Staying safe online

The internet is a brilliant place to connect with others, to be creative and to discover new things. We’ve put together some tips to help you use the internet safely, responsibly and positively.

Bullying

Online bullying, sometimes called cyberbullying, is any behaviour that uses technology and devices to deliberately target or upset you. For more information, click here.

Digital Wellbeing

Going online and using technology can impact your emotions and mental health. Digital wellbeing is about recognising the way going online makes you feel and knowing how to manage this. For more information, click here.

Online grooming

Online grooming is when someone builds a relationship with you online because they want to trick or pressure you into doing something that may hurt or harm you. For more information, click here.

Social Media

Social media is a great way to share content with your friends. You’re often able to share and view a whole range of videos, photos, music and chat. Popular social media services include: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Twitter. For more information and advice, click here.

Privacy Settings

Privacy settings (sometimes called privacy controls) are the tools provided as part of an online account to protect the information and content you’re sharing. For information about why privacy settings are important and how you turn them on, click here.

If something upsets you online or you’re worried about a friend it can really help to talk to someone. Talking to an adult you know and trust is a good starting point, but if you don’t want to speak to someone you already know then there are other options.

If something has been shared online which is upsetting you, you may be able to report it.

There’s more information about all of the different support available when things go wrong online here