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Staying Safe Online
Online Safety
We’re spending more time than ever online and it’s a lot of fun; we can chat with friends, game, get news, and share our creativity.
Most people online are harmless, but some people might want to connect with you for the wrong reasons. They can be clever and sneaky, perhaps pretending to be someone they’re not.
The more we show up online, the more at risk we are of coming in to contact with these people, but the good news is that there are things we can do to protect ourselves.
Use our tips below to help you stay safe whilst you scroll…
- You’re in control - set your accounts to private and only accept requests from people you know.
- Strong passwords - use different passwords for each account with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Enable two-factor authentication if you can.
- Don’t share passwords - never save passwords on shared devices and don’t give them out.
- Turn off location - keep your location settings off to stay private.
- Think before you post - only share things you’re okay with everyone seeing.
- Keep personal info private - don’t share your address, phone number, or school details.
- Be cautious online - don’t trust everyone you meet online and never share personal details.
- Cover your Webcam - protect your privacy by covering your camera when not in use.
- Update regularly - keep your apps and devices updated for better security.
- Avoid scams - don’t click on suspicious links or share personal info with strangers.
So, now you're safe, let's keep it fun too...
In addition to the above tips, we recommend only following and engaging with content that makes you feel good. There is so much information available and it can be overwhelming, so it’s important to remember that you can choose what you do and don’t look at.
Here are three tips for keeping it fun online:
This is called trolling and is a form of bullying and/or abuse. You might want to respond but it’s best to ignore them. You can report them on the site / app you are using or block them (if the comments are made on your account) and you should always tell a trusted adult if you’re worried about what they are saying. If you think that you’re being bullied online, Kidscape have some advice.
Online is great but don’t forget to connect with people in real life too!
With the rise of fake news and AI generated content, not everything we see online is true. Get tips on how to spot fake news on Childline’s website.
More Info
There’s lots of resources out there to help keep you safe – here’s some of our recommendations:
If your young person is spending lots of time online and you don’t know what they’re up to, it can be worrying. They might tell you that they’ve seen something upsetting online. The NSPCC has a range of guides and advice to help you keep them safe.
You can use our anonymous service to tell us who is responsible for committing online crime such as scams or hacking. The more detail you have on the person committing crime and what they do will better help any investigation.
Victim of crime?
Because of our promise of anonymity, we cannot take, respond to or pass on information from victims of the crime.
To report being a victim of online crime, or if you are concerned about someone – please contact the Police on 101. In an emergency ALWAYS call 999.
