The 9th February is Safer Internet Day. With 4 young children in the house, internet safety is something we take pretty seriously. My 2 oldest children are 10 and 7, and use the internet with our supervision for games and homework. However, I know it is only a matter of time before they will want to use the internet more freely, without us looking over their shoulders, and so I want to be sure they are aware of the risks and dangers that can be involved with using the web, and how to deal with any problems.
Safer Internet Day reinforces the importance of safety online, especially when it comes to family members being safe online. It’s all about safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. Intel Security is helping to do this with its consumer security software products like TrueKey, a security software where you sign in without passwords, by using your face or fingerprint. There is also the option to use McAfee LiveSafe, which provides trusted protection so you can shop, surf and keep all your devices secure online with the convenience of a single subscription.
I really like the idea of TrueKey – knowing that our devices cannot be hacked into is very reassuring, especially as we have a lot of photos of the children stored on various technology around the house. McAfee is something we already use as a family – it means I can set parental controls, and only allow the children to use sites that I know and trust.
I asked Gemma what she thought a safe internet would look like. She thought about it for a while, and then set to work with her paper and crayons. I love the image she came up with:
It clearly shows that she knows the internet can be used in a really positive way – to make friends and stay in touch with people. But it also shows that she is aware of some of the dangers – probably as a result of both our chats with her and her school, which has a strong focus on internet safety. I am pleased to see that she would still be happy to ask us for help, even if we weren’t in the room with her.
To celebrate Safer Internet Day I have teamed up with Intel Security to offer you the chance to win a family ticket to Bletchley Park – a beautiful heritage site and vibrant tourist attraction in Milton Keynes. Simply enter via the rafflecopter form below – good luck!
Terms and conditions: open to UK residents, winner will be randomly selected on 9/2/16 and contacted by email. Prize is for a family ticket for a family of 4 to visit Bletchely Park. This is a collaborative post.
Mine are so little, I don’t know yet! Interesting reading.
I’ve sent up a separate account for my son to use although he still uses it with supervision at present.
You cannot make it wholly safe you just have to make sure you monitor it. Nothing beats parental observation
They know what sites they can go on and what they need permission for in a year or so I’ll explain in more detail not sure they would understand yet
my younger kids don’t use the internet my older kids have to have a ipad for school as all work is online so i feel they know the danger and after a long school day are fed up with the screens
My son is 7 and loves looking at You Tube videos. He knows to stick to kids You Tube that has restrictions in place or he may see things that aren’t for him. It is hard to get the balance between making them aware and scaring them.
12 year old son wants a laptop but for now I’m keeping him just using the main computer. That way one of us is usually in same room or not far away so we can just keep an eye on things.
A place my kids could visit that would not hurt them and was just investagive and fun. we have had talks at school to keep parents abreast and its a real eye opener
safe internet is taught in our school from reception.
i have age restrictions on the kids accounts as well.
pc is in the front room, and i limit time on them elsewhere.
beware though, my 13 year old set himself up a new email account, one which the messages didnt get downloaded to mine as well!!!
it gets more difficult as they grow
I have parental rights to block certain sites and I have also told them what sets to use and to be safe but I think you still have to monitor closely
Its more difficult now with laptops, tablets, phones and even smartwatches; as well as the peer pressure with friends to have all these items. instill the dangers into your children as soon as you can as its part of our ordinary lives now.
being aware of the dangers and using the internet correctly
It means looking at things with munny – but then again my eldest is five x
mine are too young too need to worry at the moment x
They’re too young for all that just yet but they love the baby and baby animal videos on YouTube.
i have set websites that my son can visit on a safe list, other than that he can’t access anything else
Always monitor the little ones online, you can’t completely control what they may see otherwise. I’m so lucky to have grown up without the internet, I think kids live on it too much these days xx
Mine are adults now but are careful who they talk to on social sites.
I have parental rights to block certain sites and are always checking on them while they are useing it, are never left on there own
Using parental controls to limit access to inappropriate websites