Advice for parents
Here are some of the risks that children may face online:
- Viewing inappropriate content
- Inappropriate contact by a stranger
- Cyber-bullying
- Grooming
- Peer-on-peer abuse
- Child Sexual Exploitation
- Radicalisation
On this page you will find useful links to help you keep your children safe online.
Support and advice on:
- Cyberbullying
- Inappropriate content – how to stop your children seeing things they shouldn’t
- Strangers online – the risks of online connections
- Keeping children safe online
- What (and what not to) share online
- Gaming – find out about online gaming and how to manage the risks
- Sexting
- Advice on apps
- Online addiction
- Devices – how to choose the correct device for your child
- Downloading – how to download safely
- Paying for extras – learn about extra charges and how to manage them
Staying safe online and on mobile. Online safety advice looking at:
- Online games – helping children to play safely
- How to set up parental controls
Find out information on specific apps, games or sites, including:
- Age restrictions
- What the app or site is used for
- Reporting
- Privacy settings
- Safety and support
Apps, sites and games are rated and parents and young people submit their experiences of what inappropriate content they encountered, rating against:
- Sexual
- Violence and hatred
- Bullying
- Suicide and self-harm
How to protect your child from abuse online.
- Social media guides
- Live streaming – responding to the risks
- Using parental controls
- How to get help and support
If you’re worried that your child is being groomed online or sexually exploited you should report your concerns to CEOP.
It is not always easy to spot the signs of online grooming and sexual exploitation so if you have any concern at all about someone your child is in contact with, you should get in touch.
You should always report if your child is or has been in contact with someone who is:
- Chatting online to your child about sex
- Asking them to do sexual things on webcam
- Asking to meet up if they’ve only met them online
- Requesting sexual pictures
- Forcing them into sexual activity
- Making them feel unsafe
CEOP is a command of the National Crime Agency and can investigate what is happening – with the assurance that the safety and wellbeing of your child is paramount at all times.
If you are concerned that your child is in immediate danger, call 999.
Articles on:
- Apps and social media
- Online identity
- Gaming
- Illegal content
- Boundaries
- Reporting
- Download a parent e-safety app
- Get age-specific advice
- Expert Q&A
- Issues that could be affecting your child