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Supporting young people with digital wellbeing this summer
This blog gives parents and carers practical tips and advice for supporting young people to stay happy and safe online this summer.
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Delete or Deactivate – What to do with your old accounts
This blog gives site specific guidance about how to deactivate or delete your accounts, and what these options mean.
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Help – someone else has posted a photo of my child on social media
This blog looks at ways you can start a conversation with those who have posted a picture of your child, as well as further steps you can take to report the picture.
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Disney+ Parental Controls and Privacy Settings
Disney+ has broadened their content to include more adult themed media under the banner of Disney+ Star. This new feature includes more films, TV series and documentaries aimed at more mature audiences. To work alongside these new titles the platform has enabled some privacy features which parents and carers can use to restrict certain content for younger members of the family.
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What is Omegle? Key things parents and carers need to know
Recently we have noticed a lot of conversations about the website ‘Omegle’, and we know parents and carers may have also heard about Omegle in the news recently.
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Childnet’s five festive tips for giving technology gifts this Christmas
To help your preparations, we have come up with five festive tips for parents and carers when giving technology gifts this Christmas…
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Watch online safety films created by young people
During lockdown over 130 young people across the UK got creative and made short films to inspire their peers to stay safe online and make the most of the internet. In this blog, we take a closer look at these films and the young people who created them.
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Find out more about the Childnet Film Competition judges
There’s not long left to enter the Childnet Film Competition, and whilst we know you are working hard on your films why not find out more about our judges and what they are looking for in a winning film!
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We stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Black Lives Matter movement has shone a light on the injustices, inequality and systemic racism that Black people face in the world and in the UK, as well as how we can all do more to combat it.
As an organisation our mission is to make the internet a safe and great place for children to be. We seek to be inclusive in our work, and serve all children, including the disadvantaged in society.
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Less than two weeks left to enter the Childnet Film Competition
With entries for the Childnet Film Competition closing on the 22nd June we take a closer look at what you have to do to enter.
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Who should you tell? New video for use with 6-9 year olds.
We have just launched the latest of our free video resources which families can use together over the coming weeks. This video focusses on who young people should tell if something worries them online.
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Introducing the Childnet Film Competition Judges for 2020
Entries for the Childnet Film Competition close on Monday 22nd June, so with one month left to enter we look at some of the key things to know, including a sneak peek at this year’s judging panel!
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New features on Instagram – including challenges and restricting comments
Instagram have launched new features in their latest update on the app. These features include ways for users to have more control over comments on their posts, and a new feature within stories where users can ‘Challenge’ each other.
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What information online is reliable? New video for use with 6-9 year olds.
We have just launched the latest of our free video resources which families can use together over the coming weeks. This video focusses on what information is reliable online.
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What should you accept online? New video for 6-9 year olds
We have just launched the latest of our free video resources which families can use together over the coming weeks.
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Who do you ‘meet’ online – new video lesson for use with 6-9 year olds
We have just launched the latest of our free video resources which families can use together over the coming weeks.
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New videos to use at home with 6-9 year olds looking at online safety
We are pleased to introduce our newest, free, video resources which families can use together over the coming weeks.
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BBC Own It App updated to help support young people during COVID-19
The BBC have released an update to their Own It App so that it can now recognise Covid 19 related chat, triggering a supportive response that can help with fears and emotions.
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New parental controls launched on Netflix
Netflix have launched an update to their parental controls. Netflix have updated these settings to help families around the world get the most from their viewing experience, as well as allowing them to make decisions about what content is right for their family. This blog looks at these new controls, and how parents and carers can use them with their family.
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A parents guide to Call of Duty: Warzone
At Childnet we monitor the latest online crazes, apps and games. Recently the game ‘Warzone’ was released, this is a free to download game which is part of the extremely popular Call of Duty Series. In this blog we are giving guidance to parents about Warzone, looking at what the game is and highlighting some of the things to be aware of.
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Supporting young people with SEND online – New hot topic
Our new hot topic is designed for parents and carers of young people with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND).
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Brand new educational resources for schools and educators to help them celebrate Safer Internet Day
To support educators for Safer Internet Day 2020, the UK Safer Internet Centre - official coordinators of the day in the UK - have created a range of new educational resources focusing on a brand new theme.
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In highlight - free online safety films
In this blog we are highlighting some of our key, free resources that address online safety issues with engaging video content.
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Four months to go until Safer Internet Day!
We can’t believe that there are only 4 months to go until Safer Internet Day 2020! In this blog we look at all of the things you can do now, as well as all of the great things you have to look forward to!
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Practical resources addressing online pornography
Research released this week by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has looked into pornography and the way that young people access it. The research found that more than half of young people had seen pornography online, including children as young as seven.
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How much screen time is okay for my child?
At Childnet we regularly visit schools across the UK and are often asked by parents and carers about screen time and the impact it has on their children.
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Answering parents most frequently asked questions about Instagram
Instagram is a site that we see a lot of parents and carers asking questions about, whether these are about age limits and reporting or what the latest ‘insta’ slang is. In this blog, we answer some of the burning questions you may have about Instagram.
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From social media to gaming - what’s affecting your child online
As a parent or carer, trying to understand your child’s online life can sometimes feel daunting. That is why our team of educational experts have created these hot topics with advice on how to handle some of the biggest issues young people face online.
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Help keep your children happy and safe online this summer holiday
Children and young people across the UK are getting ready to have more free time to spend with friends and family as the summer holidays get into full swing. In this blog we look at the ways in which parents and carers can help keep their children happy, creative and safe as they start to spend more time in the online world.
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A parents guide to Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
Three years after Pokémon Go was released in the UK, the game’s creators have released a new game set in the magical world of Harry Potter.
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Cyberbullying advice for parents and carers
In this blog we look at the things that parents and carers can do to support a young person who has experienced cyberbullying.
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Setting up parental controls on Netflix
In this blog we look at what parental controls are available on Netflix and how you can work with your family to implement the tools that work for you.
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A parent’s guide to Apex Legends
In this blog we are giving guidance to parents and carers about Apex Legends looking at what the game is and some of the key things to be aware of.
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Giving young people the platform to talk about pornography
New educational resources looking at pornography online launching soon
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Young people give their experiences of online consent.
Safer Internet Day 2019 centred around the theme of consent online, so we asked the Youth Advisory Board for their experiences of online consent, and why they thought education around this was important.
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Safer Internet Day 2019 reaches more children and young people than ever before!
With over 2,100 organisations across the UK coming together and planning activities to celebrate the day and thousands supporting the #SaferInternetDay social media campaign, this year Safer Internet Day was bigger than ever!
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Step Up, Speak Up! New resources to address peer based online sexual harassment with 13-17s
Childnet’s Education and Youth Engagement Manager Ellie Proffitt discusses how you can use Childnet’s latest resource to raise awareness of online sexual harassment amongst young people and help to increase reporting.
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From Stories to posts: How to spot advertising on Instagram
From bloggers and ‘Instagram stars’ to celebrities, there are a lot of people on Instagram sharing sponsored posts or product endorsements. In this blog we share our top tips for being a critical thinker when it comes to advertising on Instagram.
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New Primary Pages – Guidance for parents and carers
The Childnet website has a new exciting addition for children aged 8-11 years old. This blog will look at how parents and carers can use the new information specifically developed for children aged 8-11 years old to support their family.
New Primary Pages – Guidance for parents and carers
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What is TikTok? Looking at the latest lip-syncing app
TikTok – which used to be called Musical.ly, is a social networking app that young people can use to generate and share their own short videos and lip sync to popular audio clips.
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Young people give their thoughts on Voice Assisted Technology
Our latest piece of research found that 70% of young people have used voice assisted technology in the last year.
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Childnet’s response to the Government's consultation on Age Appropriate Design
Recently, Childnet submitted a response to the Information Commissioner’s (ICO) call for evidence in its development of the Age Appropriate Design Code.
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Answering parents online safety questions
In this blog we look to answer some of the questions most frequently asked by parents.
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Privacy settings on Instagram - answering some FAQs
In this blog we are looking to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Instagram and the privacy settings that are available on the app.
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Hot topics – find out more information about the topics affecting young people
Our parents and carers section of our website is full of useful information about the key things impacting on the lives of young people online.
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Why do some apps ask for my age?
Every day, our Education Team are in schools across the country talking to children, young people, teachers and parents about their experiences online and how to stay safe on the internet.
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Screen Time and Healthy Balance – New Hot Topic
The Childnet website now includes two new Hot Topics on the subject of Screen Time and Healthy Balance, these Hot Topics contain advice for Young People, and Teachers and Professionals.
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What happens if I unfollow someone on Instagram?
In this blog we explore what happens if you unfollow someone on Instagram; and what you can do if you discover someone has unfollowed you.
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Staying safe online whilst livestreaming - advice for parents and carers
The release of the Internet Watch Foundation’s new online live-streaming research, titled Trends in Online Child Sexual Exploitation: Examining the Distribution of Captures of Live-streamed Child Sexual Abuse may have concerned some parents.
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A parent’s guide to YouTube Restricted Mode
In this blog we explore the safety feature ‘Restricted Mode’ on YouTube; looking at how it works and some things to be aware of when using it.
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Critical Thinking - New Hot Topic
The Childnet website now includes three new Hot Topics on the subject of Critical Thinking, these Hot Topics contain advice for Young People, Teachers and Professionals, and Parents and Carers.
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YouTube announce new parental controls for YouTube Kids
Google have announced that it will add more parental controls to its YouTube Kids app.
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Age Restrictions on Social Media Services
This blog looks at what age restrictions are in place across the most popular social media services, why they exist and what our advice is for parents and young people.
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Meet the Childnet Film Competition Judges: Joanna van der Meer: BFI
This is Joanna’s 7th year of judging the Childnet Film Competition, find out more about her role at the BFI and thoughts on judging the Childnet Film Competition.
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Having an open and honest conversation about online safety – 5 questions for parents
Phoebe, an Education Officer at Childnet, looks at the ways you can start a conversation about online safety with your family.
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The impact of social media and screen-use on young people's health
The UK Safer Internet Centre has responded to The Science and Technology Committee’s inquiry into the impact of social media and screen-use on young people's health.
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Safer Internet Day 2018 reaches 45% of young people in the UK
The Safer Internet Day 2018 Impact Report has been published by the UK Safer Internet Centre.
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A parents guide to Fortnite: Battle Royale
In this blog we are giving guidance to parents about Fortnite, looking at what the game is and some of the things to be aware of.
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Primary Digital Leaders give their thoughts on Safer Internet Day 2018
This Safer Internet Day a group of young people from across the UK were invited to the Safer Internet Day youth event in London
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Safer Internet Day 2018 youth event video content is now live!
The videos show what happened at the London Safer Internet Day event, as well as key speeches from young people, industry and government.
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Today is World Book Day - Celebrate with Digiduck!
Sharing a story with your child is such a special experience, and for World Book Day 2018 (Thursday 1st March) we have just the story for you!
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Childnet Digital Leaders take part in Safer Internet Day 2018
The Stanburn Primary School Digital Leaders tell us about their time at the Safer Internet Day event in London.
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Childnet Digital Leaders Prepare for Safer Internet Day
Young people take the lead across the UK for Safer Internet Day on 6th February.
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Getting involved in Safer Internet Day – resources for parents and carers
For Safer Internet Day 2018, the UK Safer Internet Centre has created a pack of activities and ideas for parents and carers to use with children from the age of 3 to 18.
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1 week to go until Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day is taking place on Tuesday 6th February! With one week to go, we look at all the things you can do to get involved in #SID2018!
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How to get involved in the Safer Internet Day Social media campaign
#ItStartsWithUs this Safer Internet Day – top tips for getting involved on social media.
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Safer Internet Day reaches 1,000 Supporters
We are delighted to announce that the Safer Internet Day supporters list has reached over 1,000 supporters!
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2 weeks until Safer Internet Day - key things to do now
5 things to do this week to help you prepare for Safer Internet Day on Tuesday 6th February.
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Join the 2018 Safer Internet Day Thunderclap
Help to make Safer Internet Day 2018 the biggest yet by signing up to our Thunderclap.
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Advice for parents - what to do if your child sees something upsetting online
Advice about how to support young people who have seen something upsetting online
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Children’s Commissioner #lifeinlikes report into experiences of 8-12s on social media
The ‘Life in likes’ report launched today by the Children’s Commissioner for England is based on a series of focus groups with 32 children aged 8 to 12 years.
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Setting online safety resolutions with your family
New Year is a great time to make some new resolutions. Here are some ideas of online safety resolutions you could make as a family in 2018
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Government launches call for evidence on relationships and sex education
The government is asking parents, teachers and young people from across England to help shape a new relationships and sex education curriculum that will help them stay safe and face the challenges of the modern world.
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BBC journalists will educate young people about fake news
The BBC is launching a new programme supporting secondary school pupils to identify real news and filter out fake or false information.
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Press release: UK youth targeted with sexual harassment on the internet
Childnet has today published research as part of a Europe-wide project that reveals that young people across the UK are being targeted by their peers with online sexual harassment.
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Almost 2 in 5 young people have seen fake news online
Ofcom have today released the findings from their 2017 Children's media use and attitudes report, which focuses on children’s behaviour online and the way in which they interact with fake news.
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Things to consider when buying tech gifts this Christmas
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday over and Christmas fast approaching there are plenty of new gadgets that parents and carers may be thinking about buying for their children.
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6 Tips for having a conversation with your child about cyberbullying
As Anti-Bullying Week comes to a close it is important to continue the conversations and messages that were highlighted during the week. Here are our 6 top tips for starting a conversation with your child about cyberbullying.
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Stop Speak Support when you see online bullying
New video from the Royal Foundation’s Taskforce gives young people three steps to take when they witness cyberbullying.
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Childnet Digital Leaders discuss the Internet Safety Strategy at DCMS
On Monday 13th November Childnet Digital Leaders from Sarah Bonnell School in London visited the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport today to discuss the recently launched Internet Safety Strategy.
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Online reputation – taking care of your digital footprint
From applying to universities to getting a job, it’s important to have a positive digital footprint.
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Safer Internet Day 2017 Impact Report published
Safer Internet Day 2017 reached more people than ever before, with 3 million children and 2 million parents hearing about the day!
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Gaming – resources for parents and careers
From privacy to parental controls - resources for parents and carers who want to know more about gaming.
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Ballymena Academy's time at the House of Us event
Miss Cuddihy from Ballymena Academy looks at her Childnet Digital Leaders' time at the House of Us event
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Childnet announces new Youth Advisory Board
Childnet is delighted to announce the launch of our new Youth Advisory Board
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Childnet Digital Leaders mark the launch of Facebook partnership at ‘House of Us’ event
The ’House of Us’ event in London is a two-day immersive online safety exhibition showcasing youth voice online as well as the impact of cyberbullying on young people’s lives.
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Facebook announces new partnership with the Childnet Digital Leaders Programme
Childnet is teaming up with Facebook and the Diana Award to deliver a project that will see thousands of young people across the UK trained as peer educators.
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Polls and voting in Instagram stories
Instagram have unveiled their latest update to stories. Users can now share polls to measure the opinions of their followers as they vote on questions.
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Internet Safety Strategy Green Paper published today
Today the Government has published a consultation that will help shape the UK’s strategies around online safety.
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Register as a Safer Internet Day 2018 supporter
Get involved in Safer Internet Day 2018 with new campaign toolkit and supporter registration!
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Children’s Commissioner looks at young peoples’ rights on social media
The Children's Commissioner has released a new set of guidelines that hope to ‘jargon bust’ terms and conditions and teach young people about their rights on social media sites.
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76% of girls are confident in their digital skills
New research from Girlguiding looks at the experiences that girls have in their everyday lives, both online and offline.
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What is a Snapchat streak?
Snapchat is an app that is hugely popular among young people. The app allows users to send photos and videos to their contacts and create ‘streaks’. But what does this mean?
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NSPCC publish report into young people’s use of online services
The NSPCC Net Aware Report 2017: “Freedom to express myself safely” aims to provide a snapshot of young people’s online lives.
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Keeping your account secure on Instagram
Following reports that a large number of Instagram accounts have been hacked, we look at some ways that you can help keep your Instagram account secure.
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New online safety agreement template
The internet is a very important part of our lives today and setting up an agreement can help ensure that everyone within your organisation/ group are safe when navigating the online world.
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Livestreaming - New Hot Topic for young people
New Hot Topic for young people to help them to livestream safely
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Childnet Education Officer - A week in the life
As we recruit for a new Childnet Education Officer we look at what a typical week looks like from the view of the people who know the role the best.
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Livestreaming - top tips from young people
Our latest research into livestreaming habits among young people found that over 1 in 10 8-17 year olds have ‘gone live’. We asked a group of our Childnet Digital Leaders about their experiences of livestreaming and their top tips for other young people.
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Online hate 'as serious as face-to-face'
Today the Crown Prosecution Service pledges to treat online hate crimes as seriously as those committed face to face.