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Looking to download new apps? Stay safe with these tips:

1. Only use official app stores
2. Check age ratings
3. Read app permissions
4. Ask parents before downloading
5. Watch out for in-app purchases
6. Keep apps updated

Stay safe and happy downloading! 🔒

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The internet is amazing, but it's important to stay safe! Check out these top tips from Childnet International about protecting your personal information and being a good digital citizen.

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What we do

Help & advice

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

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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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Everything you do online leaves a trace! Learn about your digital footprint and how to manage it responsibly with this fantastic guide from BBC Own It.

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Cyber Resilience Comic 2 – created by young people

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Exciting new resource created by young people for young people. Education Scotland supported North Ayrshire youth work to work with young people to create cyber resilience comics. You can read them…

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How can I stay safe online? BBC bitesize shares some useful tips

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How can I stay safe online? BBC bitesize shares some useful tips

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Many of the digital devices we use are connected to the internet. This means they can share information with lots of other computers and digital devices around the world.

When we are connected to the internet, we say we are online. When we are online we can:

We usually see and do things online by visiting a website. A website is a bit like an online book made from webpages.
Going online can be lots of fun!

Although we can have fun online, we can sometimes see things on a website or in an online game that makes us feel scared, sad or uncomfortable.

We may get stuck when a website or game goes wrong, or we might end up on a different website by accident.

It's best to always ask a trusted adult before we go online.

They can help us find the games and activities that are made for children and that we can enjoy safely.

Trusting someone means that you know they will look after you and keep you safe.

A trusted adult might be a family member. It could also be an adult who works at your school like a teacher.

We shouldn't use a digital device to go online by ourselves, or with other children, without a trusted adult to help.

We often meet other people when we are using a digital device. We might be chatting to a friend on the phone or sharing a picture or video with a family member.

We also might meet people we don't know.

We should never talk to a stranger when we are online, even if they know our name and are being friendly.

If someone tries to talk to us online we should tell a trusted adult straight away. Not everyone we meet will be friendly or kind.

If you see something on the screen that frightens or upsets you, then you can:

turn the screen or device over

close the app using the home button or power switch

go and talk to a trusted adult straight away

Explain what you saw and let the adult look at the website or game if you can. This will help them to keep you safe.

Having fun and staying safe online is easy, if you remember to always ask a trusted adult.

Here are the meanings of some important words:

Computer - A device that can follow instructions stored in its memory.
Digital device - A machine that has a computer inside.
Screen - A device that shows pictures, text, videos and animations.
Internet - A giant network of computers connected across the world.
Online - Connected to the internet.
Webpage - An online page of information with words, pictures, video and sound that we see on a screen.
Website - A collection of connected webpages.
Private - Sharing something with only a small trusted group of people.
Personal information - Information that could be used to identify someone.
Username - A nickname used to login to a game, app or account.
Password - A secret series of letters, numbers and symbols used to keep an account private.
Trusted adult - An adult that you know and will keep you safe.

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Learn how you can be safe online with this KS1 primary computing guide from BBC Bitesize for years 1 and 2.

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If you’re struggling with your feelings, we have tips and advice from other young people, and information on getting the support you need for your mental health.

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Just 'ask Sam' if you have a question or are worried about something

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Just 'ask Sam' if you have a question or are worried about something

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Privacy and keeping your personal information safe

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Privacy and keeping your personal information safe

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1. Photos and posts on social media

2. Data collected on fitness trackers and smart watches

3. Games you've played online

4. Things you've bought

5. Information you allow apps to collect or access

6. Voice searches on Alexa or other devices

7. Comments or arguments you've been in

Sharing naked or sexual photos of videos of you without your consent is against the law. And if you're under 18, it's against the law for anyone to have a sexual image or video of you at all.

You can use Report Remove to get a nude image or video of you removed from the internet. You can also report any sexual images or videos posted of you to the websites or apps and most of them will take them down. Get more support on sexting.

It can also be against the law to threaten to share someone's nudes. If you're worried about what's happening, we can help.

If you can't delete things, see if you can edit them. You might be able to take out something you've said or remove any personal details.

You can't always control whether something posted by another person is taken down, but there are things you can try.

If something's been shared or posted by your friends or family, you can try asking them to delete it. It can help to be assertive and explain why you want it taken down and how it's affecting you.

If someone's bullying or being nasty to you online, you might also be able to report what's happened to get it taken down.

You can contact search engines like Google and Bing and ask if they'll be able to remove something.

Look at each search engine's help section to find out how you can contact them. You can fill in a form on Google. Bing also have a form to fill in. You need a photo of yourself to send with these forms. You might find it helpful to ask an adult to support you with filling them in. The search engine will decide whether or not to remove the link.

Snaps automatically disappear after they're sent but they can still be screenshotted so it's important to be careful.

To change your privacy settings on Snapchat, go to your profile and tap the gear icon. Scroll down to "Who can...":

Contact me: select friends only

View my story: select friends only

See my location: choose ghost mode

Show me in quick: add Turn this off.

It can also help to remember:

to block people you don't know who add you, including friends of friends

if you're in a group chat, anyone in the group can talk to you and see your messages.

There are lots of privacy settings on Facebook but there are a few simple steps you can make to help keep you safer. You can also use Facebook's privacy check-up to get started.
Changing your privacy setting in the Facebook app

tap the menu icon (3 horizontal lines)

scroll down to Settings and Privacy

tap Privacy shortcuts.

Important things to change on Facebook

Who can see your posts
Change the default to Friends for your future posts. If you're worried about people you're friends with seeing what you've written, you can select "Friends except" to choose who you don't want included. You can change who can see your past posts as well.

People and pages that you follow
Change this to friends only or to "Friends except" if there's someone you're friends with who you don't want included.

Friends requests
You can choose either everyone or friends of friends. Remember that even if someone is a friend of a friend, it doesn't mean you can trust them.

Search engines linking to your profile
Turning this off will stop people being able to search for you on sites like Google.

Check what info is on your profile
Make sure your phone number, school and address can't be seen publicly. Remember that if you're wearing something with your school logo then they can see where you go to school.

Facebook live
Only live stream to friends and don't share your location.

Instagram sets your account to public automatically, which means that anyone can see what you do or post.

If your account is private, you can approve who can see your photos and videos, and only people who you've approved can comment on your posts.

To set your account as private:

go to your profile and tap menu (the 3 horizontal lines)

tap settings

Scroll down and select Privacy

scroll down to Private Account and turn this on.

Remember that you can still block and report anyone who is bullying you on Instagram.

Your tweets are set to public automatically, this means that anyone can reply, retweet or favourite what you tweet.

If you protect your tweets, people won't be able to retweet you, and they can only view what you tweet if you approve them to follow you.

To protect your tweets:

go to your account and select Settings and Privacy

Select Privacy and safety

Turn on "Protect your Tweets".

WhatsApp will automatically allow people to see what's on your profile and when you were last on. Changing your privacy settings can help to keep you safe and stop people bullying or abusing you.

To change your settings:

go to your settings and select Account

Select privacy.

You can change the following settings:

Last seen
You can change this to My Contacts to stop people you don't know seeing if you've been online.

Profile photo and info about you
Setting this to My Contacts can help to keep people you don't know seeing information about you.

Live location
If you're sharing your location with anyone, you can turn this off here.

When you create an account on Skype, everyone can see your Skype name and location. The best way to keep your name and location private is to not include it on your profile.

You can hide your profile picture from people you don't know. How to do this depends on which type of device you're using, but you can find out how here.

To change who can contact you on Skype

in the app, go to the menu (3 horizontal lines)

scroll down to privacy

set "Receive IMs From" and "Receive Calls From" to "Contacts Only".

Tumblr automatically sets your blog and profile to public, meaning that anyone can find and comment on them. You can change these settings to help protect yourself from abuse and keep your account private.

How to change your privacy settings depends on which type of device you're using. Find out how to change your privacy options.

You can change your Periscope privacy settings to decide:

whether you'll appear on someone's Superfans list

which live streams Periscope suggests you watch

if people on your Facebook friends list can find you on Periscope.

To change your settings on the Periscope app:

go to your profile page

tap settings

scroll down to Privacy

tap the toggle for anything you want to switch off.

Find out more about changing your privacy settings on Periscope.

Your Tik Tok account is set to public automatically, that means that anyone can view or comment on your videos. It also means that people can search for your account on Tik Tok.

Change your privacy settings:

go to your profile on the app

tap the 3 dots in the top right hand corner

select Privacy and Safety.

Changing these settings can help to keep your account safe:

Allow others to find me
Turning this off can help to stop people you don't know from seeing your profile.

Private account
When your account is private, only people you approve can see your videos and follow you.

Who can send me comments
Setting this to friends only can stop people you don't know posting nasty comments or pressuring you.

A strong password means that it's hard for someone else to guess or for a computer to crack. Some people use password managers to store all of their passwords, but these can cost money and aren't always secure so you need to be careful.

Use our tips for creating a strong password.

Make it long and difficult to guess
Make your password more than 8 characters and use a mix of lower case letters, upper case letters, numbers and special characters (like %, #, ! and £).

Don't use personal details
People might be able to guess your favourite animal, your birthday or your best friend's name. Try using 3-4 random words that you can remember instead.

Use different passwords
Change your password regularly and use completely different passwords for different websites and apps.

Device and app updates include important security fixes, so it's good to make sure you regularly download updates for your:

phone, tablet, laptop and computer

apps and games

wearables, including fitness trackers and smart watches

smart devices and speakers like Alexa or Google Home.

Each device is different, but you can usually find out how to enable updates in the settings.

It's also important to use anti-virus software. You can get anti-virus software for mobiles as well as tablets, laptops and PCs. Make sure that you keep it updated or ask an adult to help you.

Lots of websites will keep you logged in, even after you close them. If someone else has access to the phone or device you're using then they might be able to log into your account.

If you're using someone else's device or someone else might have access to yours, make sure you:

Get more advice and support:

Childnet has lots of advice and information on taking care of your digital footprint

Thinkuknow can help you to think about what you're posting online before you do it

Young Scot have got great advice about looking after your digital footprint

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Taking care of your privacy and digital footprint

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Photos and posts on social media Data collected on fitness trackers and smart watches Games you've played online Things you've bought Information you allow apps to collect or access Voice searches on Alexa or other devices Comments or arguments you've been in Sharing naked or sexual photos of videos of you without your consent is against the law.

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Having a mobile phone and going online is great for lots of reasons. But it's important to be aware of the dangers too. Learn how to stay safe online.

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Everything can be traced – including deleted posts

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https://young.scot/campaigns/national/digi-know-information

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Whether you're putting snaps on social media or online shopping, find out why it's important to keep your data and yourself safe with 'Digi Know?'.

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https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/young-people/resources-11-19s

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https://mindyertime.scot/your-digital-rights-2/

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There are some things that you need to keep you happy, healthy, and safe. These things are called your 'rights'. All rights are connected and nobody can take them away from you. Your rights are gathered together in something called the UNCRC. This stands for the "United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child", [...]

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https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/types-bullying/bullying-cyberbullying/

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You can talk to us

Sometimes bullying can be hard to describe, especially if you're being bullied by friends.

If someone's trying to make you feel bad, that's not okay. We're here to help.

Sometimes bullying can be harassment or threatening behaviour, which is against the law. So if someone keeps making you feel scared on purpose, what they're doing could be illegal.

Harassment can include someone:

lying to you about who they are

threatening to hurt you

sending nasty or offensive messages to you or about you.

Telling someone how you feel can be tough, but it can really help you feel less alone.

You don't need to tell someone everything at once. You could start by choosing one person you trust to talk to. If you can't think of anyone, you can always talk to us.

If you're struggling to say what's happening out loud, you could try:

Taking your mind off what's happening can help you have more energy to cope when things are difficult.

Why not try:

Taking a break from checking your messages
Try muting your notifications and doing something else if people are messaging you online, even if it's just for a short time.

Going for a walk
If you feel it's safe to, go for a walk or run in the park. Or try playing sports.

Creating a maze
Focus on making it as big or complex as you want. If you want to challenge yourself, try making one without taking your pen off the paper.

Distracting yourself right now

If you're struggling with your feelings, try moving away from anything that might distract you and take a few deep breaths. Focus on what's around you and name:

5 things you can see

4 things you can touch or feel

3 things you can hear

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste

Bottling up your feelings can make them hard to cope with. But there are lots of ways you can let them out. Why not try:

Listening to music
Try listening to music that matches how you feel. Or if you want to distract yourself, listen to music that makes you happy or a podcast.

Writing a poem
Write a poem about how you're feeling now. Or keep your mind busy by coming up with limericks or rhyming poems.

Making a comic book
You could make a comic about what's happening, what you'd like to happen or something completely different.

Bullying can have a big effect on your confidence. You might be worried about going out or spending time with people, which can really affect your mental health.

Doing something small every day can really help you to feel better and build your confidence.
Feeling better with positive statements
Saying positive statements to yourself can help when you're feeling low or like the bullying's your fault. You could say them out loud or in your head.

Focus on positive things happening now and try making some up yourself. Or use some of the examples below:

"The bullying isn't my fault"

"I deserve to have a life without bullying"

"Today is only one day"

"Things can change"

"I'm strong enough to keep trying".

Making sure you have a healthy routine and taking care of yourself can have a big impact on your mental health.

Having a healthy routine includes:

making sure you get enough sleep

eating healthily and not having too much junk food

doing something every day that makes you feel good or proud

spending time with people who make you happy

exercising or spending time outside.

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. And if you're worried about it, it's important to get support.

You can talk to your doctor about anything you might be feeling. Big or small. If you're not sure where to start, you can use sites like DocReady to help make a list of your symptoms.

Self-harm and suicide
Lots of young people talk to us about feeling suicidal and wanting to self-harm. If you're feeling this way, it's good to tell your doctor about it or you can always talk to us.

Watch: How to cope after bullying

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Let them know you're there for them
Listening and letting someone who's being bullied know you're there if they want to chat can make a massive difference. Chatting to them regularly and saying you're there for them can help them feel less alone.

Help them to get support
You could offer to go with them to report the bullying and help them think about what they want to say. Or you could help them report it on social media.

Think before you like or comment on something
Liking, sharing or commenting on a post designed to bully someone can make it more popular and visible, even if you're not supporting it. Don't respond to a post, even if you're not sure if it's meant to bully someone.

Help to distract them
Help them to take their mind off things for a short while. You could watch a film, play sports or a game together.

Be positive around people
Whether it's posting positive things online, or being friendly to people at school, being positive can help lots of people to feel better.

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Bullying can happen to anyone. Whether it's online, at home or in school, no one has the right to hurt you or make you feel bad. If you or someone you know is being bullied, we're here to help.

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https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/online-gaming/

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1. Block, report and mute people who troll or bully you in games

2. Take short breaks if you're gaming for a long time

3. Don't share personal information with people in games

4. Avoid in-game purchases like loot boxes

5. Check the age rating of any games you play

Make sure your nickname does not include your:

full name

school's or college's name

date of birth

address or the town you live

mobile number

If you're able to use a profile picture, try using an avatar that doesn't show your face. If you do use a picture, think about whether it shows anything that could be used to identify you, like your school logo or your street name.

When you create your account, it's a good idea to make sure you use a strong password.

Games are a great way to make friends online. But it's important to think about how much you're sharing about yourself.

Be careful about sharing personal details, like your address, phone number, where you go to school or your full name. Even if you only share a few small things over time, someone might be able to use it to find out more about you.

Most online games are open to everyone, that means you could be playing with people much younger or older than you. You might also be much better or worse at the game than the people you're playing with.

Remember, if you're playing with people online:

you can report and mute anyone who's abusive, threatening or who tries to bully you

people might not always be honest about who they are

be careful of scams, and don't accept gifts or offers that seem too good to be true

be nice to the people you're playing with, even if they're not as good at the game.

There can be times when people use games to ask children and young people to share sexual pictures or nudes. People who do this might make you feel like you can trust them, ask you to keep things secret or give you compliments or gifts. This is called grooming.

When you share something online, even in a private message, you lose control of it. If you're talking to someone online and they've asked you to share sexual images or personal details, it can help to talk to someone you trust first, or to a Childline counsellor.

Changing your privacy settings can affect who can see if you're online, who you can play with and whether people can see what games you're playing.

Every game and console is different, so make sure you always check the settings to see what your options are.

Lots of people like to play for as long as they can without stopping. But taking short breaks when you're playing games can help you to stay healthier and stop you from getting bored.

Try taking a break if you're:

not enjoying the game as much as you were when you started

getting angry or upset at other people or the game

feeling tired or hungry

starting to ignore things you need to do, like homework.

Lots of games are free-to-play, so you can download and start them without paying anything. Games like this make money by making you want to buy things, like new skins, loot boxes, items or lives.

If you're tempted to buy things in-game:

Check whether something will cost real world money before you buy anything

Ask the person who'll be paying before you buy anything

Keep track of what you're spending, even if you're buying cheaper things they can end up costing a lot

Don't buy items from websites outside of the game itself

Take time away from the game before you decide whether you still want something

Loot boxes can seem like fun, especially if you get something valuable from them. But they can also encourage you to keep buying them and make you feel like you have to play for longer.

Downloading cheats or mods from websites other than the official game website can be dangerous. Mods can contain viruses that will damage your computer or mobile, and give hackers access to your personal data.

Whenever you can, always use your mobile's app store or download mods from official websites.

Talking to someone about what's happening can help you to think about your gaming differently. They can help support if you're struggling to stop or talk to you about ways you could feel better.

Telling someone about what's happening can be difficult. If you're struggling, you could try writing a letter or talking to a Childline counsellor first.

Remember, if your gaming is affecting your health if you're worried you can always speak to your doctor.

Some young people like to play games to escape from how they feel normally. But if you're struggling with your feelings, there are things you can do to cope.

There are lots of things you can do to feel better. We've got ideas of ways to cope with your feelings, or new things to try that might boost your mood.

Our Childline counsellors are here to talk to you about anything. If you're struggling to cope and don't know what to do, you can speak to them any time.

Changing your gaming habits doesn't always mean you have to stop, especially if gaming is something you enjoy.

Try making a plan of when you should and shouldn't be gaming. If it's stopping you from doing things like homework, you could plan an hour of gaming as a reward after finishing some work.

Changing how often you play games can make you enjoy them more when you do play.

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Advice on staying safe when playing games online.

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https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/staying-safe-online/

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https://swgfl.org.uk/assets/documents/snapchat-checklist.pdf

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https://swgfl.org.uk/assets/documents/facebook-checklist.pdf

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https://mindyertime.scot/category/social-media/

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Designed by children and young people from the Children's Parliament and the Scottish Youth Parliament, Mind Yer Time has been created to support everyone who loves social media and screen time.