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Online Child Abuse awareness With social media and mobile phones constantly developing, it's hard to keep up with new advances and what your child can access online. Children can become victims of abuse on the internet through online games, social networking sites and apps such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, which they can access through devices including tablets, mobile phones and games consoles. There are steps parents can take to help protect their children online; Encourage open conversations about how they use the internet and show you what they do - make sure they know they can come to you for adviceHave an agreement in place and set boundaries for their internet use, such as when and where they can use their devices and for how longCheck age ratings that come with games, apps, films and social networks to confirm whether they’re suitableActivate parental controls on your home network and all devices including mobile phones and game consoles Safe settings can also be activated on sites such as Google, YouTube and iPlayerGet to grips with the blocking and report functions on any gaming sites and make sure they know how to use them tooMake sure they're aware of the risks of sharing images online and that you both know how to remove content should you need to. It's illegal for anyone to have, share or make sexual images or videos of people under 18. Legally this includes personal images or videos made by under 18s and shared with each other (sometimes called 'sexting'). To find out more: Get Safe Online | The UK's leading Online Safety Advice Resource Online child abuse | Staffordshire Police |
