Digital dangers

March 15th, 2010

They say being a parent is a blessing but it brings with it a 24-hour-a-day headache.

It is only natural for parents to worry about their child’s safety, from when they are a new born baby to the first day at school and beyond.

It seem every ‘first’ brings on its trials and tribulations – first jag, first day at school, first time out with their friends, first trip away from home and all the rest.

As children get older, it doesn’t get any easier for parents, who have to worry about them getting bullied at school, falling in with the wrong crowd or what time they come home at night.

Mums and dads can get accused of wrapping their children up in cotton wool but all it takes is a glance at the horror stories in the papers to see why.

Some parents can only truly relax when their children are safe at home, playing in their room and safe from harm – or so you would hope.

I am sure that was what the mother of tragic murdered teenager Ashleigh Hall would have thought.

Even though she was at home, a convicted sex offender used a computer website to communicate with and then trick the 17-year-old girl into meeting him.

The reality is that children are so skilled on the computer these days that they often end up teaching their parents how to use them.

The web is a great educational tool but it is a powerful gateway to the big bad world and that in turn allows all of the problems out there into your home.

It opens up contact with outside influences that are beyond the networks you know and can control.

It isn’t easy as a parent to balance those dangers with the wishes of your children.

But there is advice out there and anyone unsure of how to keep your child safe in the digital world should visit www.thinkuknow.com.