Online Safety for Children
You can use your computer, mobile phone or tablet for lots of fun things and to connect with people from all over the world.
The websites below give you advice to make sure you stay safe on the internet. You may have visited some of them in school with your teacher.
Remember! If you are worried about anything you see online, or people are asking you questions about where you live or saying nasty things to you, please speak to your parents or an adult you trust. You can also follow the links below for help and advice.
Think U Know
The Think U Know website will help you go on the internet in a safe way and tell you who to talk to if you are worried. You can also find out about Lee & Kim’s adventures or watch Hector and his friends learning to use computers safely! If you want to talk to someone else you can call ‘Childline’, which is a place where people who are nice can help you.
They won’t tell anyone that you have called and it’s free. You can phone them on: 0800 1111.
Top Tips
- Always ask a grown up before you use the internet. They can help you find the best thing to do.
- Don’t tell strangers where you live, your phone number or where you go to school. Only your friends and family need to know that.
- Don’t send pictures to people you don’t know. You don’t want strangers looking at photos of you, your friends or your family.
- Tell a grown up if you feel scared or unhappy about anything.
- Remember! People you have only talked to on the internet are strangers, even though they may sometimes feel like friends. You should never arrange to meet with someone you have met on the internet without checking with your parents first as it could be dangerous.
Kidsmart
Visit the KidSMART website and learn more about the internet and being a SMART surfer.
Learn the SMART Rules with Kara Winston and the SMART Crew.
If anything goes wrong online or upsets you make sure you tell someone about it.
Download a poster of the SMART Rules by clicking this link.
Cyber-Bullying
Sometimes people can use the internet and mobile phones to bully people and make them feel bad. This can be very difficult to deal with as it can feel like you can’t get away from it. If people are saying things that worry you or make you feel upset, tell an adult you trust. They will know what to do and how to get help.
The Childline website also contains helpful information about cyberbullying and ways to help stop it.
Help and Advice
If you are a parent and would like more help and advice about keeping your child safe online, please visit our online safety page for parents.