Ten things you can do now to help children stay safe
- Understand what a device does before you buy. Don’t sign up for services you don’t want your children to access. Ask about blocking inappropriate service options.
- Make sure any device you purchase is appropriate to the age and experience of your child.
- Become familiar with the mobile technologies your children use or are introduced to by their friends.
- Don’t give your children mobile phones just for the sake of it – inform yourself of all the risks and benefits before making a decision.
- Create a family contract with agreed consequences for exceeding time limits or cost.
- Involve your children in decision-making about internet accounts, mobile phone services and price plans so that they share responsibility for the cost of their activities online.
- Don’t use prepaid mobile phone accounts if you need to monitor usage or manage SMS addiction.
- Strangers may be able to access information on your Bluetooth-enabled phone. Set your phone to ‘undiscoverable’.
- Use your phone’s handset PIN to protect it against unauthorised use. Keep your PIN numbers secret.
- Find and record your phone’s IMEI number. This can assist police in recovering a lost or stolen phone.
| Never | Always |
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| Never tell anyone you meet on the internet your telephone number, home address or your school’s name unless your parent/guardian specifically gives you permission. |
Always be very careful in chat rooms. Even if a chat room says it is only for children, there is no way to tell if everyone there is really a child. It might be an adult or an older child trying to trick you. |
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Never send your picture, credit card or bank details to anyone, without first checking with your parent/guardian. |
Always check with your parent/guardian that it is okay to be in a chat room. |
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Never arrange to meet anyone unless your parent/guardian goes with you and you meet in a public place. People you contact online are not always who they seem or who they say they are. |
Always leave a chat room if someone says or writes something which makes you feel uncomfortable or worried and make sure you tell your parent/guardian. |
| Never open attachments to emails unless they come from someone you know and trust. They could contain viruses or other programs which would destroy all the information and software on your computer. | Always keep your password to yourself; do not tell anyone what it is. |
| Never respond to nasty or suggestive messages and always tell your parent/guardian if you get these. | Always stay away from sites that say they are for people over 18 only. The warnings are there to protect you. Adult sites can sometimes cost a lot more on your phone bill too. |
| Always remember if someone makes you an offer that seems too good to be true, it is probably a trick. |
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