Keeping young people safe online this Summer with Internet Matters and Plusnet -

During lockdown children across the UK were having to access the internet independently, many for the first time, navigate web pages and team meetings and learn from new apps and platforms in order to stay connected. And whilst keeping my children safe on line is always at the forefront of my mind when they are using their devices, as a busy Mum of four, working full time from home, it would be impossible to watch what they are doing every second of every day. Although there were so many benefits to children using technology and the internet at this time, it has never been more important to make sure that with the Summer holidays ahead of us, this isn’t now affecting their digital wellbeing in a negative way.

Over the next six weeks with the children at home I’m sure I won’t be the only parent who is having to resort to screen time during those moments I’m juggling work, wet weather or simply needing a moment to gather my thoughts. There will be times when the children’s grandparents have to step in and help out, when they may take their tablets with them for the day, or use Grandparents computers, and with all of this in mind Internet Matters has partnered with Plusnet to create a simple guide for grandparents on keeping young people safe on line this Summer.

Our children are hugely fortunate to have such attentive and loving grandparents, something I never take forgranted, but as is always the case with the older generation, often they aren’t quite as clued up when it comes to the internet and navigating concerns such as screen time, setting parental controls, gaming and managing money online. Thanks to the guide it will not only give Grandparents the information they need to keep the children safe online, but also keep them up to speed with the latest habits and trends so they can have conversations with their grandchildren about their online life.

Internet Matters and Plusnet share that since the pandemic began, they have seen a 42% increase in children spending money online, a 43% increase in livestreaming and a 89% increase in children actively broadcasting their own videos. Although I am always in awe of how clued up our children are online, and I encourage their creativity and interests, safety is paramount and knowing that there is a guide out there to share with those who care for my child when I can’t be there is hugely reassuring.

One of the most interesting parts of the guide for me was the advice on gaming and particularly things like in-app purchases, something I worry about a lot. I have heard far too many horror stories over the last year where children have accessed in-app purchases and spent a fortune on games such as Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite. Making sure grandparents are clued up about this kind of thing is so important as I know my parents have no idea about this kind of thing and wouldn’t even realise what the children were pressing on until they got a panicked phone call from me asking why money is being taken from my bank!

The guide also gives some really good advice on gaming in general, especially about knowing who your grandchild is playing with online and what games they are playing. The guide advise things like educating them to check age-ratings of games, searching the name of the game in the App store and check its PEGI age rating as well as having regular conversations about the games they are playing too and most importantly, who with.

You can read the full guide and share with carers and grandparents here. I’m sure it’s going to be a really valuable resource for both parents, carers and grandparents this Summer and help to keep young people as safe as possible online.