'STAY SAFE' online guidelines issued for parents

Designed to help parents and guardians communicate with teenagers and young adults about safe online behaviour, the guidelines have been created in response to YouthNet's recent research report, Life Support: Young people's needs in a digital age.

Written by Professor Michael Hulme, commissioned by YouthNet and funded by Nominet Trust in October 2009, the report highlights the importance of support for this age group: "In some sense these young people represent a particularly vulnerable in-between group#."

"They may still be, potentially, confronting many of the identity issues and vulnerabilities of youth such as interpersonal victimisation, depression and related issues, whilst being under pressure and looking to take on many of the responsibilities of adulthood ."

Fiona Dawe, Chief Executive of online charity YouthNet, comments: “The speed in which communication methods are changing means that young people are trailblazing new ways to converse that many of my generation struggle to understand.

“This, combined with trying to strike a balance between trust and responsibility, can make this a difficult subject for many parents to tackle."

Jonathan Welfare, chairman of Nominet Trust concludes: "YouthNet's expertise has been invaluable in pulling these guidelines together. The guidelines and the acronym 'STAY SAFE' is simple and easy way for parents to  remember the basic principles of keeping children safe online. Nominet Trust is delighted to support this essential initiative."

The 'STAY SAFE' online guidelines for parents are as follows:

• Seek advice and information: technology is constantly evolving. If you want to know how young people are communicating, it’s vital to stay in touch with developments. Make every effort to get informed through reading tech supplements or signing up to blogs. Help is out there, it’s just a question of asking
• Trust: finding a balance between trust and responsibility is a challenge for any parent. It’s vital that young people feel able to make sensible decisions and are encouraged to open up about personal issues, knowing that they won’t be judged
• Actively encourage open dialogue: aim to be approachable and don't overreact to 'shock' tabloid stories. By staying calm and constructive in discussing issues, such as privacy settings and online friendships, you’ll be giving your child the confidence to talk to you about anything concerning them
• Young people need your support: even if they appear switched on about web safety, they’ll be reassured to know you’re available to talk to, whatever’s on their mind. Even if it’s something new to you, let them know you’ll work together to resolve any problem
• Set clear boundaries: it’s important to establish agreed guidelines about the types of activity that could compromise safety, such as publically sharing personal details or meeting up with friends made online. Such boundaries are best established through sensible discussion based on mutual respect
• Allocate time to go online together: sharing the experience in this way can only help you to build trust, and aid you in understanding how to help your child stay safe online
• Find useful sources: sign up to blogs, message boards or Twitter feeds that keep you updated on the issue of young people and online safety. You’ll find that sharing the experience with like-minded people can keep you informed and reassured that you’re not alone
• Empower young people: the Internet offers many opportunities for young people to express themselves. Helping them gain the skills and experience to get the best out of being online can build their confidence as they move towards adulthood. See what you can learn about how the Internet can help with their hobbies and interests so you can pass this on.

For further information on how parents and guardians can help their children stay safe online, please visit: www.ceop.gov.uk and www.dcsf.gov.uk/byronreview.

To read the full Life Support research report, please visit: www.youthnet.org/lifesupport. 

#Source: page 23 of YouthNet's report, Life Support - Young people's needs in a digital age.

Ends/

For further information or interviews, please contact:

Sarah Wilson/Gabriella Jozwiak, Tel: 020 7250 5716 (out-of-hours on 07766 660 755), Email: media@youthnet.org.

Blaise Hammond / Gemma Griffiths, Racepoint Group UK, Tel: 020 8752 3200 (out of hours on 07545 768 602), Email: nominettrustuk@racepointgroup.co.uk.

Notes to Editors

About Nominet Trust:

1. Nominet Trust is a charity that provides funds for innovative projects, which strive to improve and encourage the development of a safe, educational and inclusive Internet
2. The Trust will provide grants to organisations that can demonstrate vision and execution for Internet-related projects that make a tangible difference in developing a safe, educational and inclusive Internet in the UK and other countries
3. Initial funding comes from Nominet, the Internet registry for .uk domains, one of the world’s largest domain name registries. 

About YouthNet:

1. YouthNet is an online charity - founded by broadcaster Martyn Lewis in 1995 - which aims to engage, inform and inspire young people. It does this through two award winning websites: www.TheSite.org, the guide to life for 16 to 25-year-olds and Do-it (www.do-it.org.uk), the central place online for volunteering
2. The ‘Life Support: Young people's needs in a digital age’ report was launched at the House of Commons at 9.15am on October 14, 2009
3. Michael Hulme is Hon Professor and Associate Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies at Lancaster University where he is a member of the Lancaster University Development Board. He holds an MPhil in Critical Management also from Lancaster. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Member of the Market Research Society. Michael is Director of the Social Futures Observatory, an independent 'Think Tank' closely allied to the Institute of Advanced Studies that seeks to understand societal change both today and in to the future. The Social Futures Observatory is also responsible for undertaking the annual technology and media behavioural study, Digital Lives Research Programme.