Dear Editor,
While we’re not able to see much of each other in person, a lot of us will be staying in touch with friends, family and colleagues online. It’s helping us stay connected, entertained, educated and informed when we’re spending more time at home. And while the benefits have been felt more widely, it’s worth noting the heightened risks for children and young people.
Safer Internet Day is marked this week (9 February) – an awareness day by UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) – providing a timely reminder to look at how our children spend time online. By making it a regular conversation, the more normal it becomes and the more children trust us to help if they are cyber bullied or see something online which confuses or upsets them.
While we continue to call for better online regulation and action from big tech firms to make sites safer, as adults there are plenty of ways to help protect children online. A good starting point is Net Aware, a site jointly run by NSPCC and O2, which offers free advice on the most popular apps – like whether they contain mature themes or have an inbuilt chat function.
Children can also contact our Childline counsellors over the phone and online, 365 days a year, about anything they like – online or otherwise – via 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk.
Mubashar Khaliq
Local Campaigns Manager
NSPCC Cymru/Wales
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