Talking to your child about online safety

Trying to keep your child safe online can seem a big challenge, especially when it can feel like your child knows more about digital devices and online spaces than you do – but you’re not alone. Many parents want their child to play, learn and explore the digital world safely, but aren’t sure where to start.

That’s why we’re proud to support the Government’s ‘You Won’t Know Until You Ask’ campaign which aims to provide parents and guardians with practical support they can use to have a confident conversation with their children about the content they see online, and whether it’s true or not.

It’s been developed with a range of expert organisations, including our partner, Internet Matters.

The Government’s new research found half of parents say their children have never spoken to them about harmful online experiences, with around a quarter admitting they didn’t know what their child is seeing on their smartphones.

The research found that more than half of British parents haven’t come across the right resources to help them navigate these conversations. This new online safety resource hub is filled with articles on safety settings, conversation prompts and age-appropriate advice for tackling misinformation and harmful content – including “ragebait” and misogynistic content. 

Our support of this campaign builds on our ongoing commitment to online safety, and we recognise that this responsibility doesn’t sit with parents and guardians alone.

That’s why we provide the safety tools and controls to restrict access to harmful websites, such as scam or phishing websites and those with viruses.

Our Virgin Media Essential Security is built into our broadband network at no extra cost. It’s a smart cybersecurity service that’s included with all our broadband packages as standard, meaning that without lifting a finger, you and the kids can enjoy all the stuff you love on the internet in a safer, healthier way.

It comes with adjustable parental controls, allowing you to set timers to restrict access, and to block specific website categories altogether – including topics like drugs, crime and any others you consider inappropriate for your children.

We also provide parental controls on all our devices when you’re with O2. You can get help setting up parental controls on devices in our age-restricted content help page, or by popping into your nearest O2 store. They’ll be more than happy to show you how.

Alongside this, we have our own online safety hub, created in partnership with Internet Matters – it’s full of information, advice and tips on what you need to know about staying safe online.

We know technology is moving at such a rapid pace, and we’re committed to do more in this space to help create safer digital experiences for everyone.