Keeping your child safe

If you're worried about something a child or young person may have experienced online and want advice, contact the NSPCC free helpline on 0808 800 5000 or contact NSPCC online.

If you’re worried about online grooming or sexual behaviour online or want to report it, contact CEOP.

CEOP is a law enforcement agency that helps keep children and young people safe from sexual abuse and grooming online.

The UK Safer Internet Centre has a range of information and resources available for parents and carers who to help ensure everyone is safe while using the internet.

They have a number of guides on keeping children safe online available, including:

• phones
• laptops
• games consoles
• smart speakers
• smart TVs

Internet Matters is an online platform where parents/carers and professionals can find comprehensive resources, information and support to keep children safe online.

They have information on:

• online issues
• advice by age
• setting controls
• guides and resources
• news and opinions
• schools resources

Parental controls let parents restrict some content and feature on devices that children use.

There are 4 main places you can find parental controls which are:

1. filters by your internet provider
2. filters by your phone network
3. filters on the device itself including phone, tablets, laptops and game consoles
4. filters on websites like YouTube and TV channels

Instructions and guides:

• Setting up parental controls on Android phones (Tech Advisor)
• Setting up parental controls on Apple Devices (Apple Support)
• The Best Parental Control Software (PC Mag)

As well as parental controls it’s a good idea to set up limits, called ‘spend caps’ for things like data, calls, and texts as going over can leave us with larger or unexpected bills.

It’s now the law that you can request your phone provider to set a monthly limit on your bill so you won't be charged more than this amount.

Find out more about spend caps on the Money Saving Expert website.

Phishing includes fake websites, emails and other communication design to trick people into disclosing private information.

Sexing includes sending, receiving, or sharing sexually explicit messages, photographs, or images.

Grooming is someone building a relationship with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.

Cyberbullying is bullying or harassment online or electronically.

Fake news and disinformation is news that is not true and deliberately misleading. Often by profiles or websites that look genuine.

Spyware is software that gathers information about a person and what they do online usually to steal data or invade privacy.

A virus is a code or programme that changes the work your computer works or can even destroy it altogether.

Talking to your child about staying safe online (NSPCC)

How to approach online safety with your child.

Help, advice and resources for parents and carers (Childnet)

From pornography and sexting to apps and social networking. Concise information on what to be aware of.

10 Tips for Parents and Carers (Webwise)

Tips from Webwise to help you and your child to make the most of the internet.

Family Lives - Parents' Guide to Facebook

How to control what other people can see on Facebook.

Think U Know - Sexting

Advice on the risks of sexting and how to say no.