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0808 1
Techno Safe
A guide for parents and carers:
keeping children safe
with technology
Feb 10 8213/100
www.caerphillysaeguarding.org.uk
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This leaet aims to:
• Explainsomeofthecurrenttechnologythatisavailable
• Provideyouwithadviceaboutwhatyoucandotokeepchildren and young people sae rom potential harm and;
• Tellsyouwhereyoucangetfurtheradviceandinformationfrom.
In this leaet the word technology reers to computers, laptops,
notebooks,gamesconsoles,mobilephones,MP3s,PersonalDigital
Assistants(PDAs/Blackberrys)andanyothertechnologythatachild or young person can use to interact with others.
TechnologyliketheInternetcanbegreatfunandprovides
opportunitiesforyourchildrentolearnanddevelop.However,
it also has some hidden dangers that you need to be aware o in
order to keep children and young people sae.
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The hidden dangers that technology can pose to
children and young people
• Dangerouspeoplesometimesusechatrooms,onlinegames,
socialnetworkingsiteslikeBebo,Facebook,MySpaceand
other technology to gain access to children and young people
in order to ‘groom’ and abuse them. It is not always possible to
identiy these people because they oten lie about who they are
and their age.
• Exposuretoinappropriatemateriallikeadultpornography
andothersexualimages,violentimagesandgamblingsitesforexample.
• CyberBullying-involvestheuseoftheInternetandmobile
phones to threaten, belittle, call names and righten
• Otherrisks–Thesecanincludeviruses,identifytheft,hacking,
nancialexploitation
(Grooming–inthissensegroomingisbehaviourusedbypeople
who pose a risk to children to beriend children in order to
sexuallyabusethem.Itcanincludeattery,sympathisingwiththeir
problems, isolating them rom others, pretending they are children
oryoungpeopletoo,pretendingtohavesimilarexperiences/
problems,givingthemgifts/moneyforexample.Further
inormation about child abuse and neglect can be ound in our
leaet,‘WhatisChildAbuse’,whichisavailablefromourwebsite
oronrequestfromtheSafeguardingChildrenBoardCo-ordinator
on01443864798.)
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Smart Rules
• Don’tfrightenyourchildrenoroverreactbutmakesureyou
discuss the hidden dangers with your children (you could use this
leaetasastartingpoint)andmakesurethattheyknowtheycantell you about anything that happens on the Internet or other
technology that makes them eel uncomortable or unsae.
• Don’tshareanypersonalinformationovertheInternetthat
could be used to identiy you or your children and make sure
yourchildrendon’teither.(Personalinformationincludesfull
name, address, date o birth, telephone numbers and name o schoolforexample.Somepeopleusenicknameswhenthey
areonlineandsomepeoplehaveseparateonlineaccountsto
ensure that they cannot be identifed. Also make sure that you
usedifferentpasswordsforeachprogramme)
• YouandyourchildrenshouldkeepyourFacebook/MySpace/
Bebopageprivateinordertopreventdangerouspeople
rom accessing it. Also remember not to add any personalinormation to your profles. Take care about the photographs
you and your children add to these pages as they can be
accessedandalteredbydangerouspeople.Adviseyour
children not to accept anyone as a riend that they do not
already know personally.’
• Makesureyourchildrennevergotomeetanyonethattheydonotalreadyknowwell–youdon’talwaysknowwhoyour
children are talking to and neither do they.
• Makesurethatchildrenstayinthepublicspaceofachatroom
anddonotenterintoprivateconversations.
• Keepthecomputerinasharedfamilyspacesothatyoucanbe
sure it is being used saely.
• Installarewallandotherantivirussoftwareonyourcomputer.
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• Installparentalcontrolsandprivacysettingsonyoursoftware(most
packageswillhaveastepbystepguidethathelpsyoudothis)
• Rememberthatyourchildrencaninteractwithotherpeople
viacomputer,mobilephones,PDAs,gamesconsolesandotherequipment.Theycanaccessthesedevicesanywherenotjustyour
homecomputer,soitisvitalthatyouteachyourchildrenabout
keepingthemselvessafeandputinplacesomesimplegroundrules.
Rememberthatthereisnosubstituteforyoursupervision,advice
and guidance
(Firewalls are part o a computer system or network that isdesigned to block unauthorised access o your technology. Anti
virussoftwareisusedtoblockanddetectvirusesandprevent
themfromdamagingyourtechnology.Virusesareoftensentvia
e-mail.Askaboutthesewhenyoupurchaseyourtechnologyorgo
toaspecialistshopandaskforadvice)
Further advice and information
Childnethasanumberofusefulfactsheetsforyoungpeople
andparentsincludingadviceonrewalls,antivirussoftware,chat
rooms, mobile phones, and the internet.
www.childnet-int.org
www.kidsmart.org.uk
www.chatdanger.com
TheChildExploitationandOnlineProtectionCentre(CEOP)
hassomeveryusefuladvicefordifferentagegroupsofchildren,
parents and carers and proessionals:
www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Further inormation about child abuse and neglect and other
leaetswehavepublished,canbefoundonourwebsite:
www.caerphillysaeguarding.org.uk.