Is your child safe online?

Whether on a computer at school, a laptop at home, games console or mobile phone, children use the internet to get information and advice, to chat to friends, and to play games.

Rochdale Borough Council is raising awareness of some of the dangers that can be faced online as part of this week’s Rochdale’s e-safety week.

Young people will be learning tips for using the internet safely through sessions in schools and on the mobile youth bus.

Awareness is also being raised throughout the week with those who work with children and young people in libraries, youth centres and voluntary groups. Information is being provided to make sure they understand e-safety issues and know how to report any concerns.

Some of the key tips for checking to see if your child is safe online are:

• Talk to your child about what they are doing online. Be familiar with the sites they use and what they use them for.
• Make sure your child understands that some people lie online and that it's better to keep online friends online – tell your child not to meet people they’ve only ever chatted to online.
• Explain to your child that they shouldn’t give out personal details to online friends they do not know off-line and help them to understand what information is personal e.g. email address, mobile number, school name and sports clubs.
• Make your child aware that they need to think carefully about the information and pictures they post on their profiles. Inform them that once published online, anyone can change or share these images of them.
• If your child receives spam or junk email and texts, remind them never to believe their contents, reply to them or use them.
• Always keep communication open for a child to know that it's never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable.

Mike Cross, Chairman of the e-safety group for Rochdale’s Safeguarding Children’s Board, said: “The aim of e-safety week is to raise awareness of how to use the internet, mobile phones and social networking and game sites safely. We want to help stop children and young people becoming victims of scams or abuse, and allow then to enjoy technology without having to worry.”

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, Cabinet member for Children, Schools and Families at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We want to make sure that children know how to use the internet safely .”