Do you know what your child is doing online?

As the half-term break is fast approaching children might be spending a little more time on-line. 

Things you can do to keep your child safe online:

• check your parental controls on your PC to stop then accessing inappropriate material;
• accessing games on a console or tablet? Here's how to set parental controls: Ask About Games
• have a conversation, discuss sites and apps together, talk about any concerns they may have;
• talk about personal information and what not to share online;
• is your child accessing social networks? Most of these have an age limit of 13+, check the content and age limits of what they are accessing here: NetAware
• Is your child playing computer games, check the age limit here: Netaware

Some concerning reports have been in the media recently about the popular game Fortnite, here is some useful advice about the game:

• Don't ban Fortnite (or any other game) because a newspaper headline said it's evil; at the same time, don't allow it because a friend said it's fine. Have a look and decide yourself (get your child to show you, or play together if you're feeling brave). If you're happy, fine; if not, it doesn't matter whether "everyone else is playing it".
• Fortnite's PEGI age rating is 12 ( = appropriate age, NOT skill level).
• Games don't go on for hours, but average 20-30 minutes. So if your child says they need hours and hours, they're wrong...
• One of the best ways to keep children safe on games is to know what they are doing, so if you allow it, get them to play near you with the sound on (no headphones so you can hear the other players' comments)
• When you start, there's a 'Privacy' button - choose between Public (anyone in the world) / Friends / Private (invite only). It's easy to change. Make sure you have made the decision.
• The game is free, but there are lots of in-app purchases. Is your credit card attached to the account/device? Worth checking if your child could buy the £79 10,00 V-Bucks + 3,500 Bonus pack at a click. Click on a cheap one to see if there is a payment method attached.

This video is a useful 1 minute guide to the game for parents

• 6 things parents should know about Fortnite

The NSPCC website  also provides further resources and links on how to keep your child safe online.  Live My Digital, is an educational site aimed at families. The site has links to a video series which covers the following online safety themes:

• Cyberbullying
• The digital footprint
• Identity and self-esteem
• Relationships and grooming
• Security and privacy
• Sexting