Today is Safer Internet Day, so read these five easy tips for parents on internet safety from the Department for Education and UK Safer Internet Centre
- Have an open and honest dialogue with children about staying safe online
- Encourage them to tell you which sites they might be using and talk to about anything they see online
- Set boundaries and make an agreement on what they can and cannot do online. If the agreement is broken, restrict internet access for an agreed period of time
- Read up on information available through schools and official sites, such as ParentInfo, to make sure you are aware of issues and armed with information
- Arm your children with advice:
- Be careful what you say online. Respect others and do not retaliate or reply to offending e-mails, text messages or online conversations – leave the conversation
- Be careful what pictures or videos you upload. Once a picture is shared online it cannot be taken back
- Only add people you know and trust to friends/followers lists online