How to protect your kids online for Safer Internet Day

On Tuesday, 5 February, people around the world will celebrate Safer Internet Day.

The aim of the day is to bring parents, teachers and carers together to learn new ways of safeguarding young people online.

The internet can be a brilliant place full of fun and opportunity – but it can also expose youngsters to dangers.

Millions of people in more than 140 countries are expected to take part in Safer Internet Day activities – and you can join in too by following the hashtags #SaferInternetDay and #SID2019 online.

KCOM’s a supporter of the UK’s leading online safety organisation Internet Matters. Here are some of their tips to help keep children safe while using the internet.

Limit your child's screen time

One of the biggest worries adults have about their children's use of online devices is the risk of overuse. Some fear that being constantly welded to their X-Box or tablet could lead to delays in speech development for very young children, sleep deprivation, inactivity and even depression.

There is an ongoing debate about whether using digital devices is as bad as some believe but having an honest discussion with your children about their screen time is essential.

Here are five helpful tips about how to discuss screen time with your children – and how to combat overuse. Click here.

Protect your child's online wellbeing

Three major issues that can affect a young users online wellbeing are sexting, cyberbullying and accessing inappropriate content.

For parents brought up before the word ‘selfie’ even existed it can be a minefield tackling the subject of sexting with a child – but it’s an important subject to raise.

Here are some words of advice from the NSPCC and other child psychology experts to help you approach the subject. Click here.

The arrival of the internet has unfortunately opened the door to cyberbullying, where youngsters can be targeted through social media even when in the safety of their own home.

Internet Matters has created a hub complete with lots of resources to help you identify if your child is suffering from cyberbullying – and how to tackle it if they are. Click here.

As children become more independent online, it’s possible they may come across things which are inappropriate for their age or stage of development.

Using filters to block explicit content and having frank conversations are just a few of the ways you can equip them with tools to deal with it. For more details on dealing with inappropriate content visit here.

For more details about Safer Internet Day visit www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/2019

For more resources and advice on keeping your child safe online visit Internet Matters at