Where your child will chat/communicate
The internet lets users chat with friends and family in interactive ‘virtual’ communities. These communities are increasingly popular with children because they allow them to communicate in ‘real time’.
‘Real time’ means their contributions (or ‘posts’) are displayed immediately, for example in an online chat. However, not all virtual communities will be moderated or supervised. The following are examples of sites your child may use to chat with others online:
- chat rooms are ‘virtual’ rooms where users can ‘talk’ with each other by typing, either one-on-one or involving a number of people
- forums are online discussion groups - these discussions can take place in real time or over a longer period (users can continue to add comments)
- blogs are like online diaries - the ‘blogger’ publishes comments and discussions and readers can also add their views (blog is short for ‘web log’)
- instant messaging services (which look like small pop-up windows) let users see when people on their ‘friends list’ are online and send messages to them
- social networking sites are online communities of people - users have a number of different ways of communicating with each other
Online dangers you need to be aware of
The internet can be fun and useful but you and your child need to know the risks too. Making sure your child knows the online dangers is just as important as teaching them to cross the road safely.
Grooming
Unfortunately, some adults with a sexual interest in children will use the internet to communicate with them. Online grooming is when a suspected paedophile behaves in a way that suggests they are trying to contact children for illegal purposes.
By blocking access to unsupervised chat rooms, blogs and forums, you and your child can help stop people they don’t know from communicating with them.
Sometimes, though, offenders pretend to be children themselves to start online conversations with real children. They might then try to continue the relationship in personal conversations on mobile phones (sometimes known as whispering).
Once they have established some trust, the offender may try to organise a meeting with the child. This may take weeks, months or even years.
As part of the grooming process, the offender might also try to exploit them by sending them indecent or pornographic images. This might be by email or sometimes by using a webcam (a camera connected to a computer which can produce still pictures and video footage).
The offender may even use blackmail to persuade the child to do something they don't want to. It is vital your child knows that not everyone on the internet is who they claim to be. It’s also important both you and your child report anything suspicious.
Cyberbullying and cyberstalking
Cyberbullying is bullying using digital technologies like computers and mobile phones. If someone is stalking someone else over the internet it’s known as cyberstalking.
Reporting suspected grooming or cyberbullying
You and your child can report any suspicious, threatening or offensive behaviour to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) centre.
Viruses and scams
There are a number of potential hazards you and your child could come across while using the internet. Some are irritating while others can have more serious effects:
- viruses are ‘infections’ in your computer which can potentially destroy all of your files and operating system
- trojan horses are programs that can enter your computer, access files and then pass on your personal information
- ‘spam’ is junk email messages sent to many people without their consent, usually promoting a product or service
- ‘spamming’ is sending spam using instant messaging
- ‘malware’, short for ‘malicious software’, is created to damage a computer system
- ‘pharming’ is when scammers try to get personal or private information from users by directing them to false or ‘spoof’ - websites
- ‘spyware’ is a general term for a program that secretly monitors what you're doing online
- ‘phishing’ is emailing users and pretending to be genuine organisations to steal information for identity theft
Protecting your child online
It is impossible to be completely protected while using the internet. However, you can take simple steps to reduce the risks.
You should always set the parental controls on the computer or mobile phone. These are easily set up and you can check the equipment’s user manual or the manufacturer's website to see what controls you have access to. The controls will let you block troublesome email senders or access to certain websites.