As school holidays loom, a new initiative has been launched by Get Safe Online to promote internet safety among the young people of North Wales.
Commissioned by the North Wales Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the 'Safer Kids' campaign aims to ensure children use the internet safely, securely, and confidently.
Get Safe Online, recognised as a leading source of impartial, comprehendible, fact-based information on online safety in the UK, provides a series of recommendations as part of the campaign.
The guidance encourages parents to have regular discussions with children about their online activities; direct children towards safe apps and websites; stay informed of new gaming and social media trends, and be aware of age limits on gaming, social media apps, and websites.
They also say that parents should consider setting up parental controls on software and apps, as well as warning children about confidential information.
CEO of Get Safe Online, Tony Neate, shared the importance of online safety education.
Mr Neate said: "The internet has so many benefits and for our children to have the opportunity to use it to support their studies, interact with their friends and even to shop has become second nature.
"However, as with so many other things they do, it’s really important that we teach them to go online safely.
"Our campaign this month focuses on key advice to help all our children use the online world in a respectful, safe and secure way."
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The Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin, spoke encouragingly of the new initiative and its timely deployment.
Mr Dunbobbin said: "Over the summer holidays, many parents and guardians can naturally be busy juggling a job, family and a home, and we can all sometimes leave children to their own devices, on their own devices.
"But we can all take a few simple steps to ensure our families are using the internet safely and I would urge all people looking after children to follow this advice from Get Safe Online, which is a service I am proud to commission as part of my plan to see a North Wales where crime is further reduced and where people are kept as safe as possible."
For more tips and advice, the Get Safe Online website can be visited at getsafeonline.org with the search term 'safeguarding children'.
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