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What is Online Safety?

Online Safety is the approach to protecting individuals when they use digital technologies and online services.

  1. Online Safety
  2. What is Online Safety?

Online Safety (also known as eSafety or Internet Safety) is the approach to protecting individuals when they use digital technologies and online services. In simple terms:

Online Safety is about keeping people safe while they are using the internet and other digital technologies.

It focuses on awareness, education, information and practical use of technology so that people can enjoy digital life safely and confidently.

How to Define Online Safety?

Online Safety is the appropriate approach to personal safety when using digital technologies, platforms and online services. It is about understanding:

How digital environments work

What risks exist online

How to reduce harm online

How to experience the benefits of connection

How Online Safety Is Different from Cybersecurity?

While cybersecurity focuses on protecting devices, networks, systems and infrastructure from attacks by third parties, online safety focuses on protecting the people who use those devices and networks.

In other words, cybersecurity protects technology, online safety protects people.

What Does Online Safety Cover?

Online Safety is about being aware of the types of harm and risk you may encounter when engaging online. This includes:

How to respond to online scams

Protecting and managing your personal data

Managing your online reputation and digital footprint

Avoiding harmful, inappropriate or illegal content

Understanding how online platforms can influence behaviour

Is Online Safety About Fear or Scaremongering?

No. Online Safety is not about scaremongering and not about creating panic. It is about focusing on the positive and enriching side of digital life, while recognising its challenges and knowing how to respond to them effectively.

Why is Online Safety Essential?

The number of people connected to the internet continues to grow every day. At the same time, the range of digital platforms, services and technologies people rely on is expanding.

This means that there is more opportunity but also more potential for exposure to risk. These challenges are not specified to any particular demographic, they affect children, young people and adults alike.

What Will Happen If I Practice Good Online Safety?

When online risks are understood and managed people can explore the online world confidently, the internet can be enjoyed safely and the benefits of technology can be realised without unnecessary harm. Online Safety enables positive, informed and responsible use of the online world.

Helplines and Services 

Revenge Porn Helpline

The UK’s only service dedicated to supporting adults who have been victims of intimate image abuse

Report Harmful Content

Assistance for reporting harmful online content

Professionals Online Safety Helpline

Online Safety helpline for professionals who work with children and young people in the UK.

StopNCII.org

StopNCII.org is a ground-breaking tool that allows adults to protect themselves against intimate image abuse

Harmful Sexual Behaviour

Guidance, training and resources for professionals to tackle harmful sexual behaviour

Book Online Safety Training 

ProjectEVOLVE EDU

Online safety training platform featuring accreditation and knowledge maps.

ProjectEVOLVE Safeguarding

Online safeguarding training platform for education professionals.

Online Safety Training

Online safety training from SWGfL delivered by experts both face-to-face or online.

Online Safety Live

Free online safety events delivered across the UK for professionals who work with children

Online Safety Products

Whisper® Anonymous Reporting Tool

Anonymous reporting tool supporting schools and organisations.

Test Filtering +

Continuously monitor your school devices against harmful online content. Extension to Test Filtering.

ProjectEVOLVE EDU

Online safety training platform featuring accreditation and knowledge maps.

ProjectEVOLVE Safeguarding

Online safeguarding training platform for education professionals.

Online Safety Knowledgebase

What is Anonymous Reporting?

In contrast to the promises of anonymity, a reporting process often equates to varying levels of transparency, accountability and communication. As such, many Anonymous Reporting processes are not effective and compromise the ability for a person passing information to be truly anonymous.

Why Should You Use an Anonymous Reporting Tool?

An anonymous reporting tool empowers your community to speak up safely without fear of repercussions. This gives you greater visibility of issues that may otherwise go unreported allowing your community to report issues without fear of consequences.

Safe Remote Learning

Whether your school is closed or not, delivering classes online can be helpful. Here's the lowdown on organising classes online so they are trouble free

Video Conferencing for Kids: Safeguarding and Privacy Overview

Never have video conferencing services been as important as they are right now. No longer are they a novelty but vital for us all to stay connected, whether home, school or work. But which one is best?

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