What are some of the risks to online safety for children?

There are a range of potential harms that come with using the internet. Categories include:

• Content
  Being exposed to illegal, inappropriate, or harmful content. For example: pornography, fake news, racism, misogyny, self-harm, suicide, anti-Semitism, radicalisation, and extremism.
• Contact
  Being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users. For example: peer to peer pressure, commercial advertising, and adults posing as children or young adults with the intention to groom or exploit them.
• Conduct
  Online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm. For example, making, sending and receiving explicit images, sharing other explicit images and bullying.
• Commerce
  Risks such as online gambling, inappropriate advertising, phishing and financial scams.

How we promote and teach online safety in school?

As part of mandatory RHSE (Relationship, Health and Sex Education), in secondary schools, pupils are taught about online safety in an age-appropriate way. This includes being taught:

• what positive, healthy and respectful online relationships look like
• the effects of their online actions on others
• how to recognise and display respectful behaviour online
• how to use technology safely, responsibly, respectfully and securely
• where to go for help and support when they have concerns

In addition, students are also taught;

their rights, responsibilities and opportunities online

• not to provide content to others that they would not want shared further and not to share personal material which is sent to them
• what to do and where to get support to report material or manage issues online
• the impact of viewing harmful content
• that sexually explicit material like pornography presents a distorted picture of sexual behaviours.
• that sharing and viewing indecent images of children (including those created by children) is a criminal offence which carries severe penalties
• how information and data is generated, collected, shared and used online

Useful Resources

The following links provide guidance for parents and carers on how to talk to your children about a range of online safety issues. They also show how to set-up child-friendly home filtering and parental controls.

• Childnet has developed guidance for parents and carers to begin a conversation about online safety, as well as guidance on keeping under-fives safe online.
• Thinkuknowby the National Crime Agency - Child Exploitation and Online Protection command (NCA-CEOP) provides resources for parents and carers and children of all ages.

• Parent Info is a collaboration between Parent Zone and NCA-CEOP, providing support and advice for parents and carers related to the digital world from leading experts and organisations.
• National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has guidance for parents and carers on online safety.
• UK Safer Internet Centre provides tips and advice for parents and carers - you can also report any harmful content found online through the UK Safer Internet Centre.