A guide for parents, carers and family members
This information is for parents, caregivers and family members and it offers guidance on understanding the benefits and risks of online use, how to talk to your child about their online activity and how to direct them to safe spaces for support.
We know talking about this isn’t always easy and we want to help you feel more comfortable having conversations and making decisions that are right for you and your family.
A previous blog discusses how to support the development of online safety habits, including how to talk to your child about their online activity and how to direct them to safe spaces for support. This blog discusses what to do if they are engaging with harmful content online.
What if I find out they are looking at harmful content?
If you are worried about the content your loved one is viewing, it can help to follow the tips in our previous blog and have regular conversations about online use.
You can also report any content that you have seen that worries you. See the Samaritans guidance on reporting content for more information.
If it is a young person, you might consider reducing access to the internet as an extra step, however, this is a complex decision and should be made together where possible. Some people may feel relieved if their access to the internet is removed but many might see it as a punishment, increasing feelings of isolation and limiting their access to what might feel like their only source of support.
What tools are available to help me?
If you are supporting a young person, you might choose to use online tools and settings to control the time they spend online at home and what they see. What will work for you and your family will depend on the age of your child and their ability to use technology to get around the controls.
Internet Matters provides detailed free guides on the controls and settings for different social media platforms, devices, search engines, entertainment devices and gaming.
Although these tools and controls can be an important part of your approach, they are unlikely to be enough on their own. Building trust through open conversations about staying safe online will help make sure they know where to go for help if they need it.
What is being done about harmful content online?
Achieve Foundation works with other charities and in collaboration with government and technology platforms to reduce access to harmful content and promote more opportunities for support online for vulnerable users.
The UK government are also currently bringing in new laws (called the Online Safety Bill) to make the online environment safer. This will mean that online platforms where users can post their own content will be held to account for hosting harmful content. To find out more and get involved, see our page on supporting our drive for digital literacy.
