*This post is sponsored, however, all thoughts and opinions for staying safe online are my own .
Oh the internet. It can be such a beautiful place. A place for learning, a place for showing off your creative side and so much more. As someone who uses social media every single day and puts so much of their own life online I’ve picked up a few tips for staying safe online and I have put fingers to keyboard to share them with you.
As a newbie
I went through some basic rules with my Grandma when I showed her how to use a couple of apps on her tablet. After I’d done the initial set up with her we ran through a couple of websites to play about and see where I felt she needed some help. Whilst she is now a Facebook pro, we talked about not adding strangers to her social media, confirming people’s identities over the telephone where possible and not inputting any credit card/finance details.
If you’re a parent
If you’re a parent you obviously begin to think about how your children use the internet. You can place limited site blockers on different websites if you feel uneasy. Another top tip I’ve picked up is to limit screen time and always supervise your children on the internet. My son can use the iPad better than I can but I try to keep him in eye shot so that I can make sure he’s not clicking onto anything he shouldn’t be. If you want some more tips, childline have put together a comprehensive list you can find here.
If you’re dating
If you’re dating online, I’d recommend you use safe highly rated dating sites such as Dorset dating. When you’re dating online you want to be sure you can read some reviews, find some basic safety guidance so that you can enjoy all of the flirting with no risks. Be sure to hold back on giving out too much personal information. Always remember that until you’ve seen someone on video or (post covid) in person, they might not be who they say they are, so take caution where possible.
As a content creator
This one applies to me and a lot of people I know. As we put so much of our lives out there it can be easy to slip up and blur the lines between personal life and public. I try to make sure I take no photographs in the area I live, I always remove labels with my address on before showing any PR packages online and I try to limit the amount I show my children on my social media.
All in all apply your common sense and remember if something doesn’t feel right or real, then it might not be. The internet can however be a wonderful place to meet new friends, partners and educate ourselves. Hooray for the internet!
Do you have any experience in keeping safe online? If you have any tips that you’d be happy to share then I’d love it if you could drop them below.
Violet x
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