It’s not enough to simply be aware of the online risks facing our children today, we must also know how best to approach each situation if or when it happens.
In this section, we deal with unfortunate issues that can arise from online activity and share resources, help and advice on who to turn to for additional support.
Topics covered include Hacking, Digital Piracy, Radicalisation and How to Report Online Abuse.
Our expert videos include advice from Detective Sergeant Mike Smyth of the Garda Child Exploitation Unit and several powerful videos surrounding the issues of sexploitation and online grooming from Webwise.ie.
Visit the Webwise Parents Hub for more practical advice on key online safety and digital citizenship topics including videos from parenting, technology, and education experts, along with Talking Points to start a conversation with your child, and Explainer Guides to popular apps and platforms.
Although ‘Internet addiction’ is not officially recognized as a psychiatric disorder, excessive screen usage can be detrimental to children.
Radicalisation is a process by which individuals move from supporting moderate mainstream views to supporting extreme ideological views.
The term “sending nudes” means the sending of explicit photos via apps such as Snapchat, WhatsApp or other messaging platforms. It has replaced the term “sexting” in recent years.
It can be difficult to spot the signs of online grooming in your child but there are some signs that you should look out for.
Digital piracy is the practice of downloading and distributing copyrighted content digitally without permission, such as music or software.
A screenshot is a vital tool that can be used for everything from saving a recipe to presenting as evidence of cyberbullying or grooming.
Learning that your child has been a victim of online harassment can be deeply distressing. Here are a few steps you can take if it happens.
If you or your child ever need advice on anything regarding online safety or abuse, there are helplines and supports available.