- Who is this post for? Parents
- What does it discuss? Internet safety
- How does it benefit you? Information for your decision making about online safety
Online safety for children is understandably a subject many parents are passionate about, and this week saw the release of a report from Ofcom that looks into the attitudes of both parents and children on the subject.
We’ve pulled out the topline stats in the video above and you can see the main report here.
The report highlights that children are becoming more trusting of what they see online, but sometimes lack the understanding to decide whether it is true or impartial. But it does not spread gloom about allowing children the freedom to go online – it shows:
- 97% of children aged 8-15 recall advice they’ve been given, particularly from parents
- The large majority (84%) of children aged 8-15 also say they would tell their parents, another family member or a teacher if they saw something online they found worrying, nasty or offensive.
The report highlights a parents’ role in managing children’s Internet access to ensure safety. As James Thickett, Ofcom’s Director of Research, said: “The internet allows children to learn, discover different points of view and stay connected with friends and family. But these digital natives still need help to develop the know-how they need to navigate the online world.”
If you have concerns or want to learn more, there are a number of good, practical online resources – here are a selection we have found:
NSPCC, which includes crowdsourced views on social networks to get the views of other parents
Google, which provides a number of online safety tools
Internet Matters, which has lots of advice and information
If you have seen any other good resources on the subject of online safety, or have any personal experiences you would like to share please let us know.
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