Online safety workshop for parents Hints and tips on digital parenting October 2017

Worrying trends regarding online safety At a recent online safety talk at Congleton Library, PC Jane Commins (Youth Engagement Officer) of Cheshire Constabulary presented the latest figures on complaints and arrests in relation to online safety of children and young people The number of complaints and crimes in the online world against young people is increasing – with the biggest increase in the 8-10 year age category Young girls are particularly at risk of online sexual abuse when using apps allowing them to create live video clips of themselves dancing or doing gymnastics However – it’s important to remember that such apps are safe if used with appropriate privacy settings switched on!

CEOP are working to improve online safety The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) centre delivers a multi-agency service dedicated to tackling the exploitation of children, particularly the eradication of sexual abuse That means: building intelligence around the risks tracking and bringing offenders to account, either directly or with local and international police forces working with children and parents to deliver our unique ThinkuKnow internet safety programme

How can parents help? While these trends are worrying, PC Commins stressed that online crimes are highly preventable if parents: Are aware of the dangers and take steps to educate, supervise and support their children as they explore the online world Take an interest in and talk to their children about their activities online – which websites/apps/games/social media sites are they using, who are they talking to/playing with? Know how to set/adjust privacy settings on all devices/sites/apps Know how to block unwanted communication Know where to go for more information, help and advice Know how to report unsociable behaviour and internet crime

Building digital resilience Allows children and young people to benefit from exciting opportunities the internet has to offer Raises awareness and instils knowledge of how to stay safe when using the internet Provides information about what to do if something goes wrong! Is an important life skill – like learning to swim or cross the road safely Methods used should be age-appropriate, building your child’s awareness and confidence as they grow

Make use of built-in privacy settings Most sites/apps have privacy options: The default in the social media site, Facebook, is now for friends only to be able to view photos The live chat site, Oovoo, requires a username private groups can be set up so that a new member can only be added if all group members agree only the group members know that you are in a group (Nobody setting) Sites to share photos like Instagram and Snapchat, can be made private Gaming sites, such as Roblox, also have privacy settings  Beware of sites for which log-in details are not required and there are no privacy settings, e.g. Omegle (chat roulette)

Beware of location settings For some sites/apps to work properly, you need to allow the site/app to access your device location, e.g. to provide directions or locate facilities within your area However, watch out for location settings on sites/apps that allow you to upload/send photos as the location of the photo may be sent within the meta data of the actual photo

Using effective passwords for online accounts The majority of online crime occurs because the criminal has the key to unlock the door (i.e. the password) Teaching children how to generate passwords that are easy to remember but hard to crack is as important as teaching them how to cross the road safely Pick three short, random words, e.g. hat cold snow Think of a simple algorithm to subtly change the words to make different passwords for different accounts, e.g. FacebooK – FhatColdSnowK TwitteR – ThatColdSnowR Email – hatc0!dsn0w Add numbers at the beginning or end

‘Go to’ websites for more information Cheshire Police - https://www.cheshire.police.uk/advice- and-support/children-and-young- peoples-safety/internet-safety/ ThinkUKnow (supported by CEOP) - https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ Internetmatters.org - https://www.internetmatters.org

Cheshire Police website Provides general guidance on internet safety Provides guidance on recognising the signs of cyber bullying Provides information on the Safer Schools and Young People Partnership Provides contact details for Youth Engagement Officers and SHARP (School Help and Reporting Page)

ThinkUKnow website Has information about internet safety aimed at Parents and Children in different age groups Provides links to enable Parents and Children to report abuse Uses games and surveys to engage with children and help them to understand how to keep themselves safe online

Internet matters website Provides information on the issues that could be affecting your children Provides links to age-specific advice on internet safety Has free apps to support parents and children, helping them to: Learn about online safety Set up internet devices safely Support children on cyber bullying Help children manage their emotions Provides mental health and online safety support Expert Q&A on internet issues and links to latest published articles

OUR PACT app Is a simple family locator and parental control app that allows parents to locate family members and limit screen time by blocking internet and app access Is Free!