Police offer advice to keep kids safe while using internet-enabled gadgets given as Christmas presents

Thousands of youngsters across North Yorkshire have excitedly unwrapped internet-enabled gadgets but how do you keep them safe when online?

Mobile phones, tablets, laptops and games consoles can open up a world of exploration, learning and fun and children should be encouraged to make the most of the benefits.

But there are also risks and dangers to being online, and by working together parents and children can learn to safely navigate the internet and social media.

Here are some top tips to keep youngsters safe online this Christmas…

• Explain how children can use privacy settings to make sure only approved friends can see posts and images, and warn them about sharing personal information

• Check if any of the mobile apps they use have location services enabled, and disable this if they do not want to be tracked

• Show them how to report offensive comments or block people who upset them

• Check ‘tagging’ settings so that when others are posting or sharing photos online, your child’s identity is not revealed

• Encourage your child to come and talk to you if they see anything that upsets them

• Ask them to show you which social media apps they use, what they like about them and talk about how to use them safely

There are some really good websites to help you understand how children use social media, the apps they use, the risks they face, how to use privacy settings, and further advice and tips about how to talk to your children at the following websites.

Try the Internet Matters website, or the NSPCC’s Online Safety pages.