The Northern Ireland Executive has set up a dedicated website to help parents, carers and young people stay safe online.
Named the Online Safety Hub, it has been developed by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) and Ineqe Safeguarding Group, with funding from the Department of Health.
The site is split into two sections – one for parents and carers, the other for young people – and includes information on a variety of topics including how to manage screen time, understanding the latest gaming platforms and reporting inappropriate content.
It also includes assistive software, including text-to-speech and translation support, to make it more accessible.
Safe and happy
Bernie McNally, chair of SBNI said: “It is every child’s right to feel safe and happy and to be able to explore their online spaces safely, knowledgeably and without fear. Education on the online risks to wellbeing and safety, and knowing what to do and where to turn when something doesn’t feel right is essential.
“The hub will support parents and carers to build their knowledge and confidence to help them feel better equipped to support their child’s online activity, as well as giving young people the advice and tools they need to stay safe. It brings together a range of excellent resources from multi-agency organisations to help young people, carers, professionals and the general public easily access them all in one central place.”
