IN support of the UK Safer Internet Centre’s Safer Internet Day, NSPCC Scotland has a spokesperson available to offer advice to parents to help them keep their kids safe online.
This year’s Safer Internet Day comes amidst coronavirus restrictions that mean families are continuing to spend extended periods of time at home and parents’ concerns about their children’s safety online are likely to intensify.
The charity will be supporting the day in keeping with the theme of “Together for a better internet” by sharing helpful content with parents, as well as advice for young people via Childline. There will also be helpful guidance and training for professionals about the importance of online safety on NSPCC Learning.
The charity has also launched a website called Net Aware in partnership with O2, bringing together the NSPCC’s expertise in protecting children with O2’s technological knowledge to show parents everything they need to keep their kids safe online.
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The website aims to help both children and parents to explore all the possibilities the online world offers and how to safely navigate any risks.
On the website, parents and children will be able to compete against each other in a quiz, which includes key messages about keeping safe.
The charity has also recently launched a Lockdown Hub with tips and advice about making the most of the internet safely during the pandemic.
Kate Edwards, NSPCC senior online safety manager, said: “With children spending more time online, learning and staying in touch with friends during lockdown, Safer Internet Day is an important event for us all to help keep kids safe.
“Social networks have been a lifeline for children during the pandemic but use of them does still come with risks.
“It’s important children have support from parents and carers through open and trusting relationship’s and regular conversations about what they are doing online.
“Our Net Aware website is here to support parents have those conversations by providing advice on the most popular apps, sites and games children are using.”
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