The internet can be fun, but it’s important to stay safe online.
Children and young people
Don't:
- tell anyone you meet online your address, your telephone number or your school's name
- send anyone your picture if you wouldn't be happy for your family to see it
- send anyone your credit card or bank account number - read tips for shopping safely online
- arrange to meet anyone without checking with your parent or carer - make sure they go along with you to meet them
- give your password to anyone - not even your best friend
- stay in a chat room if someone says or writes something that worries you or makes you feel uncomfortable
Do:
- tell an adult you trust if you’re upset or worried about something that’s happened online
- save any messages that have upset you and show them to the adult you tell
More tips
Find more tips to stay safe on the internet for:
Parents
You can help your children stay safe online by:
- knowing what they are doing online
- knowing who their online friends are
- talking to them about the dangers of sharing personal information and photos with strangers
- making sure they can talk to you when they feel uncomfortable about something they have seen online
- teaching them about privacy settings on social media
Get tips about how to keep your children safe online from:
- Know IT All – from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre
- NSPCC
Teachers and other professionals
Find training and education resources to use with children and young people from:
Report online abuse
Report online abuse to the police through the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) safety centre
Report websites showing obscene adult or child abuse content to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
Telephone the police on 101 if you’re a victim of cyber crime, for example if your credit card details have been stolen.