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| ThinkUKnow Campaign |
The Home Office will tomorrow, Sunday 15th January launch a £1
million awareness campaign to make parents and children aware of
the dangers posed by online paedophiles.
The campaign will feature adverts specifically targeted at teenagers
through the internet and radio, designed to make them think twice
about giving out personal details to people they meet online.
It will include newspaper, magazine and radio adverts, which
will run over the next 6 weeks.
Over the past three years, the Government has spent £3
million on raising awareness about online safety with children,
parents and carers.
The new adverts will build on previous campaigns by giving more
up to date advice on new and emerging dangers, such as what information
to include in a blog and safer use of instant messaging services
and webcams.
Parents and guardians of children are encouraged to visit www.internetsafetyzone.com,
where practical advice and information about new technology and
ways of using the internet is available.
Children will be asked
to visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk.
Home Office Minister Paul Goggins said:
"The internet can
be a great tool for children and young people, allowing them
to learn and communicate in ways we wouldn't have believed possible
twenty years ago.”
"But just like the real world, the virtual world can contain
dangers. Sadly, some people online are not who they say they
are, and are out to harm or prey on children.”
"Parents should familiarise themselves with our advice
on safety online, and children need to know how to protect themselves.
Together, we can make the internet a safer place for children."
The Home Office website www.thinkuknow.co.uk offers
five simple tips children and young people can follow to protect
themselves online:
1. People on the Internet may not be who they say they are.
2. Whatever you do, don't give out contact info, like your
phone number and address.
3. Be careful what you say about your friends and their personal
info. They've told you as a mate, so you shouldn't pass anything
on to people they don't know.
4. If you're posting a profile, don't include any info which
could help to identify you offline - again that means your
personal email address, mobile phone number, home or school
address and also pictures of yourself.
5. You should never really meet up with someone you chatted
to online - even if you think the person is OK. Paedophiles
online are seriously clever and will often spend months gaining
your trust before asking to meet you. If you do decide to meet
someone, tell an adult exactly where you are going, don't go
alone, meet somewhere busy and take your phone.
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