Ahmad*, 12, his sister Dina*, 6, and their mother Amani* look at photos on a phone

Siblings Ahmad*, 12, and Dina* 6 were asleep when the earthquake hit their home in the Aleppo Governorate, northern Syria. Their parents tried to protect them from the falling ceiling - Amani*, 28 used her body to shield her son and was injured. Their father Lutfi*, 33, broke his back. The family were trapped in the rubble for around 4 hours until neighbours were able to hear their cries for help. Their home was completely destroyed and they didn’t escape with any belongings. The family say that they are struggling in the aftermath, with no financial security and Dina* suffering from nightmares about her experiences. We first met the family while Lutfi* was in hospital. Ahmad* and Dina* were staying with their mother in a tent supplied by Save the Children partner organisation Shafaq. They were also given emergency supplies like blankets, food and clothes. A few days later Save the Children did a follow up and met Lutfi* who had been discharged but is on bed rest while he recovers. He was provided with medicine by Save the Children partner organisation Shafaq. Khalil Ashawi/Save the Children

Guide: How to help children you know stay safe online

6 Nov 2024 Global

The number of children with access to the internet is on the rise. Although it comes with huge benefits it can also leave children at an increased risk of harm. That's why together with experts in online safety we have develop a new series of  tips to help you keep your children safe online. 

More and more children are accessing the internet every day. New digital technologies and the content available at children's fingertips is constantly evolving. Technology can be extremely beneficial for children but with no appropriate measures it can impact the way they learn, play, interact, and  access information, whilst also leaving them at an increased risk of experiencing harm.

If you are worried about your child's online safety, look no further.

As a global leader in child protection and children participation, we are committed to working with and for children ensure they are safe on and offline. 

That's why together with experts in online safety we have developed a new series of  tips for parents, teachers, leaders of children’s clubs, social workers and anyone else who may interact with children to help them stay safe online. Keep scrolling to read the tips!

Abdulaye*, 11 and other children (from L to R: Mata, Saibatu, Hindolo* and Abdulaye*) taking portraits of each other in Djelah*, Sierra Leone

Abdulaye*, 11 and other children (from L to R: Mata, Saibatu, Hindolo* and Abdulaye*) taking portraits of each other in Djelah*, Sierra Leone. Shona Hamilton/Save the Children

8 ways you can help your children stay safe Online

1.STOP AND THINK BEFORE YOU SHARE

  • People with bad intentions can find and imitate you and your child with very few pieces of information
  • Never share full names or exact locations online or in apps
  • Disable precise location settings and don't share birth dates
  • If in doubt, leave it out

2. Consent

  • Ask older children permission before sharing consent or photos of them online. This helps them learn that they need to control their online presence.
  • Ask yourself, could your child be embarrassed that you've shared this?

3. DON'T REVEAL PERSONAL INFORMATION ONLINE

  • Don't share photographs of your child with a school logo or identifying information.
  • Don't reveal your location until you've left it behind:
    • Street signs
    • School signs
    • Holiday details
    • Hotel or cafe signs

4. EDUCATE YOURSELF 

  • Keep up to date with what's popular online and which trends could be dangerous
  • Ask your child's schools what they are teaching children about online safety
  • Learn from children which sites and apps they and their friends are spending time on
Iana* 17, Pavlo 12* and Daryna* 8 look at their phones in their homes in Suceava county, northern Romania

Iana* 17, Pavlo 12* and Daryna* 8 look at their phones in their homes in Suceava county, northern Romania. Alina Smutko/Save the Children

5. Share your experiences of using technology with your child

  • Ask your child if any of their friends have experienced problems online and what they did
  • Share the concerns you have about technology in an age-appropriate way
  • Give your children the right words to tell you if something has happened

6. Children copy you: show healthy technology habits

  • Reduce your own screen time
  • Avoid screens at meal times
  • Explain what you are doing when you are on a device in front of your children
  • If your child is trying to speak to you, put your phone away
  • Don’t play games in front of your children that are unsuitable for them to play

7. Discuss the impact of technology together with your child

These an be some useful questions to start conversations with your own children:

  • How do different technologies, sites, apps or games make you feel?
  • Do they affect your sleep, diet or exercise?
  • Does using technology affect your family life or friendships, for good or bad?

8. Agree on limits and alternatives

  • It can be easier to get children to stop using screens if you start the day with an offline activity
  • Stick to rules and routines you have set with your child
  • Once screen time is finished, turn the screen off
  • Remember that being bored isn’t always bad- it can encourage creativity

 

Do you know an adult or child that this could help? Save and share!

Related Blogs

Children are playing educational games on tablets at a Digital Learning Centre (Dnipro Region, East Ukraine)

Save the Children is opening Digital Learning Centers across Ukraine to fill the gap in children's education. The centers help children learn and socialize with peers, as many schools are now closed due to frequent shelling and a lack of bomb shelters. This Digital Learning Centre in the Dnipro region offers a variety of classes for children: Ukrainian, English, Math, IT, Communication Skills, 3D modeling, Critical Thinking, and many others. These centers are not just a place for children to study, they are a lifeline for their education. For instance, if a child doesn't have a personal laptop or tablet but has an online learning format at school, they can still continue their education by attending classes at the Digital Learning Centre. This ensures that children are included in their studies. Also, there are tablets with many educational games that children can use. "Games on these tablets differ from those on our personal phones. As those ones [that we have on our personal phones] don't improve our knowledge. But these ones that we have here – they are different! They are educational," says Vasylisa*, 9 . Under Save the Children's Humanitarian Fund, there are 16 Digital Learning Centers in the East of Ukraine. Over 1,550 children attend these centers. Anastasiia Zahoskina / Save the Children

05 Nov 2024

Global

Online Safety: What Adults Can Learn from Children

Across all cultures and ages, children are suspicious of people they don’t know online, and we see them developing strategies to protect themselves. But it shouldn’t be just their responsibility to stay safe online - they need adults, especially their parents and caregivers, to step up and help. 
READ MORE
Anna*, 7, poses for portrait as she studies with tablet in Digital Learning Center for teachers in Mykolaiv, Ukraine

Anna*, 7, poses for portrait as she study with tablet in Digital Learning Center for teachers in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. The Digital Learning Center for teachers, created in Mykolaiv by Save the Children with the support of the Japanese government and the Japanese Platform organization, has all the comfortable conditions for the work of teachers. This place is very convenient for teachers who want to communicate with other colleagues and children, need free space, Internet connection and computer equipment for work. There is also a shelter on the territory of the center, adults and children can carry out various activities in it. During the day, when we were filming the work of the center, teachers and children went down to the shelter twice due to an air alarm. Oleksandr Khomenko/Save the Children

20 Feb 2024

Global

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Child Protection: An Ethical Roadmap?

“Ask Save the Children” is a generative Artificial Intelligence tool intended to equip teachers, community leaders, and child protection professionals
READ MORE
Sarah, 11, with her Save the Children child protection officer, Daisy

Sarah, 11, was displaced from her home in January 2022 when cyclone Ana forced the Shira River to burst its bank, flooding her home and all of the surrounding land. Sarah and her family were forced to spend a night seeking refuge in a tree until her older brother came and resuced them all in a canoe, a hollowed out tree trunk to take them to safety. Safety was over the river and the surrounding land, which was dangerous in itself due to crocodiles and other animals, and the travel through the pitch dark. They left with nothing but the clothes on their back and settled in a refugee camp that is support by a number of charities, including Save the Children. Sarah was given psycho-social support from Save the Children where she did group therapy and received one to one support from our protection officer. She is now coping better and has managed to go back to school. While her and her family travel back to the flooded land to grow crops, the family cannot move back as their home is now completely destroyed. Thoko Chikondi / Save the Children

22 Oct 2024

Global

It is time for Governments to Redefine Child Protection and Celebrate their Diverse Workforce

Social workers play a crucial role in child protection, often overlooked by the public. This blog emphasizes the positive impact of social workers who support families and advocate for children's welfare globally and calls for investment in preventative and responsive child protection services to ensure every child thrives ahead of the Ministerial Conference to End Violence Against Children. 
READ MORE