Online safety for children and young people
![The picture shows a clickable link with a mascot in the shape of a phone. Their face is smiling and they have their thumbs up.](https://images.reading.gov.uk/2024/07/Stay-safe-online.png)
For most people the internet is an integral part of life and has many benefits, such as improving cognitive abilities, especially logical problem solving, and increasing knowledge and verbal skills.
- Half of ten-year olds now own their own smartphone (Ofcom 2019)
- 70% of 12-15-year olds now have a social media profile, with Snapchat being the most prominent platform in this age group (Ofcom 2019)
- Children aged 5-15 now spend over 14 hours a week online, just over two hours a day (Ofcom 2019)
However, use of the internet can present some challenging issues, especially for children and young people, including: cyberbullying, the pressure to take part in sexting, encouragement to self-harm, and viewing pornography.
Further resources for online safety
Family Information Service Reading offers a wealth of online safety resources.
Brighter Futures for Children offers advice and guidance on child exploitation.
Young people’s zone on the Brighter Futures for Children site.
Last updated on 11/07/2024
Online safety for children and young people