Know the online dangers

RE: DON’T risk leaving children vulnerable to online dangers with their new Christmas presents.

A recent YouGov study for Barnardo’s has found that barely half of adults who bought internetconnected presents for children this Christmas will check who the youngsters are communicating with online.

While more than 80% of those who had bought or planned to buy an internet-connected gift for a child said they were aware that strangers could contact and connect with the child through them, just 55% said they would monitor who the youngsters were talking to.

Almost 10% of those surveyed intended to buy an internetconnected gift for a child this Christmas, meaning as many as four million such devices – including iPhones and tablets – were given to youngsters this year, with more than half bought for a child aged 10 or under.

However, only six in 10 adults who bought these gifts for children will activate the maximum privacy settings designed to help keep children safe when they are online.

The results make clear a gulf between the public’s appreciation of the potential risks posed to children by the internet and the action they should take to reduce them.

Barnardo’s has long been calling to make the internet safer and for parents to be more aware of mobile technology children are using and who they’re talking to online.

Our concern is that the digital revolution is enabling the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and young people via the internet and mobile devices.

We understand how vital the online world is to children, but also how the risks can damage their childhood.

Last year, Barnardo’s supported almost 3,500 people nationally through its child sexual exploitation support services, an increase of 38% on the previous year.

Internet-connected devices like tablets and iPhones can also come in the guise of harmless dolls or teddies and potentially allow strangers to pinpoint your address, obtain your child’s name and birthday, download their photograph and even listen in on conversations.

We are not saying “don’t allow your children to enjoy these toys or devices”, but we are urging parents and relatives to ensure their children are as safe as possible by ensuring privacy settings are at maximum and that they monitor who their child is communicating with. Lynn Perry Barnardo’s North West Regional Director

A NATION OF SICKIES

BRITAIN has now become a nation of sickies and the ambulance can never stop to rest, and it is all the Tories’ fault.

And this is how Labour gets into power, when people believe all this nonsense and propaganda to discredit the Tories.

They will probably get the blame for the onset of winter as well, because it has nothing to with God.

In the summer months people don’t need heating, so they can save money and put it towards paying the winter bills.

People never think of logic like this because they are brainless.

I see them going into the doctors every morning as I walk past, with nothing between their ears, just a void or vacuum.

In the run-up to Christmas people spend as if there is no