How do we keep our children safe online? Your questions answered on Safer Internet Day 2022
Children and families02 February 2022
With the likes of TikTok and Fortnite more popular than ever - keeping children protected while online is seen as increasingly important.
Supporting children and young people around healthy relationships, mental health and wellbeing is the focus of the national Safer Internet Day 2022 – with experts on hand to answer queries on how to maximise internet safeguarding.
North Northamptonshire Council, West Northamptonshire Council and Northamptonshire Police have come together to host two events aimed at discussing relevant issues and answer questions.
Parents, professionals and teachers are invited to ask anything about safeguarding children and young people online on an Instagram Q&A session.
Simon Aston – the county’s online safety and wellbeing officer will be answering queries from 4:00pm on Monday 7 February. Search for ncccybersafe on Instagram to take part.
And on Safer Internet Day itself – Tuesday 8 February - anyone who works with young people and children can take part in a dedicated Webinar.
Expert speakers will be delivering presentations via Zoom on gangs, child sexual exploitation, peer on peer abuse and digital resilience.
Anyone who would like to find out more information about booking on to the event can go to the Eventbrite website.
People can also show their support for Safer Internet Day and obtain resources for schools or organisations by signing up to the UK Safer Internet Centre.
The internet is constantly evolving and it’s hard to keep up to date with the rapid pace of change, so I think we all have questions about what is safe online and what isn’t.Cllr Scott Edwards, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive member for Children, Families, Education and Skills
I’m delighted that such a dedicated panel of experts has been assembled to offer their advice and I’m pleased that we have been able to work with our partners to support this important issue.
The lines between the virtual and real world continue to blur and if we want young people to thrive, we need to educate them and those who look after them, about the rights and wrongs of going online.Cllr Fiona Baker, WNC’s Cabinet Member for children, families and education
It’s no different these days to road safety, only it’s the green cross code of the internet.
Online safety is a really important subject and Safer Internet Day is therefore a great opportunity for parents and guardians to speak with their children about the importance of staying safe online.A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman
As police officers, we know all too well the dangers that exist online and in fact, have a team dedicated to investigating illegal behaviour and individuals who would look to use the internet in order to target and groom children.
It’s so important to make your children aware of these dangers by starting open conversations early on that build trust and rely on mutual understanding as opposed to restrictions and secret-keeping.