Children and the Internet

The internet is a gateway to information, education and fun, but it is largely unregulated, anonymous and can pose dangers not only to our own sensibilities and sense of decency, but real 'stranger danger' and paedophile approach to children.

Our children are often more computer literate than we are and this can lead to a sense of not being able to protect our children from those dangers. However, there are some things which we can do to help keep our children safe. The following are some suggestions:

1. Get wise - as parents and adults, we need to understand the dangers and the issues. See Children and the Internet Seminar, Advice for Parents, Receiving unsolicited emails and Filtering and rating Software.
2. Educate the children to use the Internet responsibly. See Guidelines for Children Using the Internet.
3. If you come across child pornography on the Internet, report it to www.iwf.org.uk
4. We can all pray about the Internet and all who provide content, host sites, all who work to regulate the Internet and all who use the Internet. The Rt Revd Ian Brackley, the Bishop of Dorking, has contributed a prayer you may like to use. See Prayer for the Internet.
5. Raise the issues locally, host a seminar for local parents, teachers, group leaders and all interested in safeguarding children from the dangers of the Internet. Write to your MP and press for better regulation. If you would like to host a seminar, please contact Tony Oakden.

Tony Oakden
Church's Community Care Adviser

Some useful websites:
www.net-consumers.org - the offical site of European Research into Consumer Affairs (ERICA)
www.iwf.org.uk - a site to report any child pornography found on the Internet through their hotline, plus other useful information
www.nch.org.uk - useful advice on children and the Internet

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