To mark Safer Internet Day 2021, parents and carers are being encouraged to work with their children to navigate the range of information and opportunities online.
Safer Internet Day is celebrated every year on 9 February. It aims to raise awareness of online issues and encourages parents, teachers, and the government to make the internet safer and better for all users, including children and young people.
This year’s theme is ‘An internet we trust: exploring reliability in the online world.’ The theme has been chosen to focus on how internet users can evaluate the reliability of online sources, and ensure they stay safe online.
To mark the day, Jersey’s Government will join the British Irish Council (BIC) in launching new advice on how all Islanders can be included online while staying safe.
The Government’s Learning At Home website has been updated with a range of new activities and videos to help parents, teachers, and children and young people observe Safer Internet Day together.
Parents and carers can help their children stay safe online by:
• having regular conversations with their children about how they use online technology, and what they like and dislike • exploring online safety resources together. Thinkuknow provides regular, age-appropriate activities and information for children aged 3-16 • reviewing parental controls on the devices their child uses • reminding children and young people to report anything that makes them feel uncomfortable online, either to a trusted adult, by calling Childline on 0800 1111, or through the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP).
Minister for Children and Housing, Deputy Jeremy Maçon, said: “We know that many children and young people have spent more time online in the last year due to the COVID-19 restrictions, including the closure of schools during the Stay Home order last year.
“The internet offers amazing opportunities for exploration, learning and development. These opportunities do come with risks however, from misinformation, to cyberbullying and other more serious safeguarding issues. The principles of being ‘media smart’ apply
just as much to the internet.
“Schools already do fantastic work to help children stay safe online, but Safer Internet Day is an ideal time to remind parents and carers of the small, practical steps they can take to protect their children while they’re online.”
More information is available on the Learning At Home website: https://learningathome.gov.je/safer-internet-day/