Summary
The internet is a brilliant tool – all the information in the world, right at your fingertips. But with that comes a lot of upsetting and unsuitable stuff, like graphic violence or pornography. Here are some of our tips for protecting yourself against content that you don’t want to see, and to ensure your time browsing the web is safer and more enjoyable.
Safe search and good parental controls are some of the best ways to stay safe.
While the Internet is a great tool, it does contain a lot of unsuitable content such as violence or pornography. Depending on your age, your parent or carer may not be comfortable with you accessing content like that before you’re ready.
It also might just be distressing or upsetting for you, particularly if you’re not expecting it!
Parental controls won’t be able to filter out all of this content so your parent or carer might want to have a chat with you about what to do if you come across content that upsets you.
But before that, there are some things you can do to protect yourself while you’re online:
1. Educate yourself
You probably know a lot of the websites that contain inappropriate content.
Be honest with your parent or carer if they’re setting up parental controls, and they can make sure that those websites are filtered.
2. Avoid pop-ups
Pop-ups can often contain malware (viruses that can harm your computer or hack your accounts) or link to inappropriate websites. Avoid clicking on them where you can.
3. Have good anti-virus software
Anti-virus software protects both your device and you from malware and viruses from being downloaded to your device.
It can also warn you about websites that may not be secure or suitable for you to browse on.
4. Use Safe Search
Both Google and YouTube offer safe search modes which will return age-appropriate results when you search for something.
Remember that your parent or carer has your best interests at heart and only want to protect you from things that might upset or distress you.
If you do come across something like that, talk to them about it. An open dialogue is one of the best ways to build trust and show them that you can be trusted to act smartly and safely online!
If you see something violent, graphic or upsetting and don’t know who to turn to, you can always contact Childline for a one-to-one chat. It is confidential, and you can talk about absolutely anything you want. You can get in touch via the LiveChat button here on our website or on the phone (1800 66 66 66), we are here 24/7 every day.
Key takeaways
- There is a lot of inappropriate, upsetting and unpleasant content on the internet, but there are ways you can avoid seeing lots of it.
- Parental controls and safe search are a great way to manage what you see online – just be honest about which sites you need to filter.
- Chances are you might still see things that will upset or bother you – have a plan for what to do when that happens.
- Don’t click on pop-ups!
- Use good anti-virus software to protect you and your device.
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