The UK’s leading children’s charity, Barnardo’s, has said that parents need to talk to their children about digital dangers.
It follows the news that children’s internet use has continued to increase, with five to 15 year-olds spending an average of 15 hours each week online. 90% of households in Great Britain have internet access.
Research by the charity reveals that almost half of young people living at home say their parents only know 'some' of what they do online.
Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan said:
“Dangers lurk online just as they do in the real world and at Barnardo’s we know first-hand how children are particularly at risk of online grooming and sexual exploitation.
“Children are very susceptible to being groomed, especially through social media and messaging apps, and can quickly be manipulated into potentially harmful situations, including sexually abusive ones.
“Feeling safe in their bedrooms at home, they make friends with people they meet on social media, through chat apps and in multiplayer games, and often don’t think of them as strangers, or see the risks they might pose.
“It’s crucial parents are aware of the dangers their children face online and talk to them about how they can keep themselves safe.”
Barnardo’s recommends parents talk to their children about relationships and help them to understand the implications of sending explicit material by explaining that nothing they want kept private should be sent by text message or posted online.
For information about how to equip yourself with the knowledge to start having conversations with your children about online safety, check out Barnardo’s Be Safe Guide.
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