Internet & Social Media Safety

Internet safety is about ensuring that vulnerable people are protected from harm and are supported to achieve the maximum benefit from new and developing technologies without exposing themselves or others to harm.

Certain groups are particularly vulnerable to bullying, inappropriate sexualised behaviour or exploitation.

Social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook are virtual communities, which can be comprised of people of a variety of different ages and backgrounds.

For general information on staying safe online, visit our E-Safety pages

Examples

"I don’t know how to protect my child from contact with unknown people on the internet."

Solution: For practical advice visit: www.northumbria.police.uk/esafety or saferinternet.org.uk's pages for parents and carers
"My daughter has been contacted by an unknown person and has received sexually suggestive messages and requests"

Solution: Report this to the police. Different ways to contact us can be found by visiting: www.northumbria.police.uk/contact
"My son aged 14 has accessed websites containing sexual content"

Solution: Devices can be blocked from age relevant material. Visit saferinternet.org.uk for more information.

Who deals with this?

If the contact refers to criminal offences, abuse or vulnerability issues, contact Northumbria Police.

If you need advice on Internet safety visit the Northumbria Police E-Safety Website in the first instance.

For more specific information,

Safer Internet - Parental controls
Safer Internet -Smartphone Safety
Safer Internet -Internet connected device Safety
Safer Internet -Social Network Safety
E-Safety - Safeguarding Children

Useful Support Websites

Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), for reporting criminal On-line content (child abuse and criminally obscene adult content hosted in the UK). Content hosted in UK can be removed within 60 minutes of a report being submitted. This organisation works with the UK police and many other agencies nationally and internationally:

https://www.iwf.org.uk

CEOP, Child Exploitation and On-line Protection Centre, to report on-line child sexual abuse and exploitation:

https://www.ceop.police.uk

Thinkuknow, guide to internet safety and surfing for young people and parents:

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk

Report-it, Bullying, Harassment and Hate Abuse help and support sites:

http://www.report-it.org.uk/bullying_and_harassment

Ebay, Customer Services:

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/account/contact-customer-support.html

Facebook, guidance on how to report inappropriate things on Facebook (nudity, violence etc):

https://www.facebook.com/help/181495968648557

Twitter, guidance on how to report abusive or harassing behaviour: