Using the internet safely

The internet is a fantastic place for children and young people to play, learn, create and connect. However, it is important to make sure they stay safe online.

Cyberbullying

This is bullying via electronic means. This could be:

a smartphone
compute
laptop
tablet
online gaming platform

It can take place through a range of channels such as:

text
email
social networking sites
video-hosting sites
instant messaging apps
photo sharing services
chat
webcams
visual learning environments
online games

The bullying can take form as:

threats and intimidation
namecalling
harassment
exclusion
gaining access to unauthorised information online or 'hacking'
impersonation
posting personal information
sexting
manipulation

Cyberbullying and disabled children

According to the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are more likely to experience cyberbullying, less likely to be able to use the internet and less likely to have support to use the internet.

It is not okay to bully or threaten anyone online – it's wrong and it can be stopped.

Grooming

This is when someone builds an emotional connection with a child or young person to gain their trust for the purposes of exploitation, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and trafficking.

This can occur by a stranger or someone known to the child – this could be a family member, friend or professional.

Groomers can be male or female, and could be any age. Children and young people can be groomed online through the various channels mentioned in cyberbullying.

Many children and young people often don't understand that they have been groomed, or what has happened is abuse.

Parents are sometimes unaware how common grooming is because children and young people don't tell anyone what is happening to them because they may feel:

ashamed
guilty
unaware they they're being targeted and abused
believe they are in a healthy friendship or relationship with the groomer

How grooming may impact a young person with SEND and their families

Grooming can impact an individual and their family in many different ways, for example:

children and young people may be encouraged to distance themselves from their families – behavioural changes can also put families under stress, which may lead to a limited capacity to respond
individuals are also at risk of sexual assault, rape, sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancy, lack of educational progress and mental health issues
siblings can also be put at risk of sexual exploitation
offenders may be threatening and aggressive towards family members
parents can feel frustrated and helpless
complete relationship breakdown
the child or young person becoming looked after

Resources for young people

There are things that you can do to protect yourself online. For example, make sure your privacy settings are high on social media so you can control what information can be seen by your friends and the public.

Or make sure you don't give your personal details to someone you don't know and trust - do not share your phone number, address or bank details online.

You should only upload photos and videos that you would be happy for lots of people to see them, including people you do not know.

Remember once you have put a photo or video online you can not take it off the internet even if you delete your social media page.

Download the resources below to find out more about how you can stay safe online.

Resources for parents and schools

The first steps to keeping children safe online might be to:

set parental controls and privacy settings
talk to them about keeping safe
observe them when online

These resources can help you find out more about how you can support a child or young person to stay safe online: