Child Protection in Angus
Information for Children and Young People - Internet and Mobile Phone Safety
Children/Young People
- Do you use a mobile?
- Do you text?
- Do you use the Internet?
Mobiles
Texting, chatting and video messaging can be fun, and are now part of normal life and mostly do not cause any problems. However you need to be aware of the following:
- Please remember, once you send pictures or other personal details, you never know where they might end up.
- Do you know who has your number, or where it might end up? Numbers can be passed on very easily and it is impossible to control where they may go.
- Where might the pictures you send end up? The same goes for a camera phone.
Always think before you send.
Do not give out personal details to people you do not know
Personal details include things like:-
- your home address
- your mobile number
- pictures of you or your family and friends
Never reply to texts from people you don't know
Sometimes text can be sent to you from people you do not know. If you do not know the sender it's best to delete them straight away.
Tell your parents or teacher if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried.
Never be afraid to let someone know if you feel bullied or uncomfortable about anything you've been sent or see online.
Top Tips to keep you safe:-
- Do not give out your name, address or telephone number to people you don't know
- Do not arrange to meet anyone you don't know
- If you are not sure about something, ask an adult you trust
- Never play the 'happy slappy' game.
Internet Safety
Think before you click
Emailing, surfing the net and chatrooms can be fun and are now part of normal life. Most of the time these activities do not cause any problems; however you need to be aware of the following:
Surfing the web
- Be careful about sites that ask for lots of personal details, you never know where that information goes
- If you see anything on a website that upsets you, turn off the screen, and tell an adult you trust
- Avoid opening pop ups as much as possible
Chat Rooms
- You might think you've some really cool friends in chat rooms or through IM, but how can you be sure who you are talking to?
- The person may appear friendly and trustworthy but then again they may not be
- If you haven't met them in real life, you need to remember that they're a stranger. 'Stranger Danger' still applies!
What is Grooming?
This is the term used when and adult gradually gets to know a young person by pretending they are safe and friendly, when in fact they plan to abuse the young person or try to have sex with them. Grooming is now a specific criminal offence.
Grooming - who are these people?
- Adults who may pretend to be a young person and who make contact with you via a mobile phone or in internet chat rooms
- Adults who want to know lots of details about you and who want to meet you
- Adults who may claim that they love you
- Adults whose intention is to have sex with you
Did you know?
- The number of adults attempting to groom children and young people across Scotland including Angus is increasing
- The people who sexually abuse children and young people are not always strangers: they can be friends, family members or other trusted adults
- They may go out of their way to be friendly and to get you to trust them; this makes it easier for them to hurt you without getting caught
Mobile and Internet Safety
So you think you know more than adults when it comes to technology? You're probably right. However there are some things you should know to help keep you safe:-
Never
- give out your name, address or telephone number to people you don't know
- give out personal bank information or details
- arrange to meet with people alone - always take a friend or trusted adult and always arrange to meet in a public place
Don't
- engage in sexual talk
- go into adult chat rooms
- use a web cam without telling an adult you trust
- play the 'happy slappy' game
The way to stay safe online is the same as it is in everyday life. Understand the dangers and follow some simple guidelines to help you stay out of trouble.
If someone you're chatting to starts to make you feel uncomfortable tell someone you trust or you can report it to police online at www.virtualglobaltaskforce.com
Contacts
- Internet Watch Foundation - The IWF is a recognised organisation in the UK operating an internet 'Hotline' for the public and IT professionals to report their exposure to potentially illegal content online.
- Clickthinking - Information for parents and carers provided by the Scottish Government with advice on how to avoid risks, to clarify the potential risks and empower teacher and pupils to use the Internet in a safe and informed way.
- Thinkuknow - provides information from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) on how children and young people can stay safe online. Includes information on mobiles, internet, chatting, blogging and gaming. You can also report anything you feel uncomfortable or worried about someone you are chatting to online.
- Childnet International - works in partnership with others around the world to help make the Internet a great and safe place for children. On this website you can read about the way they have sought to promote the positive and highlight the creative and inspiring ways children and young people are using the medium for good.
- Chatdanger is a site all about the potential dangers on interactive services online like chat, IM, online games, email and on mobiles with tips on how to keep safe while chatting online
- Kidsmart is an internet safety programme website for schools, young people, parents, and agencies, produced by the children's internet charity Childnet International.
- Child Exploitation Online Protection - Thinkuknow.co.uk has been created for children and young people. It's full of great stuff on how to stay safe online.