WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones is backing a campaign by communications regulator Ofcom aimed at helping parents and carers improve child safety online during the school summer holidays.
She said: “I very much welcome this campaign. The internet offers lots of opportunities for fun, learning and development at the click of a mouse.
“But it is important parents, carers and children have the right skills and information to keep them safe online. Knowing how to help keep kids safe online is a way parents can take control and have peace of mind.”
John Carr, secretary of the Children’s Charities Commission on Internet Safety also welcomed the campaign.
He said: “With children spending so much time online, often unsupervised, it is vital that they and their parents have the know how to have fun and stay safe.”
Two-thirds of 5-7 year olds now use the internet at home, rising to over three-quarters of 8-11 year olds and over four-fifths of 12-15s.
Of these, one-fifth of 5-7 year olds use the internet without an adult present, as do nearly half of 8-11 year olds and two-thirds of 12-15s. The 12-15 year olds say they spend an average of nearly 14 hours a week online.
Ofcom have come up with some top tips to help parents and carers ensure children can enjoy the internet safely during the school holidays.
These including talking to their children and asking to see some of their favourite sites, installing filtering software to restrict access to inappropriate websites and making sure children do not disclose personal details online.
They should also make sure their children know why cyberbullying is wrong and encourage their children let you know if something or someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened.
A short consumer guide and a video showing how to help protect children from inappropriate or potentially harmful content are available on Ofcom’s web site, www.ofcom.org.uk
