Notts: Police backing Safer Internet Day

The annual, international event, is entitled ‘Let’s Create a Better Internet’, and is in its 11th year.

The focus is on ensuring parents and children are aware of the risks and pitfalls when using the internet and more importantly, that they talk about it.

A combination of factors can lead to children being at risk and parental or carer involvement in a child’s online life can make a real difference in protecting them.

A spokesman said: “A good checklist to begin with is, will your child know if something happening online is wrong? Who is your child talking to? What is your child posting online or sending via their mobile phone or tablet? Have you set parental controls? Can you see what your children are doing online? Have you considered who they are talking to via their games console?”

“Remember that your child can gain access to the internet via their mobile phone and gaming consoles which means it will not always be easy to check what they are accessing online.”

“This makes it all the more important to discuss how they use the internet and how they can stay safe.”

For more information for parents, carers, teachers and young people, visit CEOP’s thinkuknow website at www.thinkuknow.co.uk