Report a Crime
Search

Search PSNI website

  • Home
  • COVID19
  • Youth Section
  • Contact Us
  • Inside PSNI

    Browse Inside PSNI

    • Careers in the PSNI
    • Our Departments
    • Our History
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Policies and Procedures
    • Our Reports & Statements
    • Statistics
    • Our Strategies and Vision
    • Working with our Young People
    • Pension Information

    BurglarDontBother Find Out More

  • My Area

    Browse My Area

    • All Districts
    • I Don't Know My Policing Area
    • Neighbourhood Watch
    • Station Enquiry Office Provision
    • Local Policing Review 2018/19
    • Policing Plan 2020-25 consultation
    • The Hallmarks Of Neighbourhood Policing

    BurglarDontBother Find Out More

  • News & Appeals

    Browse News & Appeals

    • Crime NI
    • Chief Constable's blog
    • Campaigns
    • Missing Persons
    • Latest News
    • Investigation into Mother and Baby Institutions, Work Houses and Magdalene Laundries

    BurglarDontBother Find Out More

  • Advice and Information

    Browse Advice and Information

    • Action Counters Terrorism
    • Advice for Landlords
    • Advice on Protests
    • Advice for Students
    • Air and Sea Ports
    • Animal Welfare and Wildlife
    • Body Worn Video
    • Business Crime
    • Child Protection
    • Child Sexual Exploitation
    • Christmas Safety Advice
    • Community Resolution
    • Complaints against the PSNI
    • Domestic Abuse
    • Chief Officers' Expenses
    • Drones - Unmanned Aircraft Systems
    • EU funded research projects
    • Freedom of Information
    • Firearms
    • Information About Yourself
    • Internet Safety
    • Mobile Phone Extraction (MPE)
    • Our Publications
    • Parades and Public Processions
    • Penalty Notices for Disorder
    • Policing and mental health
    • Project Servator
    • Protecting Your Home
    • Protecting Yourself
    • Roads and Driving
    • Rural Security
    • Safe Summer
    • Security Systems
    • Self Help Guides
    • Sexting
    • Sextortion
    • Sexual Consent
    • Stop and Search
    • The Law on Sex in Northern Ireland
    • Vehicle Purchase and Protection
    • Victim Satisfaction Survey
    • Victim Support
    • Winter Safety
    • Stalking and Harassment

    BurglarDontBother Find Out More

  • Crime

    Browse Crime

    • Anti Social Behaviour
    • Burglary
    • Business Crime
    • Child Protection
    • Crime Recording Statement
    • Criminal Damage
    • Cyber Crime
    • Domestic Abuse
    • Drugs
    • Fraud
    • Hate Crime
    • Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Unit
    • Organised Crime
    • Sexual Violence and Abuse
    • Sextortion
    • Theft
    • Rural Crime

    BurglarDontBother Find Out More

  • Report
  • Search
  • Browse Internet Safety
  • E-Safety Young People
  • E-Safety General Advice
  • Online Ticket Fraud
  • Tips for keeping children safe online
  1. Home
  2. Advice and Information
  3. Internet Safety
  4. E-Safety General Advice

E-Safety General Advice

  • E-Safety Young People
  • E-Safety General Advice
  • Online Ticket Fraud
  • Tips for keeping children safe online

General advice to everyone

We all deserve to be able to use the internet to learn, explore and connect with each other. But all of us need to be aware of the risks involved in doing so, especially on social media. Our advice is:

  • Don't share personal information or images with people who you don't know.
  • Don't accept friend requests with someone you don't know - everyone online may not be who they say they are.
  • Set privacy settings on all devices so that only people you know can view your account.
  • Don't post anything online that you are not happy to be shared, particularly nude or nearly nude images or videos. It may seem like a bit of fun with friends at the time but there is always a chance those images could be shared or get into the wrong hands and could lead to harmful situations such as stalking, abuse or blackmail.
  • If someone has made you feel uncomfortable or you have had disturbing interaction online, tell police or a trusted adult. You can ring the police on 101 or for help and advice ring Childline on 0800 1111 or Lifeline on 0808 808 8000.
  • The internet can be a great place but it is important to remember there are people out there who may wish to abuse, exploit, intimidate or bully you online – if this happens to you, tell someone immediately.
  • Remember that if things do go wrong online, there are people who can help.

If you receive any inappropriate images or links, it is important that you do not forward it to anyone else. Contact police or tell a trusted adult immediately. By doing this you could help prevent further such incidents. You will not get into trouble.

General advice to parents

• The most important thing is to have conversations with your children - talk to them about the benefits and dangers of the internet so that you can empower them to use the internet safely.

• Cultivate an interest in their online activities - their favourite websites, online games and interests and keep an eye on what they are doing online.

• Don't be afraid to ask your children who they are talking to online and what they are talking about and remind them how important it is to tell a trusted adult if something happens online that makes them feel uncomfortable or worried because there are people who can help.

• Become a net-savvy parent - the best safeguard against online dangers is being informed. Jump in and learn the basics of the Internet - read articles, take a class, and talk to other parents. You don't have to be an expert to have a handle on your child's online world.

• Go to www.getsafeonline.org for lots of useful advice and information on how to stay safe online.

Downloads

You can download the following leaflet for more information and guidance:

  • Sexting and the Law Leaflet
Related Links

  • Internet Watch Foundation
  • CEOP
  • Get Safe Online
  • UK Safer Internet
  • NSPCC
  • Childline
  • Action Fraud
  • Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland
  • The Law and Sex in Northern Ireland
All Advice and Information

Back to top

PSNI logo

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Home

  • Home
  • COVID19
  • Youth Section
  • Contact Us
  • Inside PSNI
  • My Area
  • News & Appeals
  • Advice and Information
  • Crime

My Area

  • My Area
  • All Districts
  • I Don't Know My Policing Area
  • Neighbourhood Watch
  • Station Enquiry Office Provision
  • Local Policing Review 2018/19
  • Policing Plan 2020-25 consultation
  • The Hallmarks Of Neighbourhood Policing

Crime

  • Crime
  • Anti Social Behaviour
  • Burglary
  • Business Crime
  • Child Protection
  • Crime Recording Statement
  • Criminal Damage
  • Cyber Crime
  • Domestic Abuse
  • Drugs
  • Fraud
  • Hate Crime
  • Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Unit
  • Organised Crime
  • Sexual Violence and Abuse
  • Sextortion
  • Theft
  • Rural Crime

Strategic Communications and Engagement

  • Strategic Communications and Engagement

Advice and Information

  • Advice and Information
  • Action Counters Terrorism
  • Advice for Landlords
  • Advice on Protests
  • Advice for Students
  • Air and Sea Ports
  • Animal Welfare and Wildlife
  • Body Worn Video
  • Business Crime
  • Child Protection
  • Child Sexual Exploitation
  • Christmas Safety Advice
  • Community Resolution
  • Complaints against the PSNI
  • Domestic Abuse
  • Chief Officers' Expenses
  • Drones - Unmanned Aircraft Systems
  • EU funded research projects
  • Freedom of Information
  • Firearms
  • Information About Yourself
  • Internet Safety
  • Mobile Phone Extraction (MPE)
  • Our Publications
  • Parades and Public Processions
  • Penalty Notices for Disorder
  • Policing and mental health
  • Project Servator
  • Protecting Your Home
  • Protecting Yourself
  • Roads and Driving
  • Rural Security
  • Safe Summer
  • Security Systems
  • Self Help Guides
  • Sexting
  • Sextortion
  • Sexual Consent
  • Stop and Search
  • The Law on Sex in Northern Ireland
  • Vehicle Purchase and Protection
  • Victim Satisfaction Survey
  • Victim Support
  • Winter Safety
  • Stalking and Harassment

Accessibility statement

  • Accessibility statement

News & Appeals

  • News & Appeals
  • Crime NI
  • Chief Constable's blog
  • Campaigns
  • Missing Persons
  • Latest News
  • Investigation into Mother and Baby Institutions, Work Houses and Magdalene Laundries

Inside PSNI

  • Inside PSNI
  • Careers in the PSNI
  • Our Departments
  • Our History
  • Our Leadership
  • Our Policies and Procedures
  • Our Reports & Statements
  • Statistics
  • Our Strategies and Vision
  • Working with our Young People
  • Pension Information

Contact Us

  • Contact Us

Site Essentials

  • Accessibility statement
  • Copyright
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookies & Policy
PSNI logo

Police Service of Northern Ireland