Why is internet safety important for children?

New research by the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC), coordinators of Safer Internet Day in the UK (6th February 2024) and the top dogs in answering the question, ‘Why is internet safety important?’ has revealed that nearly half of young people say they would lose a part of who they are without online games.

Let’s just sit on that for a moment.

That’s 48% of children who feel they’ve lost a limb after excessive use of screentime.

But, why is screentime so addictive?

The online world is like a candy shop with easy access to wherever your imagination wants to take you. And there’s no off-switch unless your child learns to come off on their own. Simon Sinek likens screentime to giving kids the key to the liquor cabinet.

I dig in deeper about the effects of excessive screen time here, but in this article, I want to concentrate on the fundamental importance of keeping kids safe online because not all screen time is bad. In fact, playing games online has helped 61% of young people spend more time with friends virtually than they have done in real life.

52% of young people who play online games, say it’s taught them to respect others.

We also harp on about how bad social media is for our kids, but social media is a big part of many young people’s social, creative and even educational lives. Why is social media important for children? Well, social media can often include having fun, exploring identities and even enhancing digital literacy.

But, with the good comes the bad, and the bad in the online world is often worse. With social media alone, kids may become exposed to many nasty risks, including:

• Being exposed to inappropriate content, i.e. aggressive, violent or sexual exploitation 
• Uploading content which is embarrassing or provocative
• Sharing personal information with strangers who may be online predators 
• Be exposed to too much-targeted advertising and marketing, sometimes inappropriate
• Being victim to viruses 
• Cyberbullying
• Have data sold on to other organisations.

It’s clear we need to keep our kids safe and educate them on staying safe online too. And to do that, we need to ask ourselves, what is cyber safety and why is it important for our children’s safety and wellbeing?

Let’s dive in!

What is online safety and why is internet safety important?

Cybersafety has become a hot topic for parents –especially with the rise of social media apps such as TikTok. Research has shown that over 80% of children (aged 12-15) may have been subjected to harmful experiences online, which has led to global Google trend data highlighting a heightened search for ‘cyber safety’ and ‘cyber security’ with 20.5K and 451.9K respectively!

And what does internet safety mean exactly? The broad definition of online safety refers to staying safe online and can also be referred to as e-safety and cyber safety. The internet safety definition encompasses all technological devices that have access to the internet, including PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets and even games consoles and recent smartwatches where the user takes steps to ensure their online internet use is safe and secure.

Why should we follow safety rules?

Following a set of safety guidelines which will encourage safe online use will minimise the chances of your child being exposed to things they shouldn’t be or put them in any danger following their actions on the internet. We will go into what these internet safety tips are, both at home and at school.

Almost six in 10 young people (59%) want to learn more about how to play online games safely

Why is online safety important in schools?

Internet safety for students is paramount to keep kids safe online when they share their content, photos and other personal information via school grounds. All schools are required to put in place strengthened measures to protect children from cyberbullying, pornography and radicalisation.

Schools need to have filters and monitors in place so that no child can access any harmful content via their IT systems. Staff should also be trained to spot any problems quickly and teach their pupils about safeguarding, including online.

Parents need advice from schools and organisations about how to tackle online safety and concerns, including what happens if there is a risk posed, i.e. your child has viewed inappropriate content and/or experienced cyberbullying.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is any form of bullying which takes place online via any kind of device, no matter the child’s online activities. Cyberbullying can happen anywhere your child frequents online, where they can chat with other users.

Is it important to raise awareness about cyberbullying?

Yes, because anyone who makes threats to your child on the internet could commit a criminal offence and is subject to law enforcement. It’s against the law in the UK to use the phone system which includes the internet to cause distress. You can also report online bullying to an organisation called Report Harmful Content online and they can help to take the offensive content down.

Young people report at least one negative emotion in various online game situations. This includes seeing someone being mean or nasty.

Types of cyberbullying

There are many ways bullying online can take place. Some types are:

• Harassment – where the user sends offensive and insulting messages online
• Denigration – where someone may send false or damaging information to spread rumours, ridicule and gossip. The photos can be altered to help push forward the bullying.
• Flaming – when someone purposely uses extreme and offensive language and has online arguments and fights.
• Impersonation – when someone hacks into someone’s email or social networking account and uses the person’s online identity to send or post vicious or embarrassing material to/about others. They may also create fake accounts to cause hurt and humiliation.
• Outing and Trickery – when someone shares personal information about another or tricks someone into revealing secrets and forwards it to others. They may also do this with private images and videos, too.
• Cyber Stalking – repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm, harassment, intimidating messages, or engaging in other online activities that make a person afraid.
• Exclusion – When others intentionally leave someone out of a group, such as group messages, online apps, gaming sites, and other online engagement.

It may seem daunting to discuss cyberbullying with your child, but it’s important to have an open and honest conversation with them and encourage them to do the same.

Childnet has come up with six tips on how to have a conversation with your child about cyberbullying, which you can find here. Tips include:

• Know how to start the conversation
• Let them talk
• Don’t deny access to technology
• Let them know if you plan to talk to their school
• Let them know you’re always available to talk
• Know what to do next

61% of parents (with children aged 8-17) have been alerted to a new person within an online game that their child is unsure about

Why is cyber safety important in schools?

Schools should already be proactively protecting children’s data and safety online through various security programs and specific training. Schools should also be armed with the right tools to educate children on cyber safety, too. Trust Me is a resource developed by Childnet and the London Grid for Learning and supports primary and secondary school teachers in exploring critical thinking online. The resource provokes discussion amongst pupils and challenges them to think critically about what they see on websites and social networking sites, especially around Safer Internet Day (8th February 2022). You can find all the resources here.

The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCISS) has produced an informative one-page summary for school staff on how to respond to incidences involving ‘sexting’, which you can find here.

So how do we ensure safety online for our kids at home and at school?

The importance of internet safety should be prioritised to protect our kids’ innocence both at home and at school, so here are some tips on how we can take a more active role in ensuring our kids are safe online.

Make sure they know the basics of staying safe online

Teach your child the following safety rules when going online:

• Never give out personal information. This includes online people you know as well. Keep them private!
• Never send pictures of yourself because once it’s online, it’s there forever, and it could get into the wrong hands.
• Don’t make friends with people you don’t know. People are not always who they say they are.
• Tell your parents/carers what you’re doing online so they can act fast if there are any issues and can vet whether the website is safe for use. Always ask for parental consent to check if what you’re doing is ok.
• Leave the website and tell a trusted adult immediately if you see something that concerns you or makes you feel unsafe, like online threats, self-harm or any safety risks.
• Never show your real name, age or where you live in your username
• Use strong passwords which have a mix of numbers, letters and symbols
• Do not share passwords with others
• Don’t open an attachment unless you’re 100% sure it’s safe
• Don’t let strangers into your video calls. Blur your background so you don’t give away any information about where you are.
• Be careful who you webcam with
• Don’t meet up with someone you’ve only met online
• Be nice online and think about setting time limits so you’re not stressed or exhibiting symptoms of depression, which can be attributed to excess screen time
• Think before your post! This applies to when you send or forward content.

Childnet has come up with a great poster that helps kids remember how to stay safe by using the acronym ‘SMART’. You can find the poster below (click on the image to expand):

Have regular and open conversations about their online gaming and internet use

Kids should understand why they need to be safe online, but sometimes it’s overwhelming for them, even when you’ve discussed the above safeguarding rules so they understand its importance.

Don’t forget that kids are often faced with peer pressure, either to play the latest game, which may not be suitable for their age, or enticed by social media to stay online. Social media platforms’ algorithms keep you online, so The Children’s Commissioner led a new campaign called the Digital 5 A Day which was launched to help parents encourage their children to have a good digital diet that includes a balance of being connected, staying active (like riding a bike) and creative (lots of free screen-free activities to do here), giving to others and being mindful.

“You wouldn’t let an 8-year-old eat a double cheeseburger and fries every day of the year, so it’s important children aren’t left to use smart phones, computer or tablets without agreed boundaries,”

The Children’s Commissioner

Some questions to ask your children to spark a conversation about staying safe online and internet use.

The below questions are taken from Mind the Gap Conversation Starter Kit by Herts for Learning.

• What do you like to do most online?
• Do you play online games with friends you know in the real world or online?
• What do you write on the chat?
• Do you tell your online friends your secrets or things you wouldn’t tell them in the playground?
• What is the age rating of the game you are playing? Can I play/watch the game with you?
• The minimum age to open an account on Facebook, Instagram and many other social networks is 13 years. Ask your child/ren what age they pretended to be and why?
• Do you know your online friends in the real world? Are you always nice to your online friends?
• If someone online frightens or upsets you, would you know what to do?
• Would you let a stranger in the street ask you personal questions in the real world? Do you let a stranger online ask you personal questions? If yes, is it time to change?
• Can you show me how to change Facebook online privacy settings? Are your settings as private as possible?
• Has anyone ever said something nasty to you online?
  • Were you frightened or scared?
  • Would you know what to do?
• Do you know or can you show me how to report nasty comments, images, and videos on Instagram / Facebook / TikTok? Are you aware you can usually do this anonymously?
• Once online—always online. Are you happy for those comments, images, videos to be online forever? This online content could have a long term negative impact, such as not getting a job interview or being unhappy about what was said and done several months/ years ago.

Use social media in moderation

Social media is highly addictive and overuse can affect your child’s mental health, especially if they see something which makes them feel anxiety, angry, sad, worried, stressed or annoyed. YoungMinds together with O2 have put together tips on how to enjoy a more positive time online here. More tips on how to stay safe on TikTok and Facebook are below.

Staying safe on TikTok – checklist

SWGfl, A registered charity dedicated to empowering the safe and secure use of technology, has come up with a comprehensive checklist on how to use and manage TikTok safely (click on the image to expand).

Snapchat Streaks – Are they a bit of harmless fun?

Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps for young children but it can often become a stressful platform because of the nature in which content disappears after a certain period. A Snapchat ‘streak’ is when you and a Snapchat friend send and return a snap to each other within a 24-hour period. A number and an emoji appear beside that Snapchat friend’s name, which corresponds to the number of days in a row a new picture or video has been sent back and forth.

You must Snapchat your friend back within 24 hours to keep the streak going, so young people can feel pressured into keeping it going. The NSPCC has received several calls from upset and worried children because their Snapchat streaks have ended and one person was worried that people wouldn’t like her anymore or bully her.

You should remind your child of the stress of following streaks and help them question whether it is an accurate measure of friendship if they break the streak and their Snapchat friend is upset.

Instagram eSafety Guidance

Instagram is a popular social media platform that is based on photos and videos and is used as a free app on a smartphone or tablet. Account holders can ‘follow’ other users and view their photos and videos, and vice versa when people follow them. They can also comment and share content as well as private message or ‘DM’ another user. When they send private photos, videos and messages they can show the location of an image.

Here are some tips for parents and carers created by eSafety Advisers from the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board to ensure young people are staying safe on Instagram.

1. Your child should be over 13 years plus to use Instagram
2. When you create a new account, by default your posts are public. Anyone can follow and see your child’s photos and videos. You can make your posts private and approve other users before they can see your posts.
3. Your child should use an avatar or something else that is not their actual photo. They should not give away personal information in their bio such as their email, address, home address, phone number and school.
4. If your child uses the ‘Add to Photo Map’ feature, then the location of the posts will be shown. It is switched off by default for new accounts, though.
5. You can tag people in content that you share on Instagram. If someone tags you on a public post, or you follow the person who tagged you, you can untag yourself by tapping on the tag that appears on the photo and choosing ‘remove me from photo’ (under ‘More Options’)
6. You can prevent content you are tagged for being automatically shown on your profile. You change the settings in the ‘Photos of You’ section in your profile.
7. Instagram lets you share photos and videos with other social networks. Make sure you know who you’re sharing your photos to.
8. Think before you post and be respectful to others. Do not post images or videos of other people or tag them in a photo without their permission.
9. Even if your posts are private, you should not post images and videos that you don’t want people seeing
10. Be careful not to share personal information comments, photos or videos
11. If you need to block or report a user, tap on their username and then you are given the option to block a user or report as inappropriate
12. If you want to delete your Instagram account, you should log into the website and click on your username, select ‘Edit Profile’ and then you can delete your account
13. Instagram’s safety guide can be found here: Instagram help

Facebook is for over 13s – Here’s why

• Facebook has relaxed the additional protecting and security settings for teens (aged 13-17). It is now possible for them to post images and status updates to people outside their friend network. Turn off Facebook chat to control how others access your child to chat.
• There may be Facebook ads which aren’t appropriate for under 13s
• Facebook puts the onus on parents of under 13s to show their children how to delete their Facebook account
• It is against Facebook terms to lie about your name or age
• Any content you put on Facebook will be there forever until you take it down
• Facebook expects parents to discuss online safety and set ground rules with their child
• Any image can be copied and changed by others – it can also stay online forever!
• Facebook games may have different terms and conditions to Facebook and are only suitable for over 18s. You can edit the privacy settings of apps you can use.
• The Facebook timelines are an online representation of your child’s life based on the information they and others added. Make sure that their timelines are safe and show them in a respectful, safe and dignified way. Preview their profile to see how it looks, which can be done by using the ‘View as’ feature in the Timeline and Tagging section of the settings. Review posts and photos that your child has been tagged in before they appear in their profile by editing their timeline and tagging settings.
• Facebook will remove images which break copyright law and are pornographic, but they won’t remove photos you don’t like
• Facebook can share the location of pictures and posts. Turn off location services on mobile devices so your child’s online friends don’t know where they are. Make sure your child is not a victim of ‘Fraping’ (where others access their account details to make posts. Use a strong password and log out when not using Facebook. Check privacy settings and make sure people can’t see their phone number or other personal information.
• Facebook has a safety centre specifically for parents which you can access here.
• Read the Terms and conditions and visit the Facebook Safety Centre for more details on how to stay safe when using Facebook.

The above reasons have been developed by the HSCB eSafety Multi-agency group.

Be proactive when you come across a risk

It’s not always possible to prevent children from seeing or doing something inappropriate online.

Childline launched ‘Report Remove’, which is a service that allows children and young people under 18 to report and have removed from the internet, a nude image or video of themselves that might have been shared online. You can also find information and services which offer emotional and safeguarding support too.

O2 and NSPCC have put together a series of suggestions for parents to follow if their child has seen something that upsets or confuses them.

Set some ground rules – and stick to them

Staying safe online also means setting some boundaries which work for your family. These could include:

• Agreeing with your children which websites they can visit
• Agreeing time limits and regular breaks away from the screen. You can use a reward chart to help them stick to the rules
• Checking the home page of your child’s favourite platform (game or social media) and check if there is a parenting section so you can find out more about the suitability of the website
• Taking some time to watch your children play online so you can see the content they are viewing and that it’s suitable for them
• Finding out how to set the parental controls and safe search on the device your child is using. Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to see what controls they may offer as part of their service.
• Checking the age ratings of the games your children play at PEGI.
• Don’t allow your child to play any game that has a rating of 18 years and above and block the website you think is unsuitable
• Teach your children about privacy settings and show them how to change it. Encourage your children to only have online friends who they know in the real world.
• Tell your children that whatever happens, if they feel frightened or scared when online or using their phone that you’ll be there for them, they can always talk to you and together you will sort it out. Equip your children with what they should do if this happens.

Information on parental controls for your home broadband

Talk Talk: http://sales.talktalk.co.uk/product/homesafe
Sky: http://www.sky.com/products/broadband-talk/sky-broadband-shield/features/index.html
Virgin Media: http://store.virginmedia.com/discover/broadband/security/web-safe.html
BT: http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/manage-broadband-extras/

Other ways parents can protect their children online

OnBuy Smart Watches manually trawled through internet safety threads across major parenting forums to compile a uniquely collated list of cyber security threats and top tips directly from parents on how they can protect their children online.

Explicit websites

Filtering programmes and search engines for kids can allow parents to have more control over what children see. Net Nanny can monitor online content, limit screen time and filter sites to protect your children. Another recommended kids’ search engine are Kids Search, which you can find below.

Swiggle is a search engine designed to provide a safer environment for children who are searching for things online like where to play or fun motor skill activities for example. Swiggle is powered by Google Custom Search and provides benefits like keyword filtering to stop inappropriate search terms being used and a friendly character guide that can guide children through how to search and report. Plus, it’s ad-free.

Check out Swiggle at swiggle.org.uk

Inappropriate instructional websites

Netmums refers to ‘inappropriate instructional websites’ as sites that promote step-by-step instructions for inappropriate topics such as concealing anorexia or taking drugs. These can be accessed through other genuinely useful instructional sites, so there is a risk that children take the information seriously. 

OnBuy Tablets found advice from parenting forums pointing toward using blocking inappropriate websites or downloading software that prevents pop-ups and inappropriate instructional sites from popping up.

Chat room safety

Mumsnet users suggest bans on ‘WhatsApp’ and social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter are all rated 13+) for younger children. However, parents know there may be other chat room apps, so suggest daily monitoring of your child’s phone. Regular checks can ensure your children are staying safe in chat rooms and that nothing goes unmissed. 

Other users on the forum also suggest locking or removing the device overnight, so that your child gets adequate sleep and isn’t exposed to unsolicited and unmonitored messages when they’re alone.  

Phishing

Send any incidents of online phishing to: report@phishing.gov.uk as soon as it’s spotted. Other advice includes either ignoring phishing emails/messages or changing your settings, so that mail from that scam address goes straight to the deleted folder.

Malware

Malware can appear through infected websites, bad software, music and movie sharing sites, as well as online video games. It can expose children to harmful or sensitive material. Consider downloading a firewall to prevent malware from popping up. It is also recommended that you download good virus software on your browser, as that will find and remove spyware from your PC.

Preventing Reckless Behaviour

MadeforMums users have shared articles that suggest having open conversations with your children, and establishing yourself as a calm and non-judgemental friend. By having this open dialogue, you will know what is going on online and therefore more likely to prevent your child from acting recklessly. OnBuy Smart Watches also found that parents suggest turning off particular features, such as ‘in-app’ purchases.

Scams

Mumsnet users suggest preemptively teaching your children to never open unknown links. Another preventative measure advised by MadeforMums is talking to your child about personal information and teaching them what can and can’t be shared online. 

Spams

Mumsnet users suggest blocking spam emails or numbers, as well as teaching your kids to not respond or click on any unknown links. To prevent instances of spam further, Mumsnet users also suggest changing your passwords regularly so that all of your children’s accounts stay secure.

Poor wireless security

MadeforMums users suggest limiting particular web page access to your children’s devices. This can be done through the installation of a firewall or by blocking specific websites. 

Home activity packs available for download

Thinkuknow is a fantastic resource that offers home activity packs for the age range 4 to 14+ years old. It’s worth checking them out and downloading the activity pack, suitable for your child’s age range. They include conversation starters, practical tips and tasks to try as a family.

FAQ

What does e-safety mean?

The definition of e-safety has the same meaning as the definition of online safety, so please see above for more information.

What is cybersecurity?

“Cyber security is the way we reduce the risk of becoming a victim of cyber crime. Cyber crime is a criminal activity that either targets or uses digital technology, like a computer, a computer network or a mobile device, in order to steal money or information to sell on.
For example:
• Phishing, where bogus emails asking for security information and personal details
• Malicious software, through which criminals hijack files and hold them for ransom
• Hacking to get information, including social media and email password
Cyber security is about protecting the devices we use and the services we access online. It’s also about preventing unauthorised access to the personal information we store on these devices, and online.”

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/parents-guide-to-cyber-security/

Is McAfee the best antivirus?

“Overall, McAfee’s antivirus scanner is among the very best on the market. If you’re looking for reliable protection against both known and zero-day threats, McAfee is a really good choice, with perfect malware detection rates, fast scans, and simple scan scheduling.”

https://www.safetydetectives.com/best-antivirus/mcafee/

Is using a VPN safe? Is it possible that my personal information can be caught by some technical methods during the time I am using a VPN? If it can be done, how does it work?

You can find some great answers here: https://qr.ae/pGjpwm

Why is it important to log out of websites rather than just closing the browser? What could happen?

“Your browser sends the session cookie with requests so the website knows it’s you. When you log out, the website stops accepting that session cookie. If you don’t log out, any one with that session cookie can continue to act as you.”

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-it-important-to-log-out-of-websites-rather-than-just-closing-the-browser-What-could-happen

Important websites and links

*Please note resources are based in Hertfordshire where we live

What are your best tips for staying safe on the Internet?

Download your FREE screen-free reward chart to complete 101 screen-free activities over the school winter holidays! #SFWC22

Resources

• Research released today (8^th February) by the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC), coordinators of Safer Internet Day in the UK, reveals young people’s experience with online games and apps, and exposes the importance of staying safe during online game play.
• https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/young-peoples-digital-lives-and-well-being
• https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work/well-being/mental-health-statistics
• National Online Safety – What parents need to know about MOMO – www.nationalonlinesafety.com
• https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/entertainment-technology/digital-life/social-media
• https://swgfl.org.uk/assets/documents/tiktok-checklist.pdf
• https://parentzone.org.uk/article/tiktok-everything-you-need-know-about-video-production-app
• childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cco-childrens-digital-safety-wellbeing-kit.pdf
• https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/social-media-and-mental-health