How to stay safe online- tips for parents

Phones, tablets and computers are part of daily life for children but as parents they can be concerning. It can be hard to feel reassured that your child is safe. Who are they talking to? What are they seeing? What are they posting online?

With so many potential risks it's good to arm yourself with the knowledge and tools you need to increase their safety. Read our tips below on how to stay safe online to make sure your child is protected.

What risks are there online?

Unfortunately use of any online platform carries risks. Some of the risks to children can be:

-viewing unsuitable or frightening material

-being contacted by unknown internet users, for grooming or abuse purposes

-cyberbullying

-costs and advertising in games

-content that incites self-harm or suicide.

What is online safety?

'Online safety' means keeping safe on the internet- the steps that you can take to ensure your child is kept protected as much as possible from any potential risks. 

Worldwide governments are becoming increasingly aware of how being online can negatively impact children and are pushing for bans and for tech companies to take preventative steps. 

In the mean time, here's what you can do to minimise risks.

How to be safe online

The strategies you can use will vary depending on the age of your child. Covering all of these bases will stand them in good stead for staying safe online:

Consider the age of your child and their access

How much screen time and free access your child has will depend on their age. Children under 5 should only have fully supervised use of devices, and parental controls should be set up (more on that in a moment!).

For children under 10, ensure that when they're using devices that they are visible to you (no sneaking off to bedrooms with locked doors!). Only allowing limited access on devices is another strategy to staying safe- for example, keep the password to the App Store private so that apps can't be downloaded without your agreement. 

Teenagers will want more privacy, so try creating time limits for screen time and keep some control using parental controls.

Follow the age guidance on apps

Some apps might seem harmless, but in reality they can turn out to be like the wild west. Check the age guidelines for apps and games and follow the age suggestions.

Use parental controls

Look at the settings on your child's phone- many have a specific area of the settings where you can restrict access to inappropriate content, undesirable websites and incoming explicit messages and photos. You can also set limits on screen time use. 

It's important to be aware, however, that parental controls aren't fool proof and other steps will need to be taken alongside them. 

Talk about being online

It's vital to have open conversations about your child's online life. Get to know what they like doing online, what apps they like to use, and talk about how if they see something upsetting or unnerving they can come and talk to you. 

During conversations try and keep the tone friendly, calm and avoid judgement. This helps to create a safe space between you. 

Some things your child may see online might cause them embarrassment, anxiety or shame. With this in mind it's important for them to have an understanding that they can have open conversations with you about their feelings and what they have come across. 

Bullying 

Unfortunately with the use of phones bullying no longer stays inside the school gates. Social media and WhatsApp can be used for bullying. Cyberbullying can be just as damaging as bullying in-person, and can cause harm to mental health and wellbeing. 

If you find that your child is being bullied, speak to your child's school immediately and keep screen grabs of messages or social media content. The school can intervene even if the bullying has taken place outside of school time. Ask to see your child's safeguarding policy and ensure the school follows it to keep your child safe.

Find out more about helping a child being bullied here. 

Keeping safe while gaming

Stay on top of your child's gaming life by making sure that the games they are playing are age-appropriate. Also, before downloading make yourself aware of the risks of in-app purchases in the game, and turn off private messaging, if applicable. This will stop strangers from talking to your child online. You may also wish to mute voice chat for the same reason. 

Livestreaming

Livestreaming apps are becoming increasingly popular with young people- TikTok and Twitch are widely used. However, there are risks around what young people share online, talking to strangers, bullying, and viewing inappropriate content. 

Again, talk to your child about the risks and how to use livestreaming apps safely, so that they understand the dangers. Discuss what is appropriate use of those apps, and why this is important. 

In addition, check the settings on livestreaming apps. Look at the location and privacy settings and set them to increase your child's safety.