Safer Internet Day 2025: Staying Safe Online Every Day

Safer Internet Day, 11th February 2025 is celebrated annually to promote the safe and responsible use of technology. This year, during the week, we’ve shared valuable tips to help everyone - students, parents, and gamers - stay safe in the digital world. While the day may have passed, online safety should always be a priority. Here’s a roundup of our key advice from this week:

1. Cybersecurity Tips for Kids and Teens:

· Create Strong Passwords: Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, or use three words to make a memorable phrase. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or pet names.

· Recognise Phishing Scams: Be cautious of emails or messages from unknown sources asking for personal information. Look for signs like poor grammar, urgent language, or unfamiliar links.

· Safe Social Media Usage: Set profiles to private, only accept friend requests from people you know, and think before you post. Avoid sharing personal information like your address or phone number.

2. How to Identify and Avoid Online Scams:

· Common Online Scams: Be aware of scams like fake online stores, lottery scams, and tech support scams. Scammers often use high-pressure tactics to trick you.

· Spotting Suspicious Activities: Look for red flags such as deals that seem too good to be true, requests for payment via untraceable methods, or unsolicited offers.

· Reporting Scams: Know how to report scams to authorities or platforms. This can help prevent others from falling victim.

3. Implementing Parental Controls for Safer Internet Use:

· Benefits of Parental Controls: Helps monitor and limit children's online activities, ensuring they access age-appropriate content and avoid harmful sites.

· Setting Up Parental Controls: Provide a step-by-step guide for different devices and platforms, such as smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and streaming services.

· Monitoring and Adjusting Settings: Regularly review and adjust settings as children grow and their internet usage changes.

· Parental controls are available for Android and Apple phones and windows devices

4. Digital Footprint: What It Is and Why It Matters:

· Understanding Digital Footprint: Every online action, from social media posts to search history, contributes to a digital footprint.

· Long-term Impact: Your digital footprint can affect future opportunities, such as college admissions or job prospects. Look at the number of political candidates, for example, who have had to step back when their social media history has been revealed.

· Managing Your Digital Footprint: Always consider whether old accounts are still relevant, and delete if they are not. Be aware of what you post, where you post and, and never assume that something posted privately will stay that way.

5. Safe Online Gaming Practices:

· Guidelines for Safe Gaming: Always use strong, unique passwords, make sure two-factor authentication is enabled, and be cautious of in-game purchases, they can get very expensive very quickly.

· Addressing Cyberbullying: Learn how to report bullying or other unpleasant interactions in game, avoid the use of foul, inappropriate or discriminatory language, always be willing to talk to a parent, guardian or other trusted adult if actions within the game are making you stressed or unhappy.

· Interacting with Strangers: Always be cautious when interacting with strangers online. Avoid sharing personal information and report any suspicious behaviour.

Safer Internet Day may be over, but online safety should be daily practice. By following these tips, we can all contribute to a safer and more responsible digital world. Let’s stay informed, stay cautious, and make the internet a better place for everyone!