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How can I be sure my child is safe online?
- Make sure you have installed parental controls on your home broadband and any internet-enabled devices.
- Set up a user account for your child on the family computer and make sure other accounts in the household are password-protected so that younger children can’t access them by accident.
How can I ensure that my child avoids unsuitable material when searching for information?
- Try to use safe search engines such as Swiggle, Kidrex or Kids-search.
- Safe search settings can also be activated on Google (and other search engines including YouTube).
- The age ratings that come with games, apps, films and social networks are a good guide to whether they’re suitable for your child. For example, the minimum age limit is 13 for several social networking sites, including Facebook and Instagram.
- Be aware that sites aimed at under-10s like Moshi Monsters and Club Penguin also have social networking elements so you should closely monitor your child’s use of these too.
How can I maintain control of my child’s use of devices and the internet?
- Agree and set boundaries with your child or have a family contract for internet use.
- Be clear what your child can and can’t do online – where they can use the internet, how much time they can spend online, the sites they can visit and the type of information they can share.
- Agree with your child when they can have a mobile phone or tablet.
- Put your family computer in a communal area like the lounge or kitchen so you can keep an eye on how they are using the internet and also share in their enjoyment.