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Campaigning for change

We fight to change laws to make society safer for children. Our Wild West Web campaign has pushed for new regulations through the Online Safety Bill to make sure websites, apps and games are safe for children to use. But the draft Bill doesn't go far enough to protect children.
Help us end the Wild West Web

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Understanding online safety is tricky for all ages - we have advice and guides to help you learn about staying safe online as a family.

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Top 10 Tips for Online Safety – for children and young people.

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Top 10 Tips for Online Safety – for children and young people.

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Top 10 Tips for Online Safety – for children and young people.

Be nice to each other online – Treat others with respect online. If someone upsets you, do not react. Block the person on your contacts list, tell an adult you trust and report them to the website. If being bullied, collect evidence for an adult to see by taking screen shots, saving pictures and emails.

Keep your personal information private – Think carefully before sharing information like where you live, your email address or where you go to school on your profile or when chatting online. You might be sharing your personal details with more people than you think.

Use strong passwords – Protect yourself from hackers by using passwords that are not easy for others to guess. Use a combination of upper and lower case letters and numbers and do not share your passwords with others, even your friends.

Not everyone is who they say they are – You may trust a friend really well but it can be easy to lie online. The picture or video could be of someone else or be faked. Think carefully about who you chat to and who you add as a friend online.

Check your privacy settings – Change your privacy settings so that only your friends can post on your profile and see the information that you share. Remember to check your privacy settings regularly as sites often update these leading you to share more personal information publicly than you may want to.

Trust your instincts – If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. You can make a choice. If you feel uncomfortable about talking to someone or what you’re being asked to do on a social networking site, chatroom, IM or on webcam, block them, tell an adult you trust and report it to the website.

Think before you post – Stop and think before filling out forms online, updating your status or posting up pictures and videos of yourself or your friends. Think about who can see what you post online, once shared you can easily lose control.

Take a trusted adult with you when meeting online friends – If you have made a friend online and you decide to meet up in real life, keep safe by taking a trusted adult with you.

Check your old accounts and profiles – If you have an account on a site that you no longer use go back and check your privacy settings and who your personal details and pictures are being shared with. Close your account if you don’t think you will use it again.

If you are worried tell an adult you trust - If you ever see anything online that upsets you or something happens that makes you feel uncomfortable talk to an adult you trust about it.

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Newsround's ultimate guide to keeping safe online, whether you're on social media, gaming or apps.

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Hi I'm Charlie, your virtual assistant. I will explain how to use this online noticeboard (Padlet). 

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Hi I'm Charlie, your virtual assistant. I will explain how to use this online noticeboard (Padlet). 

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Please use the column headings to find the information you need

Then scroll down the column to see the information

Click on the links to view the information

To find other headings please scroll right

If you are using a mobile you can click on the 3 dots on this post and choose start slide show. This makes it easier to look through the information on a smaller screen.

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Sometimes, innocent searches can lead to not so innocent results. If you come across an indecent image of a child online, it is important to report this to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) so that they can review this content. Some nude images of children are classed as Child Sexual Abuse material. If it is illegal, the IWF will take steps to take this down and safeguard the child.

The IWF's reporting portal can be used anonymously.
If nude images of your child are shared online:
If you know a young person who has had a sexual image or video of themselves shared online, and they're under 18, talk to them about Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation's Report Remove tool.

It allows young people to discreetly report a nude image or video shared online, to see if it's possible to get it taken down. Young people can get support from Childline throughout the process. They just need to follow 3 steps:

1. Follow the instructions to prove their age. They may need ID for this.

2. Log into or create a Childline account so they can receive updates on their report.

3. Report and remove: the IWF will review it and work to have it removed if it breaks the law.

You can also see advice on how to support a child dealing with pressure to share nudes on our sexting page, and read information for parents about Report Remove.

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Guidance on what to do if you're worried about something a child has experienced online.

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Learn everything you need to know about online safety with this KS2 primary computing guide from BBC Bitesize for years 5 and 6.

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On Thursday 30 November from 2:30am - 7:30am, you won't be able to contact Childline whilst we do some important maintenance to our systems. This means that 1-2-1 chats, calling and messages to Childline will be unavailable. You'll still be able to use the Childline website for advice and information.

If you're in danger or it's an emergency, you should always call 999

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Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, call us on 0800 1111, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards.

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However you feel, we’re here for you. Contact us on the phone or online. Or try getting support from other young people on our message boards or by writing to Sam.

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Online safety for families and children with SEND

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Online safety for families and children with SEND

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When there's a serious concern about a child and you've shared the child's identity, the child protection specialist will make a report and share information with social services. This is known as 'making a referral'.

They might also contact local police if the child is in immediate danger. If the Helpline don't need to make a referral, they'll give you advice on what you can do or information on local services.

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When there's a serious concern about a child and you've shared the child's identity, the child protection specialist will make a report and share information with social services. This is known as 'making a referral'. They might also contact local police if the child is in immediate danger.

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Access information and resources for parents and carers on keeping your child safer online including conversation starters and video guides.

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Every child deserves to feel safe online - and we all have a part to play. Find out more about online safety from the experts.

Children and young people are online more than ever before.  In fact, 7-16-year-olds who use the internet say that they spend almost four hours a day online ( Childwise, 2021). Plus, half of ten-year olds now own their own smartphone ( Ofcom, 2019)

Not only are children spending more time on the web, but the lines between their online and offline lives are becoming increasingly blurred.

Time spent online can be positive. It offers endless opportunities for young people to make friends, have fun and learn new things - they can learn, play and connect with peers. However, it can also pose real-life dangers - from online bullying and threats to sexual abuse and poor mental health.

As a parent or carer, it can be difficult to navigate all the new platforms and games, let alone talk to your child about online safety.  Whether they're gaming, chatting, posting, or streaming, we want to support parents to help keep children safe online.

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We all want the best for our children, and that includes keeping them safe online. Find out how with our tips and advice.

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The BBC has a website and app called Own It. The website helps children navigate their online lives.

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The BBC has a website and app called Own It. The website helps children navigate their online lives.

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Each of these collections have been mapped to the Education for a Connected World framework set out by the UK Council for Internet Safety. Pages contain downloadable teacher resource documents with lesson ideas, discussion points and potential homework activities.

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In addition to content filtering offered by your ISP, many devices such as games consoles, smartphones and tablets have their own parental controls, for example to limit spending or restrict access to apps based on age rating. Likewise, many web browsers have built-in tools and features to help you control the kinds of content users can view.

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Parental controls offered by your home internet provider - UK Safer Internet Centre

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How to set up filters on your home internet to help prevent age inappropriate content being accessed on devices in your home.

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What we do

Help & advice

Helpful information and guidance on a range of key online safety topics.

The Childnet Film Competition 2024 is open!

Do you know any young people aged 7-18 who are passionate about film? Can they tell a good story, create animation or inspire positive change? Would they like to make a short film about online safety?
Then enter the competition now!

Download brand new interactive resource ReelLife!

An interactive resource to help young people aged 9-14 identify the potential risks of social media.
Check out the resource...

Try out the Childnet Digital Leaders Programme today!

A youth leadership training programme empowering young people to educate their peers about online safety.
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Blog

The latest advice and guidance on key online safety issues, as well as information on the latest apps and games.

Free resources to help you teach about online safety.

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Childnet - Online safety for young people

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Helping make the internet a great and safe place for children and young people.

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Parents and Carers - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Tips, advice, guides and resources to help keep your child safe online

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supporting primary schoolers online

six to tens

`{`Music`}`

between the ages of six to ten it's

likely your child

might get their first connected device

perhaps a games console or a tablet

so take the time to have regular chats

with your child about their well-being

and safety online

this will help them develop coping

strategies to deal with online risks

and encourage them to make safer choices

`{`Music`}`

online

set up parental controls on your home

broadband as well as any

internet-enabled devices that your child

has access to

our setup safe parental control guides

will walk you through the steps

so you can get set up in just a few

minutes don't forget to check that any

online accounts are password protected

if you're concerned about the time your

child spends online

many devices and apps will have inbuilt

controls to help you set limits

on when they should be using them and

for how long ensure your child maintains

a good balance of online and offline

activities

and that their online activities are

positive and have purpose

it's helpful to agree some rules with

your child to encourage them to develop

good digital habits for the future

if you're looking to give them their own

devices choose ones that offer

child-friendly content and tailored

parental controls to give them a safer

space to explore online

don't forget that gaming consoles also

offer internet access

so it's important to set parental

controls

be involved with your child's internet

use this will make it easier for you to

advise them on issues they might

experience

and for them to share concerns about

anything that may upset them

encourage them to question what they see

online to build their critical thinking

create a user account for your child

that only allows access to the sites and

apps you've chosen

you could also set your home page to a

child-friendly site

such as an educational site like bbc

bite size

or a safe search engine like swiggle

activate

safe search settings on sites like

google and youtube

and encourage them to use child friendly

apps like youtube kids

many popular games involve playing

online with others

so be aware that your child may be

creating an online presence

age ratings on games and apps are a

helpful way of establishing if they are

age appropriate

and use the strictest privacy settings

if they're playing free to play games

make sure to set a password on your app

store account to restrict

in-app purchases and avoid getting

caught out with a big bill

as soon as they can share and interact

with others online

talk about what information they should

and shouldn't share

discuss what it means to be a good

digital citizen

and emphasize the importance of

developing a good digital footprint

some children may find themselves

bullying or being bullied online

so it's important to talk to them about

being a good friend online and where to

get support if they need it

remind them that they can talk to you or

a trusted adult if they have any

concerns

because safety on the internet matters

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Online safety advice for 6-10 year olds | Internet Matters

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supporting primary schoolers online six to tens `{`Music`}` between the ages of six to ten it's likely your child might get their first connected device perhaps a games console or a tablet so take the time to have regular chats with your child about their well-being and safety online this

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Isle of Wight Safeguarding Children Partnership

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Parents and Carers : Isle of Wight Safeguarding Children Partnership

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This area of our website supports parents and carers of infants, children and teenagers. You will find key information, resources and links to help you keep your family safe.

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What is Child Financial Exploitation?

Child Financial Exploitation, sometimes referred to as 'money muling', is the term used to describe the action of using a young person's bank account to move money obtained from illegal sources.

Through the process of money laundering, criminals will introduce the proceeds of their crimes into the banking system as a way of attempting to disguise its origin, making it appear as though it has come from a legitimate source.

Laundering the proceeds of crime is a criminal offence under The Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) and carries a maximum prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Spot the Signs

Watch Gabi's story below to find out about the signs to spot:

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Explore our comprehensive guide on Child Financial Exploitation (CFE) to safeguard children's financial well-being. Gain insights, resources, and expert knowledge on identifying, preventing, and addressing CFE. Empower yourself to protect children's financial security with Crimestoppers UK.

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Children and young people involved with gangs and criminal exploitation need help and support. They might be victims of violence or pressured into doing things like stealing or carrying drugs or weapons. They might be abused, exploited and put into dangerous situations.

We have advice about what to do if a child is being groomed to join or has already joined a gang.

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We have advice about how to spot the signs of criminal exploitation and involvement in gangs and about what support is available for children and young people.

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Children and young people involved with gangs and criminal exploitation need help and support. They might be victims of violence or pressured into doing things like stealing or carrying drugs or weapons. They might be abused, exploited and put into dangerous situations.

We have advice about what to do if a child is being groomed to join or has already joined a gang.

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We have advice about how to spot the signs of criminal exploitation and involvement in gangs and about what support is available for children and young people.

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For young people
If you or someone you know has been approached, break off all contact, don’t receive or move any money, and ask for advice from someone you trust. Criminals operate in silence – by talking about it, you are protecting others.
You can report money muling to local Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. If you prefer not to give your details to the police, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously online or by calling 0800 555 111. If you see it online, report it to the social media companies to help them take it down and protect their own users.
While someone may offer an easy way to make money, you could find yourself at risk from dangerous and sophisticated criminals, as well as becoming complicit in organised crime. It is better to focus on building up your financial understanding and use that to secure your future and that of your family.
There are lots of ways to do this, but most banks offer free resources online to help – such as Natwest’s Money Sense.
We Fight Fraud Trailer: Parents & Carers
Most mules enabling these crimes are young. Around 6 in 10 mules are under the age of 30. Many criminals target their recruitment of mules at university or sixth form students, when young people most need their own money.
It is important for parents and carers to help young people understand the dangers and consequences of financial crime activity. Young people need this to help build their financial resilience, and help protect them against fraudsters and scammers operating online. For teenagers, the best age to start these conversations is 11-16.If you are concerned your child is being criminally exploited, contact 999 in an emergency or call the police on 101.
Most mules are recruited between the ages of 17 and 24. The young person might have come into possessions such as luxury goods that they cannot account for. There might be evidence of them opening new bank accounts or using crypto exchanges with money they can’t adequately explain the origin of.
When challenged, they might just say they are just letting someone else use their account to move money. But if they are taking a cut themselves, in reality, they are helping criminals against the vulnerable, while potentially being exploited themselves.
Education Professionals
Young people are vulnerable to being targeted as money mules due to the pressures on social media and manipulation techniques highlighting ‘get rich quick’ traps. However, young people are often unaware of the consequences of being recruited as a money mule and discussions in classroom settings will assist to deter young people from this crime.
For university students, ‘We Fight Fraud’ is a fraud prevention firm with the innovative approach of using the lived experience of former offenders to inform its work. They can offer “Crooks on Campus” to universities to help warn their students about mule recruiters that are known to target student populations, particularly among international students.
If you are concerned, talk to your students about the importance of honesty, legality and consequences of becoming involved. Explain the financial implications, the impact of having a poor credit rating and losing access to a bank account if you want to obtain student loans in the future.
Cifas is a non-for profit organisation working to reduce and prevent fraud and financial crime. They have developed PSHE Association accredited anti-fraud lesson plans for Key Stages 3 and 4 to explore money mules, decision making and reporting.
There are also a range of teaching resources produced by banks for all age groups, for example this Barclays Life Skills resource for age 16-19yrs,which covers money mules as well as other fraud risks: Financial fraud and scams lesson plan | Barclays LifeSkills
Further teaching resources can be found here.
Information on CPD training and events: https://www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk/training-and-events/
BBC iPlayer Scam Stories: The money drop

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#LookCloser is a national campaign encouraging everyone to learn the signs of child exploitation, look closer in communities and know how to report exploitation if worried.

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People often become money mules unwittingly. They might think they're giving out their bank details for a genuine reason, then end up involved in money mule fraud.
Don't Be Fooled. Follow this advice:

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Don’t give your bank account details to anyone unless you know and trust them.

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Get advice if you’re worried about money or need some ideas on how to manage it.

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Skips Safety Net-Parent Guides to help keep children safe online.

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Skips Safety Net-Parent Guides to help keep children safe online.

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Skips Safety Net