Tuesday February 7 is European Safer Internet Day, which aims to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people. At Northumbria Police, Detective Sergeant Alan Batey of the Computer Crime Unit said: “The internet has become an invaluable resource for people of all ages.
“However, the internet is open to abuse because sometimes there is little accountability and regulation. Therefore, it is important that we are aware of the potential dangers so we can all use the internet safely and responsibly.
“Events such as Safer Internet Day provide education about the internet for parents and grandparents, and at the same time, help them to ensure that their children use it safely.
“Parents should talk to their children about their use of the internet, and there are also IT solutions available which enable parents to monitor what their children are doing online. If parents are worried in any way, they should contact police.”
Northumbria Police offers the following advice for parents on how to make sure their child remains safe when using the internet.
Make sure your child knows that to stay safe they should remember:
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Everyone they meet online is a stranger, even though they might seem like a friend. They should always tell you if they make contact with, or if they are contacted by, anyone on the internet.
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Always use a nickname when logging on, never give out personal details like their full name, home or school address, telephone number, personal email or mobile number. This information could let someone they meet online contact them
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Accepting emails or opening files from people they don’t really know, can get them into trouble as they can contain nasty viruses, nasty messages or links to stuff they don’t want to see
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Tell your child to talk to you or another trusted adult they know well and ask for help if they’re worried or upset about anything they’ve seen or been sent online.
