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Internet Safety Resources, Guides and Tips
While not a definitive list, here’s a good start on keeping yourself and your family safe online: Advice and Resources for Parents and Caregivers, Teachers and Schools, and Children
The UK Safer Internet Centre compiled a comprehensive Resources page stuffed with information for parents, children, teachers and schools, including:
- A Parent’s Guide to Technology – a guide to help parents better understand the various digital gadgets and mobile devices kids are using today, including smartphones, gaming systems and internet-enabled mobile devices.
- Young People and Social Networking Sites – this leaflet (PDF) serves as a guide for parents, care givers and teachers about social networking websites. It includes insights into the often ignored age restrictions of Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and other popular sites, with advice about online privacy, tips for the various types of content that can be shared, and more.
How to Protect Your Family Online
Google UK maintains this family safety website to provide parents and teachers with tools, tips and advice about how to control the content their children see online, plus other resources to help kids understand how to use Google services safely.
Vodafone Digital Parenting Website
Vodafone is a British multinational telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Vodafone put together this online portal to compliment its Digital Parenting magazine, and to help parents come to terms with and get involved in protecting children in their digital world. The website includes age-specific safety checklists for newly handed down mobile devices to children, and other resources to help better understand the key technologies behind the Internet and apps kids are using.
A Platform for Good
A Platform for Good is a project of the Family Online Safety Institute designed to help parents, teachers and teens to connect, share and do good online.
StaySafeOnline.org Resources
StaySafeOnline provides a growing resource library of self-help tip sheets, studies, and infographics intended to help people protect themselves, their family and their devices and personal information.
Internet Safety Technology, Tools and Apps
StaySafe.org
StaySafe.org is an online safety resource center from the National Home Security Alliance.
Firefox Helps You Stay Safe
The Firefox web browser has long incorporated features to help make surfing the Internet safer. This website discusses some of those features, including ways to protect your privacy, how to browse with security and how to stay in control. Learn more about Firefox security features.
Online Safety for Children & Teens (CyberInsure One)
The CyberInsure One tool and resource provides insights and data to help children and young adults at any age stay safe and get the most out of their online experiences.
Internet Safety Advocates and Organizations
The following companies, organizations, and committees help curate the internet to keep it free from objectionable content and safe for users of all ages.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is dedicated to eradicating the sexual abuse of children. That means they are part of UK policing and very much about tracking and bringing offenders to account either directly or in partnership with local and international forces.
Childnet International
Childnet International is a non-profit organization working with others to “help make the Internet a great and safe place for children.” This organization has produced many award-winning projects including Childnet Hub, with top tips, competitions, blogs and advice to help use the internet safely, responsibly and positively.
Internet Watch Foundation
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) was established in 1996 by the internet industry to provide the UK internet Hotline for the public and IT professionals to report criminal online content in a secure and confidential way. The Hotline service can be used anonymously to report content within the IWF’s remit. The IWF works in partnership with the online industry, law enforcement, government, and international partners to minimize the availability of child sexual abuse images hosted anywhere in the world, criminally obscene adult content hosted in the UK and non-photographic child sexual abuse images hosted in the UK. zvelo is a proud member of the IWF.
iSAFE.org
i-SAFE is a blended compliance enterprise solution that combines the power of technology, traditional curriculum and the influence of social media to educate and empower students through cutting-edge e-Safety education platforms. This organization maintains X-BLOCK, the place for students to hang out, learn about cyber safety and share their online experiences with others. i-SAFE also provides resources for educators and parents.
South West Grid for Learning
South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) is a not for profit, charitable trust company, funded by 15 Local Authorities across the South West of England. It provides maintained schools and many other educational establishments throughout the region with safe, secure and reliable broadband internet connectivity; broadband-enabled learning resources and services and help, support and advice in using the internet safely. They offer an Online Safety Services web page for parents, schools and young people.
Keeping Kids Safe
This guide on internet safety for kids was put together by O2, a leading provider of mobile and broadband services to consumers and businesses in the UK. The guide helps adults understand what kids really do on their mobile devices and the Web. I also serves to help parents and kids more openly discuss online risks, so they know how to protect themselves.