Building safe connections online
To mark Children’s Mental Health Week, psychologists offer advice and guidance on how children and young people can stay safe online and build meaningful connections.
10 February 2023
With the Online Safety Bill continuing to make its way through parliament, we're reiterating our calls for it to be strengthened to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults from being exposed to 'legal but harmful' content.
The Division of Educational and Child Psychology (DECP) says that with children and young people spending increasing amounts of time online, there are risks that all should be aware of, and there may be some additional simple ways to use the internet more safely, in order to build connections and reap the positive benefits that the online sphere can bring.
Dr Victoria Lewis, vice chair of the DECP, said:
"The online world can open children up to fascinating content, and be a brilliant way for children to develop their imagination and creativity, however it can also be a risky world for children of all ages and their parents/carers.
"In order for children to stay safe while building connections online, it's important for there to be 'ground rules' for engaging with online networks, and to apply the use of privacy settings where appropriate.
"From an early age, parents and carers need to talk about online risks, aiming to be open and honest with the potential dangers that are age-appropriately flagged, while looking to create and maintain a safer space where children can talk to them about any concerns or issues they make have, or be experiencing. The key is to get involved and look to agree boundaries.
"One effective way in which parents and carers may support children online is through 'emotion coaching'. This is where we need to acknowledge the feelings of children and young people, and also to then look to collaboratively problem-solve.
"In relation to what they have seen or experienced online we might say to the child 'that was a scary picture/message, are you ok? Can you tell me about it and what you think happened?' This would be before looking to take steps and problem-solve which ideally will be done collaboratively."
Dr Lewis also advises that adults remain calm when discussing online content and behaviours and can show the child that they are someone that can be turned to in times of difficulty.
"It will be important to consider whether the online behaviours are successful for the child or young person", she adds. "This may mean muting accounts that feel bad, ensuring instead that accounts you follow or engage with make you feel good.
"It is essential that children and young people can speak to trusted adults about any accounts or content that they are engaging with that don't make them feel great."