Today is Safer Internet Day, a campaign taking place across Europe to help protect children online.

As part of Safer Internet Day, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) is launching a new online campaign to teach 5-7 year olds that people online aren’t always who they seem. Click here to watch the cartoon that plays a key role in educating young children about online dangers.

The organisation believes that by raising awareness of online risks at an early age, children will be better protected as they grow up. When it was set up nearly four years ago, it began by running campaigns in secondary schools for teenagers and has gradually targeted younger and younger groups.

CEOP is encouraging parents to teach their children the ‘Zip it, Block it, Flag it’ digital code, launched in December last year by the UK Council for Children’s Internet Safety (UKCCIS.) The government, charities and the computer industry have come together to encourage parents to keep their children’s online passwords private, and to teach their children to block people who bully or frighten them.

Parents are also being advised to regularly ask their children if they have seen anything online that has upset them.

Microsoft is also playing a role in Safer Internet Day by launching a new internet browser that enables young people to report inappropriate behaviour. The browser is an enhanced version of Internet Explorer 8 and provides children and families one-click access to reporting tools that allow them to flag inappropriate websites to the authorities. It also enables them to seek help and advice on how to cope with cyber bullying and unwanted online attention.

Click here to download the CEOP tool bar.

If you have any concerns over your child’s internet use, why not try a free trial of our parental control software? It can be used to determine which sites children can access, blocking any inappropriate content and ensuring they aren’t surfing the net late at night. Click here to download the free 30 day trial.