Children, young people and vulnerable adults benefit from clear boundaries and guidance on how to protect themselves, how to remain safe and how to report or block content that makes them feel uncomfortable within the digital world.

To help parents and carers discuss online safety with their children, young people or vulnerable adults, Care for the family offers practical tips and a framework using the family agreement to support discussions on how to keep safe and how to report any content that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Other points for discussion could include:

• The use of parental controls/permission settings

• Avatars and online persona’s allow people to hide their true selves

• Once on the internet, always on the internet

• Information about yourself could be used against you

See NSPCC online safety courses for more detailed training.

Grooming

Grooming is a process that ‘involves the offender building a relationship with a child, and sometimes with their wider family, gaining their trust and a position of power over the child, in preparation for abuse’. NSPPC

Adolescents are at greater risk of physical, sexual or online abuse offences than younger children. NSPCC

Grooming can take place:-

Online (predator may pretend to be a young person or celebrities) Set appropriate permissions on devices and check regularly. Maintain open dialogue with children and young people using open ended questions such as, ‘Who do you chat with online?’ or, ‘Have you seen anything that made you feel uncomfortable?’ See useful videos from Barnardos for more tips.

Encourage and normalise asking for help or discussing anything that they are unsure of. Reassure them that they won’t lose device privileges if they make a mistake or see something they don’t like.

In organisations (people in authoritative positions) Take an interest in who they interact with outside of the home or school.

Public places/community

Stay informed and curious of the interests, events and activities young people are involved in, reassuring them that they won’t be in trouble or lose privileges if they make a mistake or experience something they are not comfortable with.

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