Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), Peter McCall, is working with leading online safety organisation, Get Safe Online, urging parents to keep an eye on their children’s online activities this summer and know how to recognise the signs of something not being right.
Speaking about online safety, PFCC Peter McCall comments: “As children finish school for the long summer break, many of them will be online more than they would be in term time; talking to their friends, playing games and much more.
“With all the additional time spent on the internet, it’s important for parents and carers to think about their role in encouraging young people to stay safe online.
“By taking a few moments to read Get Safe Online’s ‘Safeguarding Children’ information and applying some simple preventative measures, parents can help encourage children to stay safe and enjoy a more comfortable experience online.”
Below are just a few examples of Get Safe Online’s ‘Safeguarding Children’ information:
- Chat regularly with your child about what they do online and get them to show you. Talk about the potential negatives, like oversharing, seeing inappropriate content, cyberbullying and stranger danger.
- Discuss and agree boundaries and rules from a young age, including appropriate online usage, always being respectful and how much time they spend online.
- For video calls, ensure your child’s safety by updating to the platform’s latest version, following its safety advice and checking that call invitations and replies can’t be seen by anybody outside the agreed call group.
- Talk to your child about misinformation, disinformation and fake news. Tell them not to believe or share everything they see or read.
- Warn your child about confidential information, personal details and images/video about themselves or others they share in posts, profiles, messages and chats.
Tony Neate, CEO at Get Safe Online, comments: “The internet is an amazing place providing our children and grandchildren with a wealth of resource and information at their fingertips.
“Whether it’s socialising with their friends, shopping on de-pop, gaming or helping them with their homework, there are many advantages to having access to the online world. However, as they navigate, it’s really important that they do so safely and securely and with respect toward others.
“Our latest information provides easy-to-follow tips and advice on how to help your kids use the internet responsibly and with confidence this summer. Visit www.getsafeonline.org to find out more. ”
Cumbria-GSO_July23_Parents_Leaflet.pdf
