online safety
Our Internet Safety pages are designed for all ages but we have tried to keep the information relevant to age groups due to the material contained within. There are lots of other good websites that are fun, as well as informative, and we have included lots of links below. Some parental guidance may be required with some of the subjects, so we hope we can direct the grown-ups to some helpful sites.
Zip it
Remember people online may not be who they say they are. Online friends are still strangers even if you have been talking to them for a long time. When you’re online, always keep your personal stuff private and think about what you say and do.
Don’t share personal information online.
This includes:
- your full name
- photos
- addresses
- school information
- telephone numbers
- places you like to spend time
Make sure you have set your privacy settings to restrict access to personal information.
When you use chat rooms or instant messenger, use a nickname instead of your real name.
To stop people accessing your online accounts, always keep your passwords secret and change them regularly.
Block it
Always delete emails from people you don’t know, and don’t open attachments from people you don’t know. They might be nasty or contain a virus that can stop your computer working. If someone is mean or sends nasty messages online, block them.
Flag it
If you see anything that worries or upsets you online, if someone you know is being nasty to you or someone else online or if someone you have met online asks to meet you, flag it up with someone you trust, whether it's a parent or another adult, and they can help you. If you want to talk to someone else, you can call Childline on 0800 1111. You should never meet up with someone you have met online without an adult going with you because it is dangerous.
Useful Links
The Digizen website provides information for educators, parents, carers, and young people. It is used to strengthen their awareness and understanding of what digital citizenship is and encourages users of technology to be and become responsible DIGItal citiZENS. It shares specific advice and resources on issues such as social networking and cyberbullying and how these relate to and affect their own and other people’s online experiences and behaviours.
At thinkuknow.co.uk you can find the latest information on the sites you like to visit, mobiles and new technology. Find out what’s good, what’s not and what you can expect to do about it. If you look after young people there’s an area for you too – with resources you can use in the classroom, at home or just to get with it. Most importantly, there’s also a place which anyone can use to report if they feel uncomfortable or worried about someone they are chatting to online. All the information is brought to you by the team at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.
Childnet International is a non-profit organisation working with others to “help make the Internet a great and safe place for children”. This website gives news and background to Childnet’s work and serves as a portal to Childnet’s award-winning projects.
getsafeonline.org is a joint initiative between the Government, law enforcement, leading businesses and the public sector. Their aim is to provide computer users and small businesses with free, independent, user-friendly advice that will allow them to use the internet confidently, safely and securely.
To report online abuse please click on the button below.
