Yesterday saw the launch of Cumbria Constabulary’s internet safety campaign which aims to raise awareness of how young people can stay safe online.
The campaign will run during the summer holidays (Friday 19th July – Thursday 5th September), and will focus on different aspects of internet safety.
For the next two weeks police will be giving advice about sites like Twitter and Facebook offering tips on how parents can ensure their children are using social media safely and securely.
Top tips include:
- Stay up-to-date. Ask about your child’s new gadgets, apps and websites – it is important to be aware of new technologies and developments that your child may be using
- Set boundaries. Treat the online world as you would the ‘real’ world – consider what or who they may see, share and communicate with, as well as how long they spend online
- Know what connects to the internet and how. Today many technologies connect to the internet – including TVs and games consoles. Check how they are accessing the internet – if it is through a neighbour’s Wifi, your security settings may not be applied
- Cyber-bullying can be very distressing and upsetting – talk to your child regularly about their experiences, both online and offline
For more information or advice please visit: http://www.cumbria.police.uk/advice-and-information/online-safety
Detective Inspector Stephanie Brown, Public Protection Unit at Cumbria Constabulary, said “More and more children are now on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, often unsupervised. While these sites can provide entertainment and a way for young people to chat to their friends, they can also cause problems.
“I would encourage all parents to become familiar with these sites and be aware of the potential risks associated with them. Follow our Facebook or Twitter pages, or #SafeOnline, for more advice.”
Helen Smith, from Children’s Services at Cumbria County Council, said “It is just as important to protect our children online, as it is offline. The internet is now a big part of most children’s daily lives, and as such I would encourage all parents to take an active interest in social media sites.
“These sites are wonderful communication tools, but parents need to be aware of all the risks in order to protect their children. I think this campaign is a great opportunity to remind people of some of the simple things they can do to keep children safe.”
More tips can be found at www.thinkyouknow.co.uk from the Child and Online Protection Centre (CEOP).
The NSPCC has recently launched a campaign to tackle the prevention of child sexual abuse – more information can be found here: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/
No comments:
Post a Comment