Coronavirus lockdown could expose children to more online abuse, MP fears

CHILDREN are at a greater risk of being victims of online abuse during the coronavirus lockdown, government ministers have warned.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Senior MPs fear that with more people than ever working from home and youngsters relying on the internet to continue their education, the chances of being exposed to things like cyberbullying and online grooming have increased.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has issued advice for parents on how to protect their children from this.

Read More
Doctor shares breathing technique that could stop your Covid-19 infection gettin...
The government has issued advice on keeping your children safe. Picture: ShutterstockThe government has issued advice on keeping your children safe. Picture: Shutterstock
The government has issued advice on keeping your children safe. Picture: Shutterstock
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ministers recommend reviewing security and safety settings, checking facts and guarding against disinformation, being vigilant against fraud and scams, and managing the amount of time spent online.

Gosport MP and minister for digital and culture, Caroline Dinenage, said: ‘Staying at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives means we are spending more time online. This means we must all be extra vigilant, follow good security practice and make sure our children are safe too.

‘It’s also important that we check the facts behind what we read and remember to take regular breaks.

‘That’s why we have brought together a wealth of practical advice which I urge parents to use and share with their children.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The guidance has tailored advice for parents to keep their children safe online.

This includes using parental controls to manage what children can access, switching on family filters to protect children from inappropriate content, and having conversations with children to encourage them to speak to a trusted adult if they come across anything that makes them uncomfortable.

The full guidance is available to read online – go to gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-staying-safe-online.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on portsmouth.co.uk. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to portsmouth.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit our Subscription page now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.