To coincide with Safer Internet Day, Wokingham Borough Council is reaching out to younger residents and parents, as well as the wider community, to promote online safety advice and resources to keep young and vulnerable people safe.
The internet can be a great resource for learning that helps make subjects more fun and engaging for children.
Platforms including social media or online gaming are also popular with the younger generation to communicate with others but occasionally they may come across things that make them uncomfortable or feel threatened.
Community safety partnership
The council, as part of the community safety partnership, has been working closely with local schools and colleges to promote online safety. Members of the community safety team have worked closely with teaching staff across the borough to help them communicate with pupils about sensitive issues including online bullying, inappropriate content and grooming.
The council is promoting useful resources to pupils, parents and teachers with posters and stickers on display at schools and colleges that incorporate a QR code to link through to the Internet Matters website.
The website provides trusted resources, information and support to keep children and young people of different age groups safe online, including advice on a range of online issues that they may face, to help them enjoy the digital world safely and smartly.
There is also a free online learning platform to teach online safety through interactive lessons and dynamic storytelling and a digital toolkit for families with tailored online safety advice. An online gaming advice hub is also available to help get to grips with the basics of online gaming and staying safe.
Keeping children safe online
Cllr Ian Shenton, executive member for environment, sport and leisure, said: “The internet is a great place for children and young people to learn and have fun but occasionally they may come across online threats to their safety.
“As well as dealing with issues such as inappropriate content and online bullying, social media and online gaming platforms are increasingly being used to groom and radicalise people, with children and young people actively targeted.
“We want to ensure that children and young people are able to use the internet safely and that parents understand how they can help to keep their children stay safe. The Internet Matters website is a great resource to help protect children of all ages.”
For further information about how to stay safe online visit internetmatters.org
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