Scottish Government's Parent Club launches new campaign to help keep children safe online

A NEW campaign launched by the Scottish Government's Parent Club hopes to encourage families to be more aware of their children's online activity.

The campaign comes after new research has revealed that more than 10 per cent of parents do not have any form of parental controls on their child’s online devices and that by the age of 12, more than 40 per cent of children have engaged in risky behaviours online, including talking to strangers and engaging in activities they know their parents would not want them to do.

Lisa Gray (49), knows only too well how dangerous the internet can become for children. She said: “My nine-year-old daughter hadn't really been online at all until the pandemic, but started using devices during that time, first for school and then Facetime for playdates with her friends.

“She downloaded Snapchat without my knowledge and ended up speaking to someone in Canada, with the same name as one of her best friends. Luckily, I heard the Canadian accent and realised she was speaking to a stranger. It was an eye opener and a good opportunity to talk to my daughter about online safety.”

Although access to the internet can be a huge benefit to children it is also extremely important to ensure they are safe online. The campaign hopes to highlight easy ways for parents and carers to help protect children online.

This includes encouraging parents to use the same skills the typically would in the physical world. Asking children who they are talking to online, if anyone is being mean to them and having regular conversations about safety, privacy and stranger danger in online settings.

Jess McBeath, Online Safety Consultant explains: “It is important that we help children to stay safe online from things like exposure to inappropriate or untrustworthy content, oversharing personal information, grooming, unauthorised spending and online bullying.

“Talking with children regularly about what they’re doing and sharing online, using parental support tools, keeping data and devices secure, and finding ways to use technology as a family that are fun, are some simple ways to help keep them safe.”

For more information and advice on how to keep children safe online, parents can visit the parentclub.scot website.

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