How to use the Internet safely

Potential risks which face you and your children when you surf the net include finding inappropriate material on web sites, or downloading files with viruses. Also, you should be wary of strangers in the online world, just as you are in the real world. Following our common sense rules will help you to use the Internet safely.

Getting around
Tip: Keep an eye on the kind of material your children are looking at, and make use of the tools that are available to help you choose what you do and don't want them to see.

Getting in touch
Tip: Get to know who your children are meeting online and make sure they don't give out any personal information about themselves without your knowledge and consent. Never let them arrange to meet someone they have met on in an offline environment without you knowing.

Getting hooked
Tip: Limit the amount of time your children spend online, and encourage them to keep up their other activities and friendships.

Getting involved
Tip: Learn as much as you can about the Internet yourself. Surfing should be a family activity, so that you can find your way around together and discuss any problems you encounter.

Getting the benefit
Tip: Think positive – take the time to find the best and most useful sites for you and your children.

Getting around
Tip: Keep an eye on the kind of material your children are looking at, and make use of the tools that are available to help you choose what you do and don't want them to see.

The Internet is like a huge city, full of all different kinds of places and people. As in a real city, there are places which are suitable for children and others which children should avoid. Some sites contain material designed for an adult audience and could be inappropriate or potentially harmful for your child. Measures to help control children's access in other media, such as a 9 o'clock watershed on the TV, or having a top shelf in newsagents for adult magazines, do not work on the Internet.

But there are practical steps you can take to protect your children. You can use special software to filter out websites which you find unsuitable or offensive. Some online indexes, known as 'search engines', are specifically designed to help you find sites which are safe for children. You can find details of these in the Online Resources section of this site. Be cautious in letting your children access newsgroups or chat rooms – try to visit these places with them, so that you can check what they are viewing and who they are meeting.

Getting in touch
Tip: Get to know who your children are meeting online and make sure they don't give out any personal information about themselves. Never let them arrange to meet offline without you knowing.

The online world is made up of a vast range of people. Like those you meet in the street, most would not do you any harm. But you do need to be aware that on the Internet people may not always be what they seem, and your children need to remember to be just as wary of strangers when they are online as they would be when they are out and about. This is particularly important in chat rooms, where one-to-one contact is made, and they can even go off for a private 'chat' which cannot be observed by anyone else. Make sure that your children never arrange a physical meeting with anyone they have met online without your knowledge, and then go along with them to meet the person.

Children are just as entitled to protect their privacy on the Net as in the offline world. If they reveal personal information it could be used for marketing directly to them or could even be used by someone to make inappropriate contact. So teach them not to give out any personal information or fill in any online forms without checking with you first. Although it can be fun for your children to build a home page, make sure they don't include photos of your family or details of where you live.

Getting hooked
Tip: Limit the amount of time your children spend online, and encourage them to keep up their other activities and friendships.

Although the Internet is excellent for learning and playing, try not to let your children become so hooked on the Net that they neglect the other offline activities which are crucial for their development. Encourage them to enjoy meeting new friends from all over the planet, but not at the expense of their friendships in the 'real world'. There is software available which can help to limit their online time, but there is no substitute for parental supervision.

Getting involved
Tip: Learn as much as you can about the Internet yourself. Surfing should be a family activity, so that you can find your way around together and discuss any problems you encounter.

The most effective way to ensure that your children use the Internet safely is to get involved yourself. Filtering tools can help, but are not an excuse for using the Net as an electronic babysitter. Try to have the computer in a family room so that children are not shut away surfing on their own. That way you can keep track of the places they are going and the people they are meeting. Surf the web with them and get to know their online friends.

Talk to your children about safety issues, and agree with them a set of rules for their use of the Internet. Just as you would give them guidelines on how to cross the road, do the same for getting around on the superhighway. Encourage them to tell you straightaway if they do come across anything which worries or upsets them. In turn make sure that you know who to report material to if you think it could be illegal. Details can be found in the Online Resources section.

Getting the benefit
Tip: Think positive – take the time to find the best and most useful sites for you and your children.

By recognising and dealing with the potential hazards of the Net, you can encourage your children to make the most of being hooked up to this incredible information resource. Take time with them to find sites that will be useful for their schoolwork and where they can discover more about their interests and hobbies. Not to mention sites where they can just have fun! Use the Internet to plan family outings and holidays. Or even to do the shopping. The possibilities are endless. By applying the common sense rules you take for granted in other areas of life, you and your children can get the benefit of the Internet safely, confidently and together.