Child online safety campaign

Back to list 09/02/2023

The campaign aims to increase awareness of the importance of online safety to parents and carers of children aged 8–11-year-olds.

Whilst the internet is a great resource for our kids as place to learn, to play and to connect, there are some risks and dangers on the internet too.

And it’s totally normal to feel unsure about how best to help keep your child safe and secure online. The good news is, with the same instincts you already have about real life dangers and the right tools, you can help protect them online too.

This campaign provides advice on how to check and monitor children’s online activity by speaking to them openly about online safety and taking an interest in what they do online, discussing and agreeing boundaries, setting up safety measures and providing clear signposting for parents and children who require additional support.

Parents

Visit the resource hub at parentclub.scot/online-safety for practical ways to feel more confident and informed on the steps you can take to help keep your child safer online.

Opening up about online safety - Children of younger ages are now spending more time online and finding online independence. It is important for parents to begin talking to their children about online safety, agreeing boundaries, and setting rules so that they can develop good habits and online behaviours as they get older.

Protecting your child online - Despite many parents believing that they have safety measures in place, many children have still engaged in risky behaviour online. It’s important for parents to be aware of practical ways they can help keep their children safe, such as adding safety measures to devices, streaming platforms, search engines, and mobile and broadband providers.

Being aware of online dangers - Online activity has many benefits for children, but it is important to make parents aware of the online dangers their children may face and how to help prevent them from exposure to inappropriate content, messaging strangers, grooming, unauthorised spending, and online bullying.

Making your child feel safe - By taking an interest in their child’s online activities, finding ways to have fun as a family online, and talking about online safety, parents can help build trust and confidence with their child. This makes it easier, if something does go wrong, for children to feel comfortable and safe about telling a parent or a trusted adult.