Talk to Virgin Media about your internet habits and internet safety for your DCs - you could win an iPad Air! NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

Virgin Media have asked us to find out out about Mumsnetters' internet habits, as well as internet safety for your DCs.

Virgin Media say "At Virgin Media we know that the online world offers loads of opportunities for kids to have fun, explore and learn new things. But there might also be some things that you’d rather your child didn’t see or do. The web's packed with fun and informative stuff for your kids to explore but, just like in the real world, there are things we all need to watch out for. Experts say that much of what you know about parenting in the real world also applies online, and at the end of the day, you know your kids best! So, we'd love to hear about how you and your children use the internet"

Below are a few points to get you started, but feel free to add any other comments you have:

• How do you help your DC(s) be responsible and stay safe in the real world? Can this be applied online?
• How do you help your DC(s) make the most of the online world, and become a safe and responsible user(s) of the internet?
• Last time you were choosing your broadband and TV services, how did you make your decision? Was it based on things like recommendations from friends or family, or reviews? Did you buy online, over the phone or go into a store?
• How important is the speed of internet in your household? Do you know what your broadband speeds allows you? What do you know about fibre optic broadband?

Please note, Virgin Media may use your comments on social media and elsewhere, so please only comment if you're happy with this.

Everyone who adds a comment to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad Air (Space Grey, 16GB and Wi-Fi enabled).

Thanks, and good luck!
MNHQ

PS - Check out Virgin Media's exclusive offers for Mumsnetters here.

The kids are too young to have unsupervised access to the internet at the moment (5 and 3), but yes, they already understand about passwords to keep things safe.

We switched broadband not that long ago, and went for unlimited downloads at best price. All on-line.

No fibre optics to select round here. Speed isn't great, but is fine for anything other than live streaming of video. Other than move, its not going to get any better by switching provider.

DC are small so only five year old uses internet and that is only CBeebies and CBeebies iplayer. I intended to keep internet use downstairs in supervised areas for as long as possible. There will be unsupervised use though and I believe teaching internet safety is now a hugely important part of parenting. We already talk to oldest DC about keeping safe, not giving out personal information and being aware of their online presence and how visible it is.

We have always prioritised fast and unlimited broadband and bought based on that.

How do you help your DC(s) be responsible and stay safe in the real world? Can this be applied online?

It is a fine line between scaring the children and keeping them informed. Stepwise information, and gradual relaxation of boundaries. Online is a different ballgame, although it is the same principles. School do internet safety education also.

• How do you help your DC(s) make the most of the online world, and become a safe and responsible user(s) of the internet?

At present they don't. I limit screentime, and allow a controlled amount of internet usage.

• Last time you were choosing your broadband and TV services, how did you make your decision? Was it based on things like recommendations from friends or family, or reviews? Did you buy online, over the phone or go into a store?

I chose the package based on the nest deal - as I needed a new phoneline Sky had a clever deal which beat the other packages hands down. I bought online.

• How important is the speed of internet in your household? Do you know what your broadband speeds allows you? What do you know about fibre optic broadband?

The speed of my internet is important, but abysmal, and frustrating as I live in a city. I managed to argue with SKY to have it reviewed when I could only access the internet with the phone on. The house five metres away has a much better speed than us, clearly this is something my little uneducated brain (with a degree and postgraduate qualifications) couldn't hope to understand. There is only so many hours of my life I can be bothered to waste looking into this, so fibre optic broadband is not something I have looked into.

• How do you help your DC(s) be responsible and stay safe in the real world? Can this be applied online?

Talk to them about what they are doing. Have conversations about their day, who they spoke to, what happened at school, what’s in the news etc. Communicate with them, listen to them, share your experiences, be an interested, involved & responsible parent.

• How do you help your DC(s) make the most of the online world, and become a safe and responsible user(s) of the internet?

When they were little I tried to be with them all the time they were online, set parental controls & made sure I knew what they were doing. Now it’s harder as they are independent teenagers, but I still ask them about what they are doing online, offer to help with things if they need it. If I see an article of a website that they might find useful, I email them a link!

• Last time you were choosing your broadband and TV services, how did you make your decision? Was it based on things like recommendations from friends or family, or reviews? Did you buy online, over the phone or go into a store?

I used a comparison website for price, and Which? Consumer magazine for reviews. I bought online too, but only after an online chat with them to check a few things first.

• How important is the speed of internet in your household? Do you know what your broadband speeds allows you? What do you know about fibre optic broadband?

It’s very important – but we’re really disappointed with what we’ve got. DS love online gaming & has given up on the Wifi connection and uses a cable now. It’s really hard to know if there’s a problem with our connection or equipment as we’re not technologically minded. Our provider hasn’t been helpful either.

How do you help your DC(s) be responsible and stay safe in the real world?
We've tried to encourage independence as far as possible, taking responsibility for your own actions. Then the more obvious stranger danger info and that they are never to accept a lift etc with people who are known to them unless we have given express permission.
Now that my youngest has a mobile phone I have asked her not to use it when cross roads etc.

How do you help your DC(s) make the most of the online world, and become a safe and responsible user(s) of the internet?
They have all had sessions at school regarding safe internet usage. We monitor what they do online and they understand that they can have internet use taken away from them.
If we have seen anything inappropriate we have taken action to inform other parents/school .... an awful 'chain letter' did the rounds on Kik about 18 months ago (pornographic language) - DD passed it on without reading it. We let parents know, and apologised. Spoke to school and the parents of children who passed it to DD.

Last time you were choosing your broadband and TV services, how did you make your decision? Was it based on things like recommendations from friends or family, or reviews? Did you buy online, over the phone or go into a store?
My husband chose the broadband package as we have a business telephone line only. He researched online.

How important is Broadband speed?
Very! With 5 people in the house often using the internet at once a reliable fast service is very important.
Fibre optic not an option for us because we live out in the sticks.

My DD is only 6, so supervision is key. As much as I love to use The Furchester Hotel game as a babysitter, I always stay close by so I can see what happens when she clicks away from her preferred sites.

Parental controls exclude too much resulting in continuously having to authorise each new web site visit (like CBEEBIES). We have therefore found that monitoring activity is the best way to keep the children safe .

My DD uses an iPad a lot but mostly for educational purposes and playing games. She is not yet that interested in the internet - that is still my guilty pleasure.

I help my son to be safe by giving him strict instructions about what to do when out with his friends. I.e when they go home, he is to come home too. He must never go off with someone he doesn't know and he must always call me if he is going to a mate's house.
WRT the internet, he isn't allowed a FB account yet, or any other social media account in fact. I have told him he needs to be a bit older for that (he's 11). When I picked the package, I was going for value for money as it can all get quite expensive. I have broadband speed of up to 50mgb which suits us just fine. There is only the two of us and that is fast enough for is both to watch a movie on our iPads at the same time if we want.

I tell the kids to never make contact with someone they don't know online. And if anything is confusing, to tell me about it..I want them to use the computer for good, though, so I need to have a certain amount of trust that they will use it responsibly.

I think talking to your children and warning them about potential dangers is important. I also use parental control options and find them helpful.

My advice is to never give out any of her personal details to anyone even if she thinks it is someone she knows. The school is also pretty good on dealing with internet safety too.

It is such a worry though.

I trusted my children to know what to access. I can't remember any problems.

My DC (7&8) use the internet on a daily absis whether it be for homework or just to play a few games.
I use all my power to keep them safe i have children mode on my phone and computer so they do not stray to anything the could be harmful to them.
My DC can use the internet better than me it is rather scary for when they get in their teens!!!

At the moment they're too young to be left alone to using it. Have as much parental locks on but still supervise usage

I use the internet for shopping, email, looking up info, entering competitions, watching movies, listening to music and social media. My kids all use the internet in our living room where I can supervise. I have talked to them about internet safety and check the history regularly (and have found noting naughty yet!).

The speed of our internet always causes problems in our house. It is the most frustrating thing about our computer use.
I am unsure whether we can get fibre optic broadband in our area and apart from knowing it will increase the internet speed I know nothing else.
We make sure that our son usese the internet in a room where we are situated. He has been warned not to give any details away and check with us first if he is at all unsure about anything.

My lad, is only 5 so not a huge problem at the moment. That said I don't allow him to use the laptop unsupervised and the old I-Phone he has doesn't have a sim in it and I'll download anything he wants for him so he doesn't go near I-tunes.

I only visit secure sites and never download anything unless its from a well known site ie Microsoft,apple etc. I browse for shopping and social media, don't go on youtube or any peer2peer sites. I have Mcafee security running .

My children are now older. My son is at uni studying computing, so they are able to teach me more about internet safety than I can teach them.

We try to make sure that our son knows the dangers. He is aware that there are people out there looking to scam you, or that people pretend to be something that they are not.

He often checks with us if something he is seeing or doing is ok, he is very sensible. we do have security set high on his computer, but he is still conscious of things that look wrong to him

Both my children use my iPad. Neither of them go on the internet. I don monitor what they are doing as I know one click and they will be on it. I download and choose their apps. If my daughter does her homework online i will sit with her while she researches it. I have set up parental controls on my daughters kindle so that she can't search anything. I do really worry when she comes of an age that she will need the internet for homework and what she will be able to access. I have been to an online awareness talk at school and it really opened my eyes and made me more aware.We have sky in our area, so aren't able to have fibre optic yet. Our internet is quite fast but all the stuff I leave to my partner.

We do things together on my laptop. My daughter is 8 and likes to watch you-tube on her Ipod. However the account she uses is mine and we check history regularly. She is very sensible and we talk about the dangers online all the time.

I only allow my child to play on the internet whilst im present & i think this will continue for many years to come. I worry a lot about internet safety

Top tip is to not let them have their own computers or tablets so that they have to share yours. That way I can check URLs and history to make sure they are browsing sensibly.