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Internet Safety for Kids  - Teaching Kids About Internet Safety

Internet safety for kids  -, teaching kids about internet safety, internet safety for kids teaching kids about internet safety.

Internet Safety for Kids: Teaching Kids About Internet Safety

Lesson 1: teaching kids about internet safety,  teaching kids about internet safety.

The Internet can be a wonderful place to learn, shop, play games, and talk to your friends. Unfortunately, there are also predators, identity thieves, and others online who may try to harm you. In order to be safe online, it's important for you and your kids to be aware of the dangers.

Many kids are confident that they know how to be safe online. However, there are a few reasons kids are often more at risk. They may not always think about the consequences of their actions, which can cause them to share too much information about themselves. Kids also are sometimes specifically targeted by cyberbullies or predators.

If you're a parent or guardian, you can help to keep your kids safe by talking to them about their Internet use , teaching them about online dangers , and learning everything you can about the Internet so you can make informed decisions.

About this tutorial

This tutorial is designed for any parent or guardian who wants to learn how to keep their kids safe online. You may want to review our Internet Safety tutorial first so you'll have a basic understanding of online safety. Throughout this tutorial, we'll link to other resources you can use if you want more information. We'll also link to some activities, videos, and other resources that are geared toward kids and teens. You may want to show these resources to your kids or even work through them together.

If you want to learn the basics of using the Internet, you can also check out our Internet Basics , Email 101 , and Beyond Email tutorials.

Understanding online dangers

In order to keep your kids safe, you'll need to know about the different types of online dangers that exist. For example, kids and teens may find inappropriate content on the Internet, such as pornography or obscene language. There is also a possibility of cyberbullying or cyberharassment from others online. This does not mean your child will encounter all of these threats. However, knowing about the dangers can help you and your kids make smart decisions online.

Review the interactive below to learn about some of the dangers kids can encounter online.

Malware is malicious software that is designed to damage your computer or steal your personal information . It includes viruses, spyware, and other types of software.

Malware is often secretly bundled with other software, and it can also infect email attachments.

Cyber-stalking

Cyber-stalking is any kind of harassment or threatening behavior that occurs online. It can happen through instant messaging, text messaging, email, or social networks. If the perpetrator is a child or teen, it is often called cyberbullying .

In the online world, piracy refers to illegally sharing copyrighted materials . This can include music, movies, TV shows, and software. For many kids, sharing files may seem innocent, but it can result in stiff penalties.

Phishing is a type of scam where the scammer tries to trick you into revealing your personal information . Usually, it involves an email, instant message, or website that is designed to look like it's from a legitimate company.

The Internet contains a lot of content you probably don't want your kids to see, including pornography, violent content, and vulgar language .

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is bullying that occurs online , often through instant messaging, text messaging, email, and social networks.

Cyberbullies may be the same age as the victims, or they may be older. If the perpetrator is an adult, it is generally called cyber-stalking or cyberharassment .

Revealing too much

Many kids and teens like to post photos and share information about themselves. In some cases, this information can be used by online predators .

It's also possible for an embarrassing photo to damage a kid's or teen's reputation . This can affect their social life, and it may even come back to haunt them years later when they're applying for a job.

Other types of dangers

Whenever someone uses a computer, there is a risk of eye strain , wrist strain , and other injuries . You can help prevent this by limiting the amount of time your kids spend on computers and mobile devices. For tips on avoiding injury, read Creating a Safe Workspace in our Computer Basics tutorial.

There's also another reason to limit your kids' Internet use: Because people are spending more and more time online, Internet addiction is becoming a more significant problem. Internet use can be a good thing, but if it becomes an addiction it can affect a person's offline life.

Places where dangers can occur

It's important for kids to be careful whenever they're connected to the Internet because online dangers are not just limited to bad websites . Chat rooms, computer games, and even social networking sites can be risky. If your kids have mobile phones, they'll also need to be careful when texting or when accessing the Internet on their phones.

Review the slideshow below to learn about some of the places online where kids can be at risk.

Guidelines for keeping your kids safe

It can be difficult to keep your kids completely safe online. Even if you set up parental controls on your home computer, your kids will use many other computers that don't have parental controls. To keep your kids safe, you'll need to teach them to make good decisions online—even when you're not around.

Below are some general tips you can use when teaching your kids about online safety:

• Learn everything you can about the Internet. Being familiar with the Internet will not only help you understand the risks, but it will also help you talk to your kids.
• Set standards for what your kids can and cannot do online. It's important to make rules for your kids so they know what's expected of them. Don't wait until something bad happens to start creating guidelines.
• Teach your kids to keep personal information private . It's usually a bad idea to post personal information online such as phone numbers, addresses, and credit cards. If criminals gain access to this information, they can use it to harm you or your family.
• Teach your kids to use social networking sites safely. Sites like Facebook allow kids—and adults—to share photos and videos of themselves, as well as have conversations with friends and strangers. If your kids share something with friends, it's still possible for it to get into the wrong hands. Generally, they should only post something online if they're comfortable with everyone in the world seeing it.
• Encourage your kids to come to you if they encounter a problem. If your child gets into trouble online, you'll want him or her to come to you instead of hiding it. Keep in mind that your kids could accidentally encounter a bad site, even if they're doing everything right.
• Talk to your kids about Internet use. Talk to your kids regularly about how they use the Internet. If they're in the habit of talking to you about the Internet, they'll be more willing to come to you if there's a problem.

The Federal Trade Commission has videos and other resources you may find helpful. Watch the following video to learn more about talking to your kids about Internet safety.

Minimizing risks at home

If you have a home computer your kids use, there are some extra precautions you can take to make it safer. Remember that your kids will probably use many other computers, and these precautions won't keep them safe when they're not at home. Also, keep in mind that these are merely suggestions; depending on your parenting style and your kids' ages, you may choose not to use all of them.

• Keep the computer in the living room or in another common area. By putting the computer in a common area of the house, you can reduce the chance that they'll talk to strangers or visit inappropriate websites. For teens, you may choose to give them more freedom about where they use the computer (especially if they have their own computers).
• Install antivirus software. Viruses and other malware are a risk for any computer (although Macs are slightly safer). To protect your computer, you can install antivirus software such as BitDefender or Norton .
• Use a kid-friendly search engine. Regular search engines may return results with inappropriate content you don't want your kids to see. However, there are some search engines that are designed to only return kid-friendly results (although there is still the possibility of inappropriate results getting through). Examples include KidTopia and KidRex.org .
• Use parental controls. Windows and Mac OS X allow you to add parental controls to user accounts. These include time limits , website restrictions , and controlling which applications can be opened . You can also buy parental control software like Net Nanny , which has versions for Windows and Mac.

Creating an Internet safety contract

Once you've established Internet guidelines, you may want to put them in writing. You can create an Internet safety contract your kids can sign, and then you can keep a copy of it near the computer.

There are also premade contracts you can download and print. One example is the Family Online Safety Contract , which you can download from the Family Online Safety Institute . In addition to a contract, it includes a contract for parents, which contains guidelines you may find helpful.

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Home | Internet Security | Internet Safety Guide for Kids

Internet Safety Guide for Kids

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review . 

Keeping your kids safe online can seem like a huge task. But you don’t have to go it alone. SafeWise has identified the top online threats to kids and tips for keeping kids safe.

Identity Theft Prevention for Parents: Safeguard Your Child's Future  

Safewise safety advisor Pete Canavan explores the concept of identity theft, its potential consequences, and how parents can take proactive steps to protect their children. Watch for new articles weekly with valuable advice to help you secure your children's future.

Top online threats for kids

• Compare top internet safety products

How to protect your kids from cyberbullying

How to protect your kids from online predators.

• How to protect your kids from inappropriate content online

Video: Online learning internet safety

How to keep your kids safe during online learning, how much is your state doing to keep kids safe online.

• Data: State-by-state online safety laws
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We’ve put together a free online safety contract that you can print out and share with your kids. Use it to help build a conversation around online safety and your expectations.

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There are a number of potential dangers in cyberspace, but these are the top online security risks that most kids face.

1. Cyberbullying: More than 36% of kids age 12–17 have been cyberbullied at some point in their life, and nearly 15% have bullied someone else online. Cyberbullying is any aggressive, threatening, or mean-spirited activity conducted via electronic communication (email, social media posts, text messages, etc.). Girls are more likely to be the victims of cyberbullying, and more boys admit to bullying others online. ¹

2. Online predators: Adults who use the internet to entice children for sexual or other types of abusive exploitation are considered online predators. Child victims can be as young as 1 or as old as 17. When it comes to online enticement, girls make up the majority (78%) of child victims—while the majority (82%) of online predators are male. And 98% of online predators have never met their child targets in real life. ²

3. Exposure to inappropriate content: Inappropriate content is one of the most common online threats that kids encounter. Everything from vulgar language and hate speech to graphically violent or sexual images can have a harmful effect on an impressionable child. Over 55% of tweens (kids age 10–12) have been exposed to violent content on the internet, and nearly 60% have come across sexually explicit words or images. ³

NOTE: For the purposes of this guide, we’re focusing on the earliest prevention possible. While these internet safety tips for kids and parents can be applicable to anyone, we’ve selected steps to help protect children from ages 5 through 12.

Parental control apps like Bark help you monitor content across several platforms, manage screen time , filter inappropriate websites and set location alerts.

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Compare the best internet security products

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1. Know the risks:  Understand what cyberbullying is, where and how it happens, and how to spot it. Explain that online bullies can act friendly at first, but also encourage your child to be on the lookout for any interactions that make them feel bad, scared, or sad.

2. Talk about it:  Have ongoing discussions with your child. Talk about what cyberbullying is and what types of communication are acceptable and unacceptable. Make sure your child knows that it’s safe for them to talk to you if something makes them uncomfortable.

3. Keep a watchful eye:  Place the computer in a common room and monitor all screen time. Use a shared email account, and if you let kids interact on social media, make sure you have full access to manage their accounts. Parental control software is another great way to stay in the know.

4. Set boundaries:  Put time limits on screen time. Include all online activities—from homework to playing games and surfing the web. Restrict social media access and email accounts, and set rules for any IM, texting, etc. Let your kids know you’ll be checking in regularly. Be prepared to renegotiate boundaries as your child gets older or starts to use new technology. 4

5. Build a network (IRL):  They don’t say it takes a village for nothing. The more people you have looking out for your kid online, the more likely you are to keep them safe. Know your kids’ friends and their parents. Enlist support from school, sports, and church leaders.

6. Be prepared to respond:  Don’t wait until the heat of the moment to come up with your gameplan. In case your kid does get bullied online, learn what the proper responses are so you can keep your emotions in check and help your child deal with what they’re going through.

Steps to take if your child has been bullied

• Pay attention: Look for signs of cyberbullying, like spending more time online or texting, hiding the screen from others, emotional responses to online interactions, and sadness or seclusion.
• Ask questions:  Gently ask your child what’s going on and how they feel about it. Find out if they’ve responded to the bully and what that response was.
• Acknowledge their feelings:  Your child may feel frightened, angry, sad, or even betrayed if the bully is someone they trusted. Let them know it’s okay to feel whatever they’re feeling.
• Block the bully:  Immediately block (or “unfriend”) the abuser. Use tools like site blockers and privacy settings as extra layers of protection.
• Report it:  Alert website and email administrators to the bully. Most social media platforms offer options to report a user or flag dangerous posts. If appropriate, report the abusive activity to school or law enforcement officials.
• Assess the damage:  If your child’s emotional response is extreme and protective measures don’t seem to help, seek the help of a professional.
• Enlist reinforcements:  Talk to other adults who can help protect your child (other parents, teachers, school administrators, coaches, etc.) and bolster your child’s positive friendships.

What to do If your child is the bully

• Look:  If your child sets up new email or social media accounts without your knowledge, makes snarky remarks while online, or starts to hide their online activity, they could be picking on someone.
• Listen:  If you’re concerned, gently broach the topic with your child and then allow them the room to answer. Be open-minded and don’t blame. Bullies are usually in some kind of pain as well.
• Monitor:  Double your efforts to track your child’s online activity. If you’re not already using parental control software, now is the time to start using it.
• Support:  Encourage your child to deal with their feelings and the reasons they’re engaging in this behavior. Suggest that they apologize to the kids they’ve hurt, and help them do it.
• Get help:  It can be hard to identify why your child starting acting out in this manner. Seek professional help, and if the bullying crosses lines at school (or legally), inform the appropriate authorities and ask for resources to address the situation.

1. Understand the danger: Learn what online predators are, where and how predators attack, and how to spot it. Explain that contact from strangers is never okay.

2. Guide online behaviors: Talk about what types of online interactions are okay and what aren’t. Discuss how to recognize signs of trouble and how to ask for help.

3. Rein in digital cameras: Control access to digital cameras and photo apps on every device. Make sure your kids can’t upload or download photos without your permission.

4. Monitor online activity: Keep the computer in a common room, set limits on screen time, use a shared email account, and put parental controls (like filters and apps) in place.

5. Keep kids out of dangerous places: Talk about the risks of chat rooms and social networks, and set up rules and time limits if you allow your kids to use them. Always follow age restrictions for websites and apps.

6. Don’t let your guard down: Know that “safe” places still require vigilance. There are kid-focused chat rooms and games where predators may pose as children.

Steps to take if your child has been targeted online

• Let your child know it’s not their fault.
• Cut off communication with the predator.
• Change online credentials, including screen names, usernames, and passwords.
• Save screenshots or copies of messages and images from the predator.
• Report the activity to website administrators and law enforcement.
• Seek professional help for your child as appropriate.

Safety tips for kids

• Never share personal information online.
• Don’t respond to emails, texts, or messages from strangers.
• Don’t post or share photos online.
• Don’t click links, open attachments, or accept gifts from someone you don’t know.
• Never agree to meet someone you met online.
• Let your parents or another trusted adult know if you need help.

How to protect your kids from inappropriate online content

1. Teach kids how to navigate the internet: Talk about proper online etiquette, how to enter safe search terms, how to identify a secure website (https), and when to ask an adult for help.

2. Let kids know what to watch for: Teach them that bad stuff can come from many sources, including email and direct messages. Talk about inappropriate websites, pop-up ads, and when and where it’s okay to click on something.

3. Explain email safety: Make sure kids know not to click on things or open attachments in emails and not to respond to messages from people they don’t know. Have them ask an adult before they download anything.

4. Set up firewalls and content blockers: Use the built-in safety applications that come on your devices and add more to be extra safe. Block all websites that aren’t rated safe for children. Use a content filter or firewall that is designed to protect children from harmful content.

5. Be prepared: Have a plan in place in case your child is exposed to graphic content online. Know what the proper responses are so you can focus on helping your child manage their feelings.

Steps to take if your child has been exposed to inappropriate content

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Whether you and your kiddos are internet pros or getting online for the first time, we’ve got the tips you need to navigate learning online safely.

Tips for safe online learning 

Just because your child goes online for school , it doesn’t mean there still aren’t potential dangers lurking. These best practices will minimize your child’s exposure to online risks no matter what platform or software their school is using.

1. Make sure websites are secure

You can instantly tell if any website is safe by looking for one letter: “s.” Every website address starts with the letters “http,” but you know a site is secure when you see “https.” That means the website itself is taking measures to keep users and their information secure while they use the site.

If you’re directed to any websites for school or entertainment that don’t have that extra “s” at the beginning of the address, steer clear.

2. Guard personal information

This can get tricky when your child needs to be identified for schoolwork or classroom discussions, but personal details need to be guarded closely.

Chances are, your child probably already has a student identification number. Those kinds of identifiers are a great way to protect personal details from leaking on the internet.

None of the following information should be used to identify your child in class, on a list of posted grades, or in an online discussion.

• Full first and last name
• Social security number
• Phone number

Your little one should also have a secure username and password to log into courses, lectures, and assignments.

3. Set up parental controls

You don’t have to purchase parental control software to protect your child during online learning. There are already a lot of helpful tools built into your device hardware, software, and internet browser.

Find tutorials here to help you maximize built-in privacy settings and content blockers.

• Parental controls for Apple products
• Parental controls for Google Play
• Parental controls guide for Chromebook
• Content restrictions for Windows 10 and Xbox One
• Parental controls for YouTube Kids
• Content filters on SafeSearch for Google
• Parental controls on Amazon FreeTime
• Parental controls on Netflix

If you want the extra reassurance of  parental control software , we tested a bunch of them and picked our favorites. Almost every brand we recommend has a  free version available , so you can probably upgrade from built-in parental controls without reaching for your wallet.

4. Keep everything updated

It seems too simple to be so effective, but one of the best ways to keep kids safe online is to make sure that all devices, software, and firmware are up to date. 

Updates can seem like a pain, but one of the biggest reasons companies come out with new versions is to deploy security patches that address the most recent and innovative threats out there. 

Plus, an outdated operating system or old version of software can render your parental controls and privacy settings useless. 

"The website Teacherspayteachers is a wealth of printable and electronic teaching resources that are legit and vetted very well." Kirsten Bergh, Online Elementary School Teacher

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To grade each state, SafeWise looked at laws for both sexting and cyberbullying. 5,6 Points were assigned to states based on the types of laws currently on the books and the consequences for violating those laws. If a state has a law proposed, partial points were granted. School policies and consequences were also factors. Letter grades were determined based on the total points, with higher points earning higher grades.

State-by-state online safety laws

More resources to help with online safety for kids.

This guide is the perfect starting point to make sure you know the basics for keeping kids safe on the internet. But online threats are constantly changing, and cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated. To help you stay ahead of the curve, here are some of the resources we recommend.

Internet safety classes and workshops

• Cyber Safety Cop

State and local internet safety resources

• Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program: State Chapter Directory
• Office for Victims of Crime: Providers/Community Leaders
• D.A.R.E.: Internet Safety

Tools to keep kids safe online

• FBI Safe Online Surfing (for students and teachers, 3rd through 8th grade)
• The Best Parental Control Apps and Software
• Guide to Parental Controls
• Internet Safety 101: Rules ‘N Tools Checklist (for parents and educators)

More educational and support resources

• KidsHealth Internet Safety (for parents, kids, teens, and educators)
• Internet Matters e-Safety Advice
• Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds
• SafeKids.com: Internet Safety by Age
• Common Sense Media: Privacy and Internet Safety
• Is TikTok Safe? Here’s what you need to know
• What Is ChatGPT and Is It Safe for Kids?

Related articles on SafeWise

• iOS vs. Android Security: Which One Keeps Your Child Safer Online?
• What Age Should Kids Get a Phone?
• Best Identity Theft Protection
• 31 Surprising Identity Theft Statistics
• Best Antivirus for Android Devices
• Best Antivirus and Malware Software
• Best Password Manager for All of Your Devices
• 10 Cybersecurity Tips for Shopping Online
• Dangerous Apps for Kids
• Justin Patchin, Cyberbullying Research Center, “ 2019 Cyberbullying Data, ” July 2019. Accessed April 11, 2023.
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, “ The Online Enticement of Children: An In-Depth Analysis of CyberTipline Reports ,” 2017. Accessed April 11, 2023.
• Haley Zapal, Bark, “ 2018 Children and Teen Cyber Fact Sheet ,” January 2019. Accessed April 11, 2023.
• Kate Muir and Adam Joinson, Frontiers in Psychology, " An Exploratory Study Into the Negotiation of Cyber-Security Within the Family Home ," March 2020. Accessed April 11, 2023.
• Sameer Hinduja and Justin Patchin, Cyberbullying Research Center, “ State Sexting Laws ,” November 2018. Accessed April 11, 2023.
• Sameer Hinduja and Justin Patchin, Cyberbullying Research Center, “ State Cyberbullying Laws ,” January 2021. Accessed April 11, 2023.

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E-safety scenario cards

A class set of 15 different e-safety scenarios for students to act out in. This could be used in a PSHE or computing lesson to reinforce ways to keep safe online.

Katrina Morris is the author of this resource.

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Our key duty is to educate children and keep them safe. The online world for our children is an exciting but potentially dangerous environment. To reflect this, the knowledge and skills needed to teach online safety has become more important and more complex.

We provide all of the resources you need for teaching Online Safety from Reception to Year 6. Our fun and interactive activities cover all the skills and knowledge detailed in Education for a Connected World 2020 Edition .

All of our safety resources are free to use , so please use and share with others and teach your children how to be safe online.

Please explore some of our units below. Remember everything is free!

A big thank you to the children and staff of Downe Primary School for their help and support in creating these resources.

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To celebrate and support Internet Safety Day 2021 please check out our assembly resource below with animations, quiz and superheroes.

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Internet Safety: 50+ Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe Online

Children are prime targets for online predators and cyberbullies. These handy tips can teach parents how to keep them safe online.

Every nook and cranny of the internet is rife with dangers—from prying cyberbullies, online predators, to explicit videos and content. Therefore, it can be quite overwhelming for parents to shield children from the lurking dangers of the internet.

To make matters worse, most kids these days spend a big chunk of their time using the internet or playing online video games, and some even utilize it to do research for their homework. But as entertaining and informative as the internet can be, it is a perilous place for kids to venture into.

So, what can concerned parents do? Fortunately, there are many ways by which parents can achieve online safety for their kids. To help you out, we have compiled a list of tips that will ease your worries as well as protect your kids when they are online.

FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download the 50+ Tips To Keep Your Kids Safe Online Cheat Sheet .

50+ Ways to Keep Your Children Safe Online

Stay involved to protect children from online dangers.

After implementing the tips mentioned above, you might think of taking a back seat. But think again. Just as parents are regularly involved in every aspect of their children's play dates, school, or daycare environments, it is important for them to stay actively engaged in their online lives as well.

While it's daunting to constantly keep tabs on what your kids are doing online, playing copilot with them is extremely important when their safety is at stake.

Another way to stay actively involved is to voice your opinions and have straightforward discussions with your kids regarding the sites they are visiting and the apps they download, and whether or not they are appropriate for their age.

It's important to remember that staying involved and keeping your kids enlightened with the etiquette and dangers of the online world is equivalent to keeping them safe.

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Secondary school resources

Free online safety teaching materials While 44% of primary school children have their own mobile phones, the same is true for 97% of children in secondary school. However, not all children understand the dangers of the online space or believe they are mature enough to handle them. That’s why it’s important to give them the skills they need to make safe choices with quality secondary school resources.

From managing their screen time to navigating cyberbullying or inappropriate content, we have a variety of secondary school resources to help teach teens about safe online use.

Common online safety issues in secondary school

The digital world offers a variety of benefits to children and young people, but not all teens understand the harmful risks that may affect them online. Below are common online safety issues that children aged 11-16 may experience. See what they are and how teachers can support them.

According to Ofcom’s 2022 report , 71% of parents of children aged 12-15 were worried about online bullying. 12-15s were most likely to be bullied via text/messaging apps. Compared to other age groups, children aged 12-15 were less likely to be bullied face-to-face than online.

Some research suggests that children might stop reporting bullying because they feel like it’s not dealt with appropriately. As educators, it’s important to teach children the best routes for reporting online bullying while also sharing resources for them to use. Abusive behaviour should never go unchecked.

Additional reading

• Cyberbullying advice hub
• How to encourage children to report cyberbullying among friends

Secondary school resource to support children

The online together project.

• Childline.org.uk : 0800 1111
• Stop, Speak, Support code
• Anti-Bullying Alliance

91% of children aged 12-15 use social media. According to Ofcom’s 2022 News Consumption report, Instagram, TikTok and Youtube are the most common sources of news among teens. With so much false information spread through social media, it’s important to teach teens how to think critically about what they see online.

False information is often called ‘fake news’, but it’s more than that. The two main types of false information are misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation is false information that people share because they think it’s true while disinformation is false information that is known to be false and purposely shared. In many cases, disinformation can become misinformation.

If someone purposely shares false information, they usually have a motive for it. This could be to make sales, influence beliefs or get views/page engagement. When others believe the information, they are likely to share and spread it to others who may also believe it. If users don’t fact-check what they see, they may continue to spread it unknowingly.

• Fake news and misinformation advice hub
• Types of fake news
• Find the Fake  quiz
• Trust Me lesson resource  from Childnet
• BBC Reality Check

Inappropriate content can include anything not suitable for a child’s age such as:

• pornographic videos or images
• nasty language
• hate speech
• content promoting eating disorders and self-harm
• images or videos showing violent or cruel acts
• sexism or misogynistic content

Conversations and lessons with children about inappropriate content can help them understand what is and isn’t okay for them to see and why.

• Inappropriate content advice hub
• Age restrictions explained
• Protecting children from online pornography

Secondary school resources to support children

• Report to CEOP
• Social media age requirements

In their 2022 Children’s Media Use and Attitudes report, Ofcom found that children use a range of privacy and security measure to keep safe online. These include browsing in incognito mode (21%) and using a proxy server (5%). While these measure promote privacy, they may actually leave teens open to more online harms like inappropriate or extremist content.

Additionally, 6% of children report bypassing parental controls that keep them from visiting some apps and sites. Therefore, it’s important to teach teens why privacy settings and parental controls benefit them. They may not yet fully understand the importance of their online safety.

94% of children aged 12-17 use social media and while these platforms often allow users to limit who can interact with them, only 30% report using these controls. Helping teens to understand the importance of privacy online can help them take greater ownership of their security online. Having these features in place will ensure their online reputation remains positive for the future.

• Privacy and identity theft content advice hub
• What is doxxing?
• Privacy settings guides
• Action Fraud : 0300 123 2040

97% of children aged 12-15 have their own mobile phones, going up to 100% for 16-17s. They use a variety of devices and platforms including video games, video-sharing platforms and social media apps. On average: boys play around 4 hours of video games per day while girls play around 2 hours; children aged 7-16 spend just under 3 ½ hours per day online; children aged 4-15 spend just under six hours per week watching video content. Additionally, 62% of 7-16s have access to their mobile phones at all times, which means they may spend more time than is recorded.

In the same report from Ofcom as the above, 40% of parents say they struggle to manage their child’s screen time. Support from schools is vital in helping children understand how to balance screen use.

Balanced screen use means using devices for different purposes. This may be playing video games or browsing social media but could also include completing homework, doing school work, learning new skills, practising wellbeing and more. It also means taking breaks from digital to focus on offline activities like school, spending time with family and friends, staying active and more.

In our report created with TikTok , we found that most teens are aware of their need to manage their screen time. They do so through a variety of methods including screen time apps. While they recognise they may need some support, they want the ability for flexibility. Teaching teens how to find balance is an important skill they can take with them beyond school.

• Screen time advice hub
• Balancing screen time in KS3
• Balancing screen time in KS4
• Creating a balanced digital diet
• Skill-building apps
• Wellbeing apps
• Active apps

While online self-harm appears different from offline self-harm, they are both damaging to a young person. Online, it may include:

• young people encouraging others to roast them
• consuming content that promotes eating disorders or self-harm
• getting validation of suicidal or harmful feelings on online forums
• trolling or saying things online to receive abusive reactions

Digital self-harm often validates someone’s feelings of depression or worthlessness and should not be brushed off. Teaching young people about healthy outlets for low moods can help them learn how to regulate themselves and recognise when it’s time to seek help.

• Self-harm hub
• Expert insight to digital self-harm
• Tips to promote positive body image
• Supporting children’s body image in the online world
• Young Minds
• The Mix : 0808 808 4994
• Samaritans : 116 123

Sexting is the sharing of sexually explicit messages and images online, often over messaging and texting apps.

Young people engage in sexting for a variety of reasons. 17% of children aged 15+ report having shared nude images of themselves in a 2020 report . Among this number, children with vulnerabilities are more likely to sext. For instance, care-experienced children (26%), those with eating disorders (23%) and those with long-standing physical illnesses (20%) were more likely than those without vulnerabilities (6%) to engage in sexting.

Among those who have shared nudes, 18% report they were blackmailed or pressured into doing it. However, regardless of their reason for sharing these images, it is a form of child-on-child abuse and victims need to be aware of the ways they can get help.

• Sexting facts and advice hub
• Online child-on-child abuse
• Understanding the impact of sexting on a child’s mind
• So, you got naked online? (SEND)
• What is child-on-child abuse?

Tools for the Year 6 transition

Popular platforms for children in secondary school.

Learn about the more popular games and platforms that your students might use, including their benefits and the issues to watch out for.

Featured secondary school resources to use in the classroom

Our free online safety resources help make teaching online safety easy. From detailed lessons to unique tools, these resources for secondary school cover some of the most important online safety topics for children in secondary school.

Use this tool to start a discussion about stereotypes found online. Create a lesson around online hate, using a quiz as an assessment, activity or starter, to begin challenging biases online.

SEE RESOURCE

Find the Fake

Help children learn how to recognise unreliable or false information online using this quiz created with Google. Use it within your lesson as a starter, main activity or assessment to help minimise risk online.

Cyberbullying conversations

Use our conversation starter guides to help students feel comfortable about being honest about cyberbullying. Create a homework task to get parents involved in their child’s online safety.

Digital Resilience Toolkit

Teach children to be resilient online by using this secondary school resource as a guide to your lesson. Or send this resource home to help parents support children’s digital resilience at home and at school.

Help secondary school children balance their screen time by using their devices purposefully. These apps and games help children stay active, manage their wellbeing and learn a range of new skills.

Digital agreement

Help children think about how much time their families spend on devices with this family agreement template. Have children create one to share with their families or send the template home to parents.

Other resources

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Free e-safety lesson and resources for KS2 and KS3

Subject: Personal, social and health education

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

11 July 2020

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Supporting teachers to deliver cyber safety for Years 5-8, this lesson plan resource uses the fresh new techniques of Design Thinking, engaging students in creative problem solving.

This free Cyber Ready toolkit offers a solution-based approach to solving problems and covering core issues. It provides tools and methods needed to build e-safety awareness amongst your students as well as how to solve problems collaboratively. The lesson is intended as an extension to your current activities around esafety and digital health, resilience and creativity.

There is one lesson plan that can be used to teach up to five different topics:

• Confidence to speak up when you’ve made a mistake online
• The negative impact of cyberbullying
• Sharing personal information online
• Feeling helpless after a cyberbullying incident
• The benefits of balancing time spent on and offline

This resource also comes with an accompanying PowerPoint toolkit so the student’s solutions can also be incorporated in your ICT lesson.

The primary outcome for pupils should be an awareness of cyber and esafety issues, with the secondary outcome being exposure to new problem-solving techniques (Design Thinking). It will enable students to come up with their own solution to solve problems and gain creative confidence because they followed a process that allowed them to be the leaders and decision makers.

With the Inspectorate looking to see a structured approach and The Department for Education making the reforms statutory in September 2020, the digital ‘Cyber Ready’ toolkit provides a forward thinking solution to support you through the changes.

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kickboxingboo

Fantastic resource used to teach online safety in a specialist setting. The scenarios were great to encourage the students to think before they acted and how to provide advice to others.

Empty reply does not make any sense for the end user

I love this resource. My class had been having safeguarding problems outside of school using WhatsApp. This was a great platform to sort out and share their issues. The resources are ready to use. Saved me lots of time. Thank you.

Hi Libby0, Thank you for your kind feedback

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• Online safety: Year 3

Learning how to stay safe online by adjusting privacy settings to protect personal information, identifying fake news and developing ways to deal with upsetting content.

• Computing >
• Lower Key Stage 2 >

Unit outcomes

Pupils who are  secure  will be able to:

• Differentiate between fact, opinion and belief online.
• Explain how to deal with upsetting online content.
• Recognise that digital devices communicate with each other to share personal information.
• Explain what social media platforms are used for.
• Recognise why social media platforms are age-restricted.

Suggested prior learning

Online safety: year 2, lesson 1: beliefs, opinions and facts on the internet.

• To understand how the internet can be used to share beliefs, opinions and facts.

Lesson 2: Who should I ask?

• To explain what should be done before sharing information online.

Lesson 3: When being online makes me upset

• To identify the effects that the internet can have on people’s feelings.

Lesson 4: Sharing of information

• To understand the ways personal information can be shared on the internet.

Lesson 5: Rules of social media platforms

• To understand the rules for social media platforms.

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Key knowledge

Key vocabulary.

age restrictions

Unit resources

Assessment computing y3: online safety.

Assessment resources for this unit. Use

Knowledge organiser

Aimed at pupils, a single page

A display version of the key

Subject resources

Computing: long-term plans.

A suggested order for teaching Computing

Computing: Equipment & resource lists

A list of the resources, hardware

Curriculum planning Knowledge and skills progression

Progression document showing how skills and

Outlining the key skills and knowledge

Spreadsheet for Kapow Primary's Computing scheme

Vocabulary document that shows key vocabulary

Computing: Statutory and non-statutory mapping documents

Showing which units and lessons meet

Cross-curricular opportunities

Suggested next steps, online safety: year 4, popular content, other subjects.

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