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Internet providers urge parents to monitor children's web activity Internet providers urge parents to monitor children's web activity
(4 months later)
The UK's four largest internet The UK's four largest internet providers have urged parents to check which websites their children visit, audit their online profiles and switch on filters blocking inappropriate content in an industry-wide response to the government's push for better child protection online.
providers have urged parents to check which websites BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media on Tuesday launched the child internet safety organisation Internet Matters, with a portal offering advice on shielding families against cyberbullying, online grooming, sexting and pornographic content.
their children visit, audit their online profiles and switch on One in four children have seen sexual images online by the age of 12, while 60% of teens have been asked for a sexual image of themselves, and 28% of children do not tell their parents when they are being bullied online, often for fear of having their phone taken away, according to research by the telecoms watchdog Ofcom, the NSPCC and the market research agency Opinion Leader.
filters blocking inappropriate content in an industry-wide response to the government's push for better child protection online. Carolyn Bunting, general manager of Internet Matters, said her portal offered a single authoritative resource on child online safety, and hoped to become a "household name" by focusing the technology industry and policy makers on a sensitive issue.
BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media on “Internet Matters will help parents to understand the issues children can face online whether they're five or 15," Bunting said. "We believe this is the first time that the major broadband providers in any country have joined forces for such a venture. The UK is therefore leading the way when it comes to child internet safety.”
Tuesday launched the child internet safety organisation Internet Launched by the singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor and her mother, the former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis, at London's Museum of Childhood, the portal will also advise on how to manage online reputation. Children's social circles can be larger online than at school, with the average eight-to-11-year-old collecting 92 social network friends.
Matters, with a portal offering advice on shielding families against cyberbullying, online grooming, sexting and The initiative has cross-party support, with the prime minister describing it as a “significant step forward in our mission to protect children online”. David Cameron called internet companies to Downing Street for a cybersummit in November, to secure stricter controls over online material. Labour leader Ed Miliband and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg also voiced their approval.
pornographic content. The portal will help parents to operate filters, including those on Google and other search engines. It follows the introduction of optional online filters from each of the four internet providers in recent months.
One in four children have seen sexual Internet Matters recommends parents manage, rather than block, their children's access to the internet. It advises them to check the websites visited by looking up internet browser histories; install parental controls on computers, but also on phones, tablets and games consoles; delete profiles on social networks that children are no longer using; and encourage children to ignore and block online bullies.
images online by the age of 12, while 60% of teens have been asked Ellis-Bextor said: “Today's parents need to deal with issues that didn't even exist when we were growing up. I'm careful to keep an eye on my two boys, especially my 10-year-old, who is at that age when he's starting to explore the internet on his own.”
for a sexual image of themselves, and 28% of children do not tell Internet Matters' top tips for child safety online
their parents when they are being bullied online, often for fear of 1. Encourage your child always to use child-friendly search engines, such as Swiggle, Ajkids or Kids-search. Safe search settings can also be activated on Google and Bing. Don’t forget to opt for the safety mode on YouTube, iTunes and Google Play.
having their phone taken away, according to research by the telecoms 2. Parental controls should be installed on every device your child uses: mobile phone, tablet and games consoles (both home and handheld).
watchdog Ofcom, the NSPCC and the market research agency Opinion Leader. 3. Cyberbullies are looking for a reaction, so make sure your child knows that by deciding not to reply they are making an active choice not to give power to the bully.
Carolyn Bunting, general manager of Internet Matters, said her portal offered a single 4. Use the built-in tools on social networks and mobile services to block anyone who is cyberbullying your child.
authoritative resource on child online safety, and hoped to become a "household name" by focusing the technology industry and policy makers on a sensitive issue.
“Internet Matters will help parents
to understand the issues children can face online whether they're
five or 15," Bunting said. "We believe this is the first time that the major broadband
providers in any country have joined forces for such a venture. The
UK is therefore leading the way when it comes to child internet
safety.”
Launched by the singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor and her mother, the former Blue Peter presenter Janet
Ellis, at London's Museum of Childhood, the portal will also advise on how to
manage online reputation. Children's social circles can be
larger online than at school, with the average eight-to-11-year-old
collecting 92 social network friends.
The initiative has cross-party support,
with the prime minister describing it as a “significant step
forward in our mission to protect children online”. David Cameron called internet companies to Downing Street for a cybersummit in November, to secure stricter controls over online material. Labour leader
Ed Miliband and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg also voiced their approval.
The portal will help parents to operate filters, including those
on Google and other search engines. It follows the introduction of
optional online filters from each of the four internet providers in recent months.
Internet Matters
recommends parents manage, rather than block, their children's access to the internet. It advises them to check the websites visited by looking up internet browser histories; install parental controls on computers, but also on phones, tablets and games consoles; delete profiles
on social networks that children are no longer using; and encourage
children to ignore and block online bullies.
Ellis-Bextor said: “Today's parents need to deal with
issues that didn't even exist when we were growing up. I'm careful to keep an eye on my two boys,
especially my 10-year-old, who is at that age when he's starting to
explore the internet on his own.”
Internet Matters' top tips for child
safety online
1. Encourage your
child always to use child-friendly search engines, such as Swiggle,
Ajkids or Kids-search. Safe search settings can also be activated on
Google and Bing. Don’t forget to opt for the safety mode on
YouTube, iTunes and Google Play.
2. Parental
controls should be installed on every device your child uses: mobile
phone, tablet and games consoles (both home and handheld).
3. Cyberbullies
are looking for a reaction, so make sure your child knows that by
deciding not to reply they are making an active choice not to give
power to the bully.
4. Use the
built-in tools on social networks and mobile services to block anyone
who is cyberbullying your child.
5. Remind your children that even though people they’ve met online might feel like friends, they may not be who they say they are.5. Remind your children that even though people they’ve met online might feel like friends, they may not be who they say they are.
6. Make a habit 6. Make a habit of checking the information that’s online about your child. Keep an eye on the social network pages and other sites your child uses.
of checking the information that’s online about your child. Keep an 7. If you see inaccurate information about your child, ask the person who posted it to correct or delete it. If they won’t, ask the site administrator to do so.
eye on the social network pages and other sites your child uses. 8. When your child stops using a social networking profile or website, it’s a good idea to deactivate or delete their account.
7. If you see 9. Look in the browser history at the search terms your child has been using and the sites they’ve visited. Keep an eye on the apps they’ve downloaded on their phones too.
inaccurate information about your child, ask the person who posted it 10. No filter is 100% effective. Make sure you talk to your child about online pornography as well.
to correct or delete it. If they won’t, ask the site administrator
to do so.
8. When your child
stops using a social networking profile or website, it’s a good
idea to deactivate or delete their account.
9. Look in the
browser history at the search terms your child has been using and the
sites they’ve visited. Keep an eye on the apps they’ve downloaded
on their phones too.
10. No filter is
100% effective. Make sure you talk to your child about online
pornography as well.