What is Online Safety?

Online Safety?

While cybersecurity protects devices and networks from harm by third parties, Online Safety protects the people using them from harm by the devices and networks (and therefore third parties) through awareness, education, information and technology.

It is what we call the appropriate approach to personal safety when using digital technologies.

Online Safety is being aware of the nature of the possible threats that you could encounter whilst engaging in activity through the Internet. These could be security threats, protecting and managing your personal data, online reputation management, and avoiding harmful or illegal content.

It isn’t about scaremongering, it isn’t about criticism and chaos, it’s about focusing on the positive and enriching side of digital life whilst recognising its challenges and how to best approach them.

Online Safety, E-Safety, or Internet Safety?

Whether you call it E-Safety, Online Safety or Internet Safety, they all mean the same thing. Before 2015 the term used was generally E-Safety, but we now recommend the term Online Safety as this better represents the topic it refers to.

Managing Online Risk

The number of people being connected to the internet keeps growing daily, as does the need to recognise the challenges facing children – and indeed all of us – in the online space.

By practicing Online Safety, we can prevent and mitigate the risks that are inherently involved with using digital technologies, platforms and services.

Once the risks are managed, the internet can be enjoyed free from harm and to enormous benefit.

A great video that simply explains some of the challenges of online safety, from the UK Safer Internet Centre.