Whilst many Internet Service Providers offer filtering systems to help you safeguard your son or daughter at home, it remains surprisingly easy for students to access inappropriate material including unsuitable texts, pictures and movies.
Locating the computer in a family area, not a bedroom, will enable you to supervise your son or daughter as they use the Internet. However, don’t deny them the opportunity to learn from the wide variety of material and games available on the Internet. Instead discuss with them some simple rules for keeping them safe and make sure they understand their importance.
To keep safe they should:
Use websites recommended by teachers and use a student friendly search
Be aware of who created a website and possible bias within information
Only email people they know, (why not consider setting up an address book?)
Exercise caution before opening an email sent by someone they don’t know
Use Internet chat rooms with caution and know how to block unwanted users
Not use their real name when using games on the Internet, (create a nick name)
Never give out a home address, phone or mobile number
Never email your school name or a picture in school uniform (even to a friend)
Never arrange to meet anyone alone, and always tell an adult first
Only use a webcam with people they know and turn it around if it is not in use
Tell you immediately if they encounter anything they are unhappy with
Report concerns to the Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre (CEOP)
Avoid using websites they feel they could not tell you about.
