Online Safety

Many children use the internet for education, social and leisure purposes. Children are naturally trusting, curious and keen to explore the web. Keeping up with and supervising children’s online activity can be challenging, especially when they have their own computers, smartphones, tablets and game consoles or they are in other people’s homes.

The Risks

Inappropriate contact : from people who may wish to abuse, exploit or bully them
Inappropriate conduct : because of their own or others’ online behaviour, such as the personal information they make public. They may also become either targets or perpetrators of cyberbullying
Inappropriate content : Being able to access sexually explicit, racist, violent, extremist or other harmful material
Commercialism : Directing aggressive advertising and marketing material at children
Inappropriate access : Children gaining access to your own personal information stored on your computer
Misinformed use : Children enabling viruses or spyware by careless or misinformed use of your computer

There are several ways to safeguard children online. Undoubtedly the most effective way is to educate them from an early age about the risks they may encounter when online, what these risks are, how to spot them and what action to take so that they can have a safe online presence and build their resilience.

Setting ground rules about internet use, email and texts. They should learn to take responsibility for their own actions and develop their own judgement
Making children aware that people online may not be who they say they are
Children should keep personal details private
They must never meet someone they have only met online without a trusted adult present
Getting children to report concerns about conversations, messages and behaviours to an adult
Encouraging them to share their internet experience and keeping the lines of communication open with the child

Ensure that they use a family email when filling in online forms
Get children to report bullying immediately
Use parental control settings on browsers, search engines and internet security packages
Ensure children are viewing only age appropriate materials
Making sure children are aware of the law around sexting
Block pop-ups and spam emails
Always sit with younger children if they are online
Be aware for any unusual or secretive behaviour from your child when they are using the internet

Sexting

Sexting (sometimes called sending nudes, dirties or ‘pic for pic’) is when someone shares sexual, naked or semi-naked images or videos of themselves or others, or sends sexually explicit messages. They can be sent using mobiles, tablets, smartphones, laptops - any device that allows you to share media and messages.

Sexting can be seen as harmless, but creating or sharing explicit images of a child is illegal, even if the person doing it is a child. A young person is breaking the law if they:

Take an explicit photo or video of themselves or a friend.
Share an explicit image or video of a child, even if it’s shared between children of the same age.
Possess, download or store an explicit image or video of a child, even if the child gave their permission for it to be created.

Beware the Lurking Trolls

Beware the Lurking Trolls is a campaign designed to help protect children from online harm. It centres around a storybook Peril of the Possessed Pets and is used in primary schools with children aged 7 to 11 years and pupils in Special Schools at an appropriate time.

There’s a whole host of tyrannical trolls for children to meet who will help them learn about some of the hurtful and harmful issues they may encounter online – such as bullying, self-image, exploitation and fake news.

The campaign aims to help children develop the skills they need to recognise these issues and have an understanding of how to overcome them, so that they will be safe online in the future.

It is hoped that by introducing these topics in a fun and accessible format, it will help build children's awareness and be a preventative measure to help build their resilience and knowledge of what to do should they encounter them.

All Primary Schools, Special Schools and local libraries across the Island have been provided with copes of the trolls books, cartoons and accompanying teaching resources. They will be able to access further online resources and cartoons. A Troll Costume will be held at Newport Library to be booked out by schools for events and to promote online safety.

The Lurking Trolls Website (lurkingtrolls.com) has a host of fun and informative resources for children giving them more information about the Trolls, how to recognise behaviours/issues online and advice on what to do in response. The website includes a 'I need help' section for children, signposting them to organisations such as Child Line so they can report and find help for any issues they experience when they're online at home. It also includes information and advice for parents & carers on helping their children stay safe online at home.

Resources

Keeping Children Safe Online

NSPCC guidance for parents and professionals (spcc.org.uk)
Help your child stay safe online (gov.uk)
Barnardo's Online Risk Guide (PDF)
How does social media impact the mental health of young people? (internetmatters.org)

Acceptable Use Policies

Template E-Safety Policies (swgfl.org.uk)
Responding to online safety concern (swgfl.org.uk)

Resources

360 degree safe (360safe.org.uk)
Childnet Digital Leaders Programme (digital-leaders.childnet.com)
Childnet STAR resources (childnet.com)
Childnet Trust Me Resources (childnet.com)
Childnet’s Digiduck Big Decision (childnet.com)
Diana Award – Anti Bullying Peer Mentor Programme (diana-award.org.uk)
Internet Matters (internetmatters.org)
Parents Guide to Technology (saferinternet.org.uk)
Social Media Checklists for all major platforms (swgfl.org.uk)
UK Safer Internet Centre Safety Tools overview (saferinternet.org.uk)
Vodafone Digital Parenting (vodafone.co.uk)

Toolkits

Preventing Online Harm

Developed for professionals working with children and families, this toolkit aims to increase awareness of online harms and strengthen safeguarding practice. It includes information on online risks, vulnerability factors, engaging with children and parents, and practical tools to support effective responses to concerns.

Preventing Online Harm Toolkit
(hampshirescp.org.uk)

Child-on-Child Abuse

Adolescence can be a challenging and vulnerable time, with increased risks that can affect a young person's safety and wellbeing. The Safeguarding Adolescents Toolkit has been developed to help professionals recognise these risks early and provide effective support and intervention. Aligned with the Safeguarding Adolescents Strategy, it offers practical guidance and resources to strengthen safeguarding practice and improve outcomes for young people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Child-on-Child Abuse Toolkit
(hampshirescp.org.uk)

Supporting Organisations

There are many national organisations and charities that provide helpful lots of advice on online safety, such as how safe certain sites are, how to set parental controls, game ratings explained, chat safety, app info and reviews and more. Some services are listed below, but there are many more listed on our Organisations that can help webpage .

UK Safer Internet Centre (saferinternet.org.uk)
Tips, advice, guides and resources to help keep your child safe online.

Internet Matters (internetmatters.org)
Get expert advice and practical tips to help children stay safe online. Find age-appropriate guidance, online safety checklists, and simple steps for setting parental controls across a range of devices.

Internet Watch Foundation (iwf.org.uk)
Report suspected online child sexual abuse images or videos anonymously.

NSPCC Net Aware (childnet.com)
NSPCC and Mumsnet have created a simple guide to popular apps, helping parents understand content suitability, privacy settings, and recommended minimum ages based on the experiences of children and families.

Childnet International (childnet.com)
A non-profit organisation working with others to help make the internet a great and safe place for children. They have lots of information and resources to help you support your child to have a happy and safe online experience.

Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia.org)
Common Sense Media is an independent non-profit organisation that helps families make informed media choices, providing age-based ratings and reviews for apps, games, films, TV shows, websites, books and music.

Online Safety

The Risks

Sexting

Beware the Lurking Trolls

Resources

Keeping Children Safe Online

Keeping Children Safe Online

Acceptable Use Policies

Acceptable Use Policies

Resources

Resources

Toolkits

Preventing Online Harm

Child-on-Child Abuse

Supporting Organisations

Organisations that can Help

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