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How to keep your children safe online during the summer holidays |
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How to keep your children safe online during the summer holidaysWith the summer holidays here, you may notice your children spending more time online than they did before, whether they're gaming, chatting with friends, watching videos or using social media. While the digital world offers plenty of opportunities for fun and learning, it also creates opportunities for people who may seek to exploit young people. Grooming can happen both online and offline, and it's not always carried out by strangers. It can involve someone a child knows and trusts, such as a family member, a friend, teacher or community leader. Online, groomers often hide their true identity, sometimes pretending to be another young person to gain a child's trust. They may offer attention, understanding, gifts or friendship, gradually building a relationship that can become manipulative and controlling. They can be targeted through social media platforms, messaging apps such as Snapchat, online games, and video chats. Groomers often take time to learn about a child's interests and use this information to create a bond. They may encourage secrecy, try to isolate a child from family and friends, or use guilt, pressure and even blackmail to maintain control. One of the challenges is that many children don't realise they are being groomed. They may feel loyalty, admiration or affection towards the person, making it difficult for them to recognise warning signs or ask for help. Parents and carers should be mindful of changes in behaviour, including becoming secretive about online activity, spending significantly more or less time on devices, receiving unexplained gifts or money, appearing withdrawn or distressed, or spending increasing amounts of time away from home. Top tips for keeping children safe online Talk regularly about their online lives and make conversations about apps, games and social media part of everyday family life. Encourage openness so children know they can come to you if something worries or upsets them online. Know who they're talking to and remind them that not everyone online is who they claim to be. Set age-appropriate privacy settings and parental controls on devices, apps and gaming platforms. Teach them to protect personal information, including passwords, locations, school details and photos. Look out for warning signs such as secrecy, unexplained gifts, changes in mood or spending more time online than usual. Agree clear boundaries around screen time, apps and online behaviour. Remind them never to keep secrets about online friendships or conversations that make them feel uncomfortable. Identify trusted adults they can speak to, such as a family member, teacher or youth worker if they don't want to speak to a parent. Keeping Children Safe Online Animation.mp4 One conversation could make all the difference and help ensure children know that they have a safe space where they can seek help and speak out if something isn't right. | ||
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