Bill Wiggin MP is backing the NSPCC’s new ‘Share Aware’ campaign which aims to get families talking about socialising safely online.
On Wednesday January 28, the North Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggin attended the launch of a new online guide created by the NSPCC to help inform parents about the risks of different social networking sites used by children.
Mr Wiggin said: “As a parent to young children, I know exactly how concerned parents are about their children’s safety online but many often don’t know where to start.
"This is why I’m supporting the NSPCC’s campaign and urging all families to talk about being ‘Share Aware’ on the internet. I hope parents will use the NSPCC’s no-nonsense guides to untangle the web, understand what their children may be doing online, and feel confident talking talking to them about how to stay safe.”
The NSPCC has created a new online guide to help inform parents about the risks of different social networking sites used by children.
This comes after an NSPCC survey revealed that three quarters of parents surveyed found sexual, violent, or other inappropriate content on Sickipedia, Omegle, Deviant Art, and F my Life within half an hour of logging into the sites.
An NSPCC panel of more than 500 parents from Mumsnet reviewed 48 social networking sites and said all those aimed at adults and teenagers were too easy for children under 13 to sign-up to. On more than 40 per cent of the sites, the panel struggled to locate privacy, reporting and safety information.
But those aimed at younger children, like Club Penguin, Moshi Monsters, Popjam and Bearville, fared better and parents did not find any unsuitable content on them.
The NSPCC also asked just under 2,000 children and young people which social
networking sites they used.
Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, said: “Children are taught from an early age that it is good to share but doing so online can be very dangerous. We must all be Share Aware.
Children worried about online safety or any other problem can call the free, 24-hour helpline on 0800 1111 or get help online at www.childline.org.uk
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