The net can be a web of deceit

Caution is needed when working on the web

If you think your children are too savvy or streetwise to get themselves into danger, it is worth noting that a recent survey found around one in 20 children aged between seven and 16 admitted seeing something on the web that upset or embarrassed them.

The world wide web is a great place it's full of useful information, school help, fan websites and other entertainment.

The internet has opened up a whole new world in cyber space, where you can communicate with people you may never meet face to face. From an early age we are taught about the potential dangers posed by some strangers and ways to avoid getting into harmful situations.

Unfortunately many children and teenagers do not use the same caution when using the internet.

This month the Government announced the extension of its internet safety awareness campaign with a series of hard-hitting TV and radio advertisements reminding youngsters that people online may not be who they say they are.

The £1million campaign coincides with the publication of important new good practice guidelines for the internet industry on how they can play their part in raising standards to improve child safety. These guidelines are the first of their kind in the world and will help those companies providing services such as Chat, Instant Messaging, and wider web-based services, to really ensure that young people are helped to use the internet more safely.

The Metropolitan Police have a guide which explains how to minimise risks to children, including internet safety.

They suggest families may want to keep computers in a shared space, rather than a child's bedroom. This will make informal control of what the children see on screen easier.

Advise children against opening links to other sites they could contain pornographic or other unsuitable material, and finally to encourage children to tell about anything they've seen that worries them at all.

The Met say it is absolutely imperative that youngsters are aware they are never totally anonymous on the internet. Their 'stranger-dangers instincts' must be used.

They have put together the following tips for internet safety:

Encourage youngsters to use an on-screen nickname that doesn't make it easy to guess their identity or even whether they are a man or a woman.

Never give out their password, even to someone who claims to be from the internet company.

Never give out personal information, such as photos of yourself or telephone numbers, in chat rooms.

Log off if you are uncomfortable with what is being said in chat channels.

Children and teenagers must NEVER meet people they have encountered online without a responsible adult being present.

For more information visit the government chat room campaign at hhtp://www.thinkuknow.co.uk

08:08 Thursday 23rd January 2003

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