Stranger Danger in Cyberspace

How to be safe on the internet

A new advertising campaign starts today warning parents and children of the dangers of paedophiles who use internet chatrooms.

For the first time the government is using TV and radio commercials to remind children not to give out their personal details to anyone they communicate with online.

It's set up a new site, called Thinkuknow, aimed at teenagers, which gives clear guidelines to internet safety

Click here to go straight to Thinkuknow

This morning on Breakfast, we heard from on mum whose daughter was "groomed" by a paedophile on the internet. We also heard of the concerns of American parents.

click here to watch our parents' stories in full

At 0815am, we heard disturbing evidence of how paedophiles operate from one researcher who posed as a vulnerable young girl.

Rachel O'Connell entered several chat-rooms, posing as an unhappy and lonely teenager.

Within minutes, she found she was being targeted with leading questions such as - is your computer in your room and can we chat in private?

click here to watch Rachel O'Connell's interview in full

At 7.20am, we heard more about the government's safety guidelines from the Home Office Minister Hillary Benn. And we got the first reaction from Nigel Williams of Childnet.

click here to watch that debate in full

Further details from BBC News online

A £1m advertising campaign to teach children about the dangers of internet paedophiles is being launched by the government.

The television and radio messages, which are being broadcast throughout January, aim to make parents and youngsters aware of how to surf the web safely.

We are determined that Britain will be the safest country for children on the internet

Hilary Benn
Home Office Minister

They coincide with a new set of guidelines for internet service providers who offer chat and instant messaging services.

The government wants to see more measures such as clearly written and easily accessible warning information and report buttons.

The aim is to discourage attempts by paedophiles to 'groom' youngsters online, and help children to tell chatroom providers about inappropriate contact or abusive incidents.

It is claimed that the guidelines, called The Models of Good Practice and drawn up the government's internet child protection taskforce, are the first of their kind in the world.

Advertising campaign

An estimated five million youngsters under 16 have private access to the internet and nearly half of 16-year-olds use chatrooms, according to research published last year.

The advertising campaign will mark the first time such advice has featured on television and radio.

Tips for parents

Keep the computer near you

Talk to your child about what they do online

Keep a 'favourites' folder of agreed sites

Ask your ISP about safety features

It follows a successful newspaper campaign a year ago and recent moves to tighten the laws on "sexual grooming" online.

Online advertising will also run on teen websites and chat rooms from January to the end of March.

The Home Office hopes the campaign will give parents the skills and confidence needed to address the issue without demonising the internet.

Last year's campaign, according to the government, resulted in an 11% increase in awareness among children to not give out their personal details online.

Trust abused

Home Office Minister Hilary Benn said: "The internet has opened up a new world for children which is educational, informative and, most of all fun.

"But we are aware of the potential for paedophiles to misuse modern technology to abuse the trust that children place in them by attempting to 'groom' them through chat rooms.

"We want to encourage parents to help their children protect themselves so they can surf safely."

Tips for young surfer

Never give address or phone numbers to strangers

Do not meet a stranger alone

Tell your parents if exposed to anything you dislike

Nicholas Lansman, Secretary General of the Internet Services Providers' Association (ISPA UK) said: "Just like the offline world, the online world has its hazards.

"ISPA and its members want to make the UK Internet as safe as possible for younger users."

The guidelines and awareness drive follows recent proposals outlined in the paper 'Protecting the Public' for a new offence of sexual grooming.

There could also be a new civil order intended to protect children from inappropriate sexual behaviour by adults.