Staying Safe Online
If you want to find out more about the internet, look at the Think U Know website or click on your age below:
Tips to stay safe on line:
- Don’t share personal information like your home address, phone number or email address online, or even the name of your school.
- Only talk to real life friends or family when on sites with a social media element.
- There’s a chance that you may meet people online who aren’t who they say they are. Grooming is a word used to describe people who make friends with children in order to take advantage of them.
- Be a good online friend and don't say nasty things, even if it’s just a joke.
- Use secure and legal sites to download music and games and check with your parents / carers before downloading any programs to avoid viruses.
- Think before you post. Once you’ve pressed send you can’t take it back. Content posted online can last forever and could be shared publicly by anyone, anywhere in the world. This includes pictures that you email or text. See the separate page on sexting.
- Know where to find help: understand how to report to service providers and use blocking and deleting tools. If something happens that upsets you online, tell someone you trust.
- Don’t give in to pressure - if someone is pressurising you into doing something that you don't want, tell someone you trust.
Here are some other websites that can give you ideas on how to keep safe online:
How can I get help?
If you are in danger call the Police on 999. To speak to someone in Slough Children First call 01753 690450.
Talk to someone you trust, like a teacher, parent, youth worker, doctor. If you would like to talk to someone that you don't know, call ChildLine on 0800 1111.
CEOP is here to help keep you and other children and young people safe online. CEOP stands for Child Exploitation and Online Protection . CEOP can help and give you advice if something has happened online which has made you feel unsafe, scared or worried. This might be from someone you know in real life, or someone you have only ever met online.
Here are some of the things children and young people have reported:
"Someone online has asked me to send them nude images"
"I shared a nude image with someone online and they are threatening me"
"I did something that I was embarrassed about on webcam and someone has turned nasty towards me"
"Someone I don't know is asking me to live-stream and do things I don't want to do"
"Someone online kept asking me to meet them face-to-face and I feel pressured by them"
"Someone online was talking to me about sex and it made me feel uncomfortable"
"Someone online is putting pressure on me to do things I don't want to do"
"Someone I met in an online game keeps trying to talk to me privately"
What will happen next?
Your report will be read by a Child Protection Advisor at CEOP. These are specialist workers who have helped thousands of children.
They will immediately start thinking about how they will help you. A Child Protection Advisor will contact you by phone or email as soon as they can and will work with you to make a plan to keep you safe.
Information for Parents and Carers
The internet is a fantastic place for children to learn, create and have fun, but they may occasionally have to deal with a variety of sometimes challenging issues. These might include cyberbullying, pressure to take part in sexting, encouragement to self-harm, viewing pornography, along with various others. But there are positive things you can do to equip yourself and your child, and support them in resolving any issue they may face
More information:
Think You Know - how to keep your child safe online.
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is dedicated to eradicating the sexual abuse of children ages. This is a place where you can report abuse on the Internet or any inappropriate or potentially illegal activity with or towards a child online.