Online Safety Advice
(This webpage is replicated in both the 'Parents & Carers' menu tab and the 'Children' menu tab of our website).
Advice and Guidance for Parents
The links and resources below highlight a wide variety of information, tips and guidance to keep you and your family safe online.
Social Media and Apps - what you need to know
- Social Media and Mental Health
- Online Safety Poster 2023
- AI (Artificial Intelligence)
- AI Virtual Friends
- Amino
- Discord
- Facebook Messenger
- Group chats (general)
- HiPal
- Influencers
- Live Streaming (general)
- NGL (Not Gonna Lie)
- OmeTV
- Rumble
- Sharing Photos Online (general)
- Snapchat
- Spotify
- Telegram
- Threads
- TikTok
- Tinder
- Triller
- Tumblr
- W App
- YouTube
- YouTube Kids
Managing Devices and Apps
- iPads - What parents and carers need to know
- iPhone - Parental Controls (Apps)
- iPhone - Parental Controls (Content)
- iPhone - Parental Controls (Privacy)
- General - Setting up Apps, Games & Software
- Guided Access - How to set up on iPad and iPhone
- Android - Parental Controls (Apps)
- Android - Parental Controls (Content)
- Android - Parental Controls (Privacy)
- Amazon Alexa
- Amazon Fire Tablets - A guide
- Google Chromebooks - A guide
- Parental Controls - other devices
- Parental Controls - Checklist
- Toddlers & Screen Time
- Smartwatches - 10 top tips
- Suggested Apps (Early Years / 7-11 / 11-14)
Gaming - what you need to know
Streaming Services
Online Safety for the Whole Family
- Catfishing
- Conversation starters
- Conversation starters (Feb 2023)
- Conversation Topics and Questions
- Crypto Currency
- Cyber Bullying
- Cyber Security and Resilience - Top Tips
- Data Backups and Storage
- Email Scams
- Hidden Photo Apps
- Keeping Children safe from Cyber Crime
- Looking After Your Wellbeing Online
- Money Muling
- Online Bullying
- Online Grooming
- Online Safety - Do's and Dont's
- Online Safety for under 5's
- Online Financial Scams and Exploitation
- Peer-2-Peer (P2P) Sharing
- Phishing
- Phone Scams
- Screen Addiction
- Search Engines
- Search Engines - Google SafeSearch
- Sexting
- Trolling and Online Abuse
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
- Webcams
Symbolled Resources for Students
- Online Safety - Do's and Don'ts
- Online Safety - Poster
- 'On the internet...' - book (with symbols)
- 'On the internet...' - book (without symbols)
- Internet Safety - Social Story
- Traditional Tales - Internet Safety (PDF version)
- Traditional Tales - Internet Safety (Powerpoint version)
- Staying Safe while browsing the internet (PDF version)
- Staying Safe while browsing the internet (Powerpoint version)
- Staying Safe while using social media (PDF version)
- Staying Safe while using social media (Powerpoint version)
Other Websites
Parent Zone sits at the heart of modern family life, providing advice, knowledge and support to shape the best possible future for children as they embrace the online world. Parent Zone provides resources and training to educate and equip professionals and supports parents to develop the right skills and understanding, so that their children can discover the possibilities and opportunities available to them online.
NCA-CEOP has an extensive offer for children and young people, parents, carers and professionals. Its parents and carers website and educational materials offer more specific advice and information about keeping children and young people safe from online sexual abuse and exploitation.
Internet Matters was launched in May 2014 by founding partners, BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media. Internet Matters support parents and carers to navigate the ever-changing digital landscape. We’re here to offer the best advice and information available to help you engage in your child’s online life and manage the risks they may face online.
Working with a wide coalition of industry partners including the BBC, Google, Samsung and Facebook, we also collaborate with sector experts, government and schools to reach UK families with tools, tips and resources.
Whether your child is taking their first steps online or you’re looking for information on a specific issue, our website has everything you need to help make your children’s online life fulfilling, fun and, above all, safe.
Safer Internet Day 2023
Safer Internet Day 2023 took place on the 7th of February 2023, with celebrations and learning based around the theme ‘Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online’.
Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, the celebration sees thousands of organisations get involved to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
In the UK, we are celebrating by putting children and young people’s voices at the heart of the day and encouraging them to shape the online safety support that they receive.
That is why we are asking parents, carers, teachers, government, policymakers, and the wider online safety industry to take time to listen to children and young people and make positive change together.
This year we are hoping to answer the following questions:
- What issues really matter to children and young people?
- What changes do they want to see?
- How can we all work together to advocate for them moving forward?
With your help, Safer Internet Day 2023 can be a springboard for conversations that shape how we talk about and respond to online issues, not just for one day, but throughout the whole year.
That’s why this year the Safer Internet Day theme is:
‘Want to talk about it?
Making space for conversations about life online’.
You can find out more on the official Safer Internet Day page of the UK Safer Internet Centre website. Please take some time to browse the site, which includes some useful guides and resources.
Resources from last year's Safer Internet Day can be downloaded below.
Safer Internet Day 2022
Resources for Parents and Carers
Buddy the Dog's Internet Safety Story
Resources & Activities (Early Years - EYFS)
Resources & Activities (age 5-7)
Resources & Activities (KS1)