Online safety

It is important to have an honest and open space to discuss online use with children and young people. Research found a lack of parental involvement and understanding of children’s internet use was seen to be a risk factor.

• Explain, especially to younger children, what is meant by ‘inappropriate,’ by using language they will understand.
• Make sure they know that if something they see online upsets them or makes them worried, then they should always come to you.

Have discussions about the following:

• People may not be who they say they are online, and they should not be talking to, or accepting friend requests from, people they don’t know.
• There are serious risks about meeting people in person that a child only knows online
• Personal information such as passwords, phone numbers and addresses should not be shared.
• If accounts aren’t kept private, photos and things they write can be accessed by anyone, not just friends

Other things you can do

• Supervise your under 5 while they're online: Keep the devices your child uses in communal areas of the house such as in the living room or kitchen where an adult can supervise.
• Children under 5 should not access the internet unsupervised in private spaces, such as alone in their bedroom or bathroom.
• Check apps, websites and search results before using them with children.
• Children, especially those in the early years should always be supervised when accessing the internet.
• Ensure safety modes and filters are applied - default settings tend not to ensure a high level of privacy or security.
• Children don't need screen time until they're 3 years old. After which, they should have no more than 2 hours of screen time a day.
• Be with your child during screen time – it is not a substitute for childcare
• During screen time, make it interactive by talking to them about what they're watching, otherwise they'll learn to mimic it without understanding the content
• Be aware of the support available via e-safety campaigns