Safer Internet Day: Safeguarding Our Children Online

Safer Internet Day - The evolution of the internet has brought both welcome convenience and unwanted challenges to our busy lives. While it provides us with fantastic access to information, facilitates remote work, and enables seamless online transactions, concerns about child safety, financial security, and the impact of screen time on the younger generation persist.

Since the 1990s, the internet's evolution has brought both welcome convenience and unwanted challenges to our busy lives. While it provides us with fantastic access to information, facilitates remote work, and enables seamless online transactions, concerns about child safety, financial security, and the impact of screen time on the younger generation persist.

For early years professionals, these concerns emphasise the importance of Safer Internet Day as an opportunity to empower staff, children and families to navigate the online world safely.

Understanding The Risks

Recent research from 2023 reveals that platforms like YouTube and TikTok remain the most popular online activities among children aged 3-17, with a 95% engagement rate. However, the same study uncovered unsettling statistics:

• 32% of 8-11-year-olds reported encountering concerning content online.
• 64% of children admitted to having more than one online profile, often creating separate identities to avoid parental scrutiny.

These figures highlight the growing complexity of online behaviour among children and the potential vulnerabilities they face. Experts identify the “4 Cs of online risk”:

• Conduct: How children behave online and its potential repercussions.
• Content: Exposure to inappropriate, harmful or fake material.
• Contact: Risks associated with interacting with strangers or harmful individuals.
• Commercialism: Being targeted by ads, scams, or pressure to make in-app purchases.

Younger children are particularly susceptible due to their undeveloped critical thinking skills, making the guidance of trusted adults indispensable.

How To Get Involved In Safer Internet Day

This annual event is celebrated in over 170 countries and focuses on fostering a safer, more positive online environment. For those working in the early years sector, it’s a perfect opportunity to reflect on the growing influence of technology in children’s lives and the role you play in shaping their digital resilience. Early years professionals can make a significant impact by championing online safety in the setting and are uniquely positioned to guide children and their families in navigating these challenges.

What You Can Do In Your Setting

• Register on the Safer Internet Day website: Sign up for updates and access a wealth of information and resources at Safer Internet Day UK.
• Download Free Resources: Explore advice, factsheets, activity packs, and virtual assemblies tailored to children and families.
• Host Awareness Events: Organise workshops for staff and parents, inviting local internet safety experts to share insights.
• Conduct Research: Assess how children and families in your setting engage with technology to identify specific needs.
• Promote the Day: Use social media to spread awareness of your initiatives and amplify the message of Safer Internet Day.
• Educate Staff: Provide training to ensure everyone understands online risks and knows how to mitigate them.
• Engage Children: Have age-appropriate discussions about online safety, using storytelling and interactive activities

Moreover, it is crucial to align with the principles outlined in the Young People's Charter, emphasising the importance of education on online safety, empowering young people to take appropriate actions, and holding both gaming companies and the government accountable for creating a secure online environment.

As responsible adults, fostering open dialogues with children about their internet use remains paramount. Reassuring them of your support and encouraging them to seek help if anything online worries or upsets them is essential. For more information, refer to the UK Safer Internet Centre's website and explore additional resources provided by organisations such as NSPCC, Ofcom, Kidscape, Parents Protect, and Internet Matters.

?Supporting Families Beyond The Day?

Aligning with principles like those in the Young People’s Charter reinforces your commitment to creating a safer online space. Focus on:?

• Educating and Empowering: Help children understand how to act safely online and encourage them to seek help when needed.?
• Advocating for Accountability: Support measures that hold gaming companies and governments responsible for fostering secure online environments.?

Reassuring children that they can talk to trusted adults about their online experiences is vital. Use resources from organisations like the NSPCC, Kidscape, and Internet Matters to support these conversations.?

Make Safer Internet Day 2025 Count?

Taking small yet impactful actions can help children and young people develop the skills to thrive in a connected world. Whether it’s hosting a parent event, sharing resources, or encouraging open discussions, every effort contributes to a safer, more positive internet for the next generation.?

Together, let’s ensure Safer Internet Day 2025 leaves a lasting legacy in the lives of children, families, and the early years community.?