KCOM teams up with star blogger for Safer Internet Day

Hannah Harding, who runs the award-winning Make, Do & Push blog, is helping KCOM to promote Safer Internet Day, on Tuesday, February 6, which aims to give parents and youngsters the skills to avoid online dangers.

Hannah, whose blog follows her adventures with children “Busby and H-Bear” and their dog Bertie, has penned a blog outlining measures parents can take to keep children safe in an increasingly complicated online world.

Hannah, said: “We rely on the internet for everything in 2018, and keeping the children safe while they're online is something that is always at the forefront of my mind, especially as they get older and more independent.

“We do our best to keep them safe in the physical world - but we also need to be aware and proactive about keeping them safe online as internet usage continues to grow and expand in everyday life. There are so many apps, settings and search engines we can utilise to keep our children safe on the internet, and I'm excited to be working with KCOM this Safer Internet Day."

As well as posting a blog on her website, www.makedoandpush.co.uk, Hannah will also be posting advice on her social media channels, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Safer Internet Day will be marked today with online events happening across the UK. This year the day has a theme of “Create, Connect and Share Respect: A better internet starts with you”.

KCOM has recently become an official supporter of online safety organisation Internet Matters as part of its drive to help local parents keep their children safe in the digital world. 

Internet Matters is backed by the UK’s biggest broadband providers and supported by leading online child safety experts.

Its website offers a host of e-safety resources and advice for parents on issues including online bullying and making sure children don’t have access to inappropriate content.

Advice is organised into useful guides aimed at different age groups, ranging from the under-fives to teenagers. Parents and schools are able to download these resources for free from the website www.internetmatters.org.

Brendon Smurthwaite, KCOM’s community coordinator, said: “We are delighted to become a supporter of Internet Matters – it will enable us to do more to help children across Hull and East Yorkshire stay safe online.

“The internet offers endless opportunities for learning and discovery but it’s important to remember there are sometimes hidden online dangers.

“Anything we can do to support parents and teachers in helping to make using the internet safe and enjoyable is a step in the right direction.”

Carolyn Bunting, CEO of Internet Matters said: “Technology is advancing at a rapid pace and as a result children are becoming increasingly immersed in the digital world.

“Internet Matters is delighted to be working with KCOM to help raise awareness of child internet safety.

“We hope that our partnership helps put internet safety firmly on parents’ agenda and together we can help them keep their children safe online.”

For more information and free online safety guides visit internetmatters.org. For more details on Safer Internet Day visit www.saferinternet.org.uk.

To read Hannah’s blog about keeping her kids safe online visit makedoandpush.co.uk or you can follow her on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/makedoandpush, on Instagram at www.instagram/makedoandpush or on Twitter @mamamakedopush.