Helping your child / the child you care for to stay safe online
It’s important to remind children that the things they put online can be seen by lots of people and might stay online forever.
Do you have a concern?
Having a calm and open conversation is one way for you and your child to explore anything that you are concerned about in an honest and supportive way. There’s advice on the website below on how to help your child and how to start the conversation if you are concerned.
Discuss your concerns with someone you trust, for example a friend, partner or your child’s school.
You can also talk to a professional at the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. Talking about it will help you decide the best action to take to ensure your child is safe. If you are concerned that a child has been, or is being sexually abused, you should report it.
You can report directly to CEOP or your local police force. If you think your child is in immediate danger call 999. CEOP helps young people who are being sexually abused or are worried that someone they’ve met is trying to abuse them.
If you’ve met someone online, or face to face, and they are r making you feel uncomfortable you should report to CEOP.
This might be someone:
- Making you have sex when you don’t want to
- Chatting about sex online
- Asking you to meet up face to face if youʼve only met them online
- Asking you to do sexual things on webcam
- Asking for sexual pictures of you
- Making you feel worried, anxious or unsafe
If this is happening to you, or you’re worried that it might be, you can report this to CEOP. http://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre
Whatever your situation it is likely that you will need support for yourself, as well as for your child. Talk to a friend or relative who you trust, who will listen and support you, or call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.
To find out more about sharing pictures of children online and their rights visit http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/Sharing-pictures-of-your-children/
This information has been provided by the School Health Service and Thinkuknow, a guide to internet safety at http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk