonder for children.
“But the internet is not without its risks for children who can stumble across inappropriate content or even become victims of online abuse.
“That’s why it’s vital that every parent who has bought an internet-connected device for their child sets up parental controls to help protect them from online risks.
“It’s also a good idea for parents to have regular conversations with their children about staying safe online and how to report something that upsets them.”
Stephanie McNamee, O2 NSPCC Helpline Agent, said: “Parents can use controls to block upsetting or harmful content, manage in-app purchases or how long children spend online.
“It may feel daunting but parents don’t need to be technical experts as controls are easy to set up and help is available to get started. If you’re not sure where to start, experts from the O2 NSPCC helpline can help.”
For help on a specific issue call experts at the O2 & NSPCC Online Safety Helpline, 0808 800 5002, or make an appointment to see an O2 Guru in store.
Read the manual – This should give you some idea of how the device collects and shares data.
Be app aware – Check the privacy settings and permissions of any apps you download.
Use parental controls – Many products have them or child-safe modes. Check your connections are safe – It is important that your internet router is secure. If the device has Bluetooth set it to ‘undiscoverable’.
Be password protected – Use strong unique passwords.
Talk to your child about online safety – Read the NSPCC’s guidance on how to start a conversation with your child.
Ask for advice – If you have any worries or concerns call our helpline on 0808 8005002 or visit an O2 Guru in an O2 store.