We’re child experts – the do’s and don’ts of keeping your kids safe online & the easy quiz all parents should take
KEEPING kids safe online can be a minefield.
But according to a study by TikTok and Internet Matters, only a third of parents with teens speak to them once a week about the dangers.
And most wait until an issue arises before they broach the subject.
Claire Dunwell invites you to test your knowledge – and your child’s – with this quiz compiled by the NSPCC.
Discover how much you know about what and what not to do, and plug those important gaps before starting those key conversations.
1. How many of the symbols below do you recognise?
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2. How old do you have to be to use these sites and games?
a) Facebook.
b) The Sims.
c) Grand Theft Auto.
d) FIFA.
e) Fortnite.
3. What should someone do if they are being bullied online? (Circle all the correct answers.)
a. There’s nothing they can do. They will just need to put up with it.
b. Post mean things about the person bullying them so they know how it feels.
c. Report or block the person bullying them.
d. Threaten the person bullying them.
e. Talk to an adult they trust.
f. Don’t delete it — show it to an adult they trust.
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4. To keep safe online, what personal information should you not post online? (Circle all the correct answers.)
a) Your full name.
b) What you’ve had for dinner.
c) Where you live.
d) Which school you go to.
e) Passwords.
f) A cartoon image as a profile picture instead of a photo.
5. What should you think about before posting something online?
a) Has everyone who appears in a photo agreed for it to be shared online?
b) Does the post have any personal information that I don’t want everyone knowing?
c) Would I be happy for anyone to see this post, such as my teachers or grandparents?
d) Does it break any of the rules of the app that I’m posting on?
e) Could it upset or offend someone who sees it?
f) All of the above.
6. If a friend has been asked by someone to send a nude or semi-nude picture of themselves, what could they do? (Circle all the correct answers.)
a) Tell the person they don’t feel comfortable doing that.
b) Say no and tell them it’s illegal.
c) Report and block the person.
d) Ask an adult for help.
e) Visit the Childline website for advice.
7. Read through the statements below and decide if they are true or false. Circle the answer you choose.
a) A friend meets someone online who tells them they are the same age, so it is safe to share personal information.
TRUE/FALSE
b) A friend has been getting horrible messages online from other people at school. This is just something they have to put up with.
TRUE/FALSE
c) A friend shared a nude selfie with someone and it’s been posted online. Unfortunately, there is nothing they can do about it.
TRUE/FALSE
d) Something has upset a friend. They would like help, but don’t know who to talk to. They can talk to Childline.
TRUE/FALSE
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8. Give three examples of things you and your friends could do to stay safe online.
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MAKE TIME FOR CHATS
SIR Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, says: "It’s not always easy talking to kids about what games they are playing and socials they’re using to stay in touch with their friends.
"Even the most tech-savvy parent will feel they are always playing catch-up.
"But with children going online from a younger age – and the spaces they are in more immersive – it’s important we don’t fall behind.
"It is good to stay in the know about what your child’s up to. The best way is by starting to have conversations about safety before they become immersed in an iPad.
"For younger children, try setting parental controls and exploring the games and apps they are using together. Talk about the positives and potential safety risks.
"There’s plenty of advice about how to do this on the NSPCC’s Online Safety Hub. Teenagers are naturally going to be more secretive. But by keeping chats going regularly about the games and apps they are using they’ll be more likely to come to you if something is wrong.
"It’s no different to talking about their day at school, what book they’re reading or how they played in their latest match.
"Some days you may get nothing out of them but when they have something to say they’ll know you’ll be there. Protecting children online shouldn’t be up to parents alone. The products our kids consume should be safe but big tech consistently puts profit first.
"The Government can fix this with its Online Safety Bill that would force tech firms to take children’s safety seriously. But it’s currently caught up in arguments in Westminster.
"The impact of delay is 100 online sex offences against children a day and sites awash with devastating material."