More children than ever now have access to the internet, with as many as half of all 10-year-olds owning a smartphone. Some spend more time chatting online than they do with friends or relatives in person.
As parents, we know the huge benefits the online world can bring to our children – opening up new horizons at the swipe of a screen – but we also have to be alive to the horrific dangers it can harbour.
The past weeks have undoubtedly been a difficult time for families, with parents having to juggle work and homeschooling. Many will be even more anxious after hearing warnings that internet predators may take advantage of the fact that children are off school and spending longer online.
I share your concerns and will use the full might of our law against these vile criminals. As Home Secretary, I work across government and policing to help ensure vulnerable children are protected from abuse. But as a parent, I too worry about my son when he spends hours on his phone. We don’t want to take our children’s devices away from them, but we need to make sure that they’re being protected from people approaching them who intend to do them harm.
Thankfully, parents don’t have to navigate the complexities of internet safety alone. Forums like Mumsnet are a wonderful way to brainstorm ideas, support each other and share experiences of the different ways children are dealing with the pressures of the lockdown, and some of the threats and challenges they are confronted with.
There are also plenty of resources developed by specialists and children’s charities which can help parents protect their children online, and we have compiled this guidance to help parents and carers find the right ones. It highlights the importance of age-appropriate parental controls, which I use myself for my son. These controls can help block unsuitable content, including nudity or excessive violence, or prevent children from buying things when playing games.
Our excellent law enforcement agencies are also working flat out to keep our children safe, including advising parents and carers how they can play their part. The National Crime Agency’s Thinkuknow campaign helps children of all ages develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to identify risk online and access help when they need it. The campaign includes animations for primary-age children and, for teens, guidance on relationships and sending images.
It also advises on steps we can all take to protect our children. This can be keeping communication channels open and talking to them about online dangers, or discussing their favourite new websites and apps – which may have changed during the pandemic. For younger children, it is also advised to talk about online safety as soon as they have an interest in using a family device – Thinkuknow has lots of advice on how to do this in an age-appropriate way.
Alongside ensuring parents are armed with the tools they need to protect their families, I am working across the government and with charities to ensure our children stay safe. The amazing voluntary sector has been ramping up their efforts to protect young people in this time of crisis, and we are continuing to work together to ensure that victims and survivors have access to the best possible support.
My mission to make the internet a safe place for young people to thrive has not been thrown off course by Coronavirus. The government continues to work at pace on our Online Harms legislation, which will place a legal duty on tech firms to protect vulnerable users from harmful content.
And we are acting now to do more when the most vulnerable children may need it most. That includes those who are not safe in their own homes, who may feel particularly vulnerable, afraid and exposed during the lockdown period. Last month, the Prime Minister hosted a Hidden Harms Summit to bring together experts and organisations to explore what more we can do to protect vulnerable people during and after lockdown, including children at risk of sexual abuse.
Have no doubt, while children are at risk of these heinous crimes, we will provide help wherever it is needed. As a Government we’ve provided additional funding of over £3.2 billion for local authorities, helping them to support the most vulnerable during lockdown. We have also invested £1.6 million to expand and promote the NSPCC’s helpline for adults, offering advice and support on how to raise concerns about children at risk.
Our next big step will be to publish a national strategy later this year to tackle all forms of child sexual abuse and bring predators to justice.
My message to worried parents is simple. I know how you feel, I share your horror, and I will not stop until we have rooted out the abusers who prey on our children. I have met with victims of sickening child sexual abuse and their stories have only strengthened my resolve to prevent this horrendous crime from shattering the lives of more young people and their families.
That is why I will continue to do everything in my power to crack down on abusers online and offline, and to arm you with the support and tools you need to reduce your child’s risk of being targeted by paedophiles.
As parents, we keep our children’s welfare at the heart of everything we do. Let’s join forces to ensure our loved ones are using the internet in a safe way. Protecting our children’s lives and securing their futures, during lockdown and beyond.
The Home Secretary will respond to some comments and questions next week.