Remember a time when you knocked on a friend’s door or called their landline to ask if they wanted to go out to play?

You watched films on VHS, recorded programmes off the TV, and listened to music on cassette tapes. If you wanted to buy something you went out to the shops. If you wanted to read a book, you headed for the library.

Young girl looking at her phone

While some might call the pre-internet era the good old days, it’s hard to deny that the online world offers endless opportunities for young people to make friends, have fun and learn new things.

But the internet also presents potential dangers we can’t ignore. From bullying and mental health concerns to online grooming risks, these dangers can be difficult to spot.

What can we do to keep children safe online?

It’s hard to keep up with the constant changes of the digital world. There seems to be a new app, social media platform, or game every other week. This can sometimes mean that children know more about the online world than we do. 

As parents and carers, where do we start? Follow our tips and advice to get clued up on the digital world – ​​​​​​and what your child is doing online.

  • Girl sitting in front of bed holding a mobile phone

    5 tips to keep your child safe

    Finding it hard to keep up? Follow these five basic steps to support your child to stay safe online.
     

  • Samsung phone displaying social media icons

    Social media cheat sheet

    Use this social media cheat sheet to get clued up on the pros, cons, and safety features of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

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    How safe is your child?

    Would you think it’s OK for a stranger to follow your child? Watch our social experiment video and learn more about online dangers.