We all know that online spaces have become far more important in our lives than we ever anticipated. These spaces have a huge impact on relationships both the physical and virtual world. Children and young people particularly, can be affected by the abuse, harm and influences of online content. These spaces often take advantage of how difficult it is to keep up with constantly changing safety risks.
Welsh Women’s Aid are pleased to present our Toolkit for Building Online Safety Together. This toolkit aims to support parents and carers in supporting children and young people online and helping them to build safety online together, in a way that supports everyone. These conversations can often be awkward and we aim to help a little along the way – although we can’t promise the awkwardness will be totally eliminated!
- Check out our Toolkit here: Building Online Safety Together Toolkit
- Find the Interactive Worksheets here: Building Online Safety Together Toolkit – WORKSHEETS
This toolkit comes at a time where we are waiting for details of the UK Government announcement to ban social media for under 16s. You can find more information on plan here: Fact sheet: New rules to protect children online – GOV.UK. These changes are to be implemented in Spring 2027. We aim to provide a briefing on these changes once more details have been released.
The social media ban means there will certainly be a different approach needed to support children under the age of 16. But we also know that children will still have access to the online world. It is important that we all continue the work together to ensure that these spaces are made as safe as possible. As the online world is ever-changing, so is policy and legislation.
It is incumbent on social media companies and other online bodies to make these spaces a place where all children are able to express themselves in safe ways. But until these companies take responsibility and accountability, we aim to do what we can to equip children and young people and their parents and carers with the knowledge they need.
Whilst many of these resources are separated into age-appropriate categories, it is important to consider each child and young person as an individual. Children and young people progress at different ages and this should be considered when selecting which resources of the toolkit to use.
Please note, that some of the topics within this toolkit may be challenging and uncomfortable. We also know that parents and carers can have their own experiences and this can affect how difficult these conversations can be. We want to keep you safe also. With that in mind, we have included resources and signposting to specialist services that are there to listen and support you.