While we are all self-isolating and socially distancing due to Coronavirus, social media platforms, like Twitter, Snapchat and video calls, are a great way to stay in touch with friends and family, share your thoughts and ideas and connect with like-minded people.
Unfortunately, whilst rare, there are negative influencers and online groomers who use the internet, social media and online gaming to spread their extreme ideas, which children can be exposed to. Some of these ideas may be considered radical or extreme and when a person starts to support or be involved in them, this is called radicalisation.
During this difficult time, we will all become more reliant communicating online, watch our film about online gaming here and read through our advice for parents, guardians and carers to make sure you and your family stay safe online. We have also produced lessons with Votes for Schools which may also help you speak with your children about some of these issues which you can find here.
You can also find further online safety advice here.
Cyber Aware (formerly Cyber Streetwise) aims to drive behaviour change amongst small businesses and individuals, so that they adopt simple secure online behaviours to help protect themselves from cyber criminals: install the latest software and app updates and use a strong, separate password for your email. This is based on expert advice from the National Cyber Security Centre, a part of GCHQ.
Cyber Aware is a cross-government awareness and behaviour change campaign delivered by the Home Office in conjunction with Department of Culture, Media & Sport alongside the National Cyber Security Centre, and funded by the National Cyber Security Programme in the Cabinet Office.
If you have a question about cyber security, please follow these links to our Twitter and Facebook feeds.
The NCSC was set up to help protect our critical services from cyber-attacks, managing major incidents and improve the underlying security of the UK Internet through technological improvement and advice to citizens and organisations. Our vision is to help make the UK the safest place to live and do business online. Find out more about the NCSC here https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/
Get Safe Online is the UK’s premier source of information and advice for the public and small businesses on keeping safe and secure online. A joint initiative between the Government, National Crime Agency and other law enforcement agencies, and private sector organisations from the worlds of technology, communication, retail and finance, Get Safe Online offers free, impartial, easy-to-follow advice via its website, media and outreach activities and network of partners.
Online centre where you can find e-safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe on the internet. The UK Safer Internet Centre also provides a Helpline for professionals working with children and young people in the UK with any online safety issues they may face themselves or with children in their care. A signposting, advice, and mediation service, the POSH Helpline provides support with all aspects of digital and online issues for professionals.
Tel: 0844 800 2382 (UK SIC) or 0844 381 4772 (POSH)
Email: [email protected]
Childnet is a UK-based charity set up to empower children, families and schools in the digital age. With the aim of making the internet a great and safe place for children, Childnet delivers internet safety workshops in schools across the UK to children aged 3-18, their parents, carers and teachers and also produces free educational resources for these audiences.