As responsible parents or guardians you would never leave a child alone in a strange area, let them visit a city unsupervised, let them enter adult-only shops or clubs or meet a total stranger.

Unfortunately, every time the child in your care logs on to the web without supervision they face the same potential dangers are they do in all the situations above.

The opportunities offered by the web can be exploited. It can allow those who target children to enter your home and interact with your children.

The Internet continues to grow in its importance to our society and possibly has even more significance in our children's lives. Parents and carers of all kinds need to be familiar with both the opportunities and the dangers of the web.

By following a few rules it is possible to use the internet to its full potential without encountering any of the pitfalls. As well as following the advice in these pages, you may also want to contact your local computer retailer to find out about protective software packages that you can install on your machine.

How you can reduce the risk

• Try to site computers in an area where it is easy to monitor what your child is doing. If possible have it in a family room like the living room.
• Establish reasonable guidelines for their use of the internet or chatline
• Talk about the six tips for chat room use with them, print them off and place them in a visible place near the computer.
• Become familiar with the internet and the services or sites your child uses.
• Get to know the language your child uses, there are a lot of short cuts for instance, h8 for hate, u for you, RU for are you etc.
• Get to know their on-line friends in the same way you would their other friends
• If your child arranges to meet an on-line friend ensure it is in public place with a responsible adult present
• Encourage them to come to you if they see or read anything on the internet which upsets them>
• If in doubt, contact the police

For more information on young people and cyber security click on the link:
Young People and Cyber Security

Remember the GOLDen rules

Ground rules

• Agree how the internet should be used in your home
• Keep information private - think, would I tell this to a stranger?
• Agree rules about meeting online 'friends' in real life
• If it's not acceptable in real life it shouldn't be acceptable on line

Online safety

• Use anti-virus and parental monitoring systems
• Know where to get advice - www.thinkuknow.co.uk
• Activate security and privacy settings

Location

• Internet access should be in a family room, rather than a bedroom
• Know that Internet access can be gained by the use of other devices; such as gaming consoles, mobile phones or your neighbours wireless Internet connection

Dialogue

• Talk to your child about their Internet use
• If you think your child knows more about the Internet - ask them
• Encourage them to talk to you if they have a problem or feel uncomfortable