Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog

“How can we best teach our kids to be streetwise and safe when they’re online?”

– Dr Hilary Jones, advisor with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP).

It’s a fact of life: kids will be kids and will always want push the boundaries as they grow up. It’s no different with the internet and there’s no getting away from the reality that it’s a big part of young people’s lives today.

That’s why Dr Hilary Jones and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) are working in conjunction with Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers as part of the EU’s Safer Internet Day. CEOP are taking their Think U Know awareness campaign online today and to schools all over the UK.

“We need to help children and young people learn on how to stay in control when they’re online and empower them to take action when something (or someone) worries or scares them,” explain CEOP. “Young people should be able to talk openly about their experiences online – both good and bad – with their parents and carers, including teachers, and most importantly with each other. There’s some great work going on in schools and communities to make this happen and some great resources for parents and schools to use.” If you’re looking for more info, check www.thinkuknow.co.uk or watch CEOP’s video.

Any young person who’s concerned about something they’ve seen or done on the internet should talk to a responsible adult or, if they want to talk in confidence, they can call Childline on 0800 11 11 or get online advice from the NSPCC at www.there4me.com.

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team