SPONSORED: Join our expert Q&A and find out more about online extremism
44 answers /
Last post: 08/09/2021 at 11:52 am
Are you worried about who your child is talking to on social media, Whatsapp and gaming platforms? Join our expert Q&A and find out more about online extremism and radicalisation, what to be aware of and what you can do to protect your child online.
Young people are spending more time than ever online. And Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) warn that this means they are more at risk of being targeted by extremists through popular sites, including messaging and gaming platforms, social media and video sharing websites. Knowing how to keep your child safe has never been so important.
We’ve teamed up with CTP to host a Q&A with specialist police officers and staff who work with other partners to protect vulnerable people being groomed by extremists. The officers are on hand to answer everything you want to know about the dangers of online extremism and radicalisation, what to look out for and the steps parents can take to protect their children.
About the Q&A
The Q&A is not a police reporting mechanism. It will take place during between Tuesday 6th July 2021 and Tuesday 7th September 2021 and officers will answer your questions and are there to give advice and guidance. It will also cover:
- Online extremism and radicalisation
- How to have a conversation with your child
- Spotting the signs of radicalisation
- How to make your child digitally savvy
Further support and advice
If you’re concerned your child may be vulnerable to radicalisation and are noticing worrying changes in their behaviour, act early and reach out for help. You can find out more by visiting www.actearly.uk a dedicated website developed by CTP.
The website signposts to other organisations you can also go to for advice and covers useful information for parents, families and friends who are concerned about loved ones at possible risk from radicalisation. The earlier you act, the quicker you can get the right support in place for your child. Trust your instincts and if you’re worried share your concerns. You won’t ruin lives, but you might save them.
Specialist officers will be monitoring the forum and replying to questions throughout the day until 10pm, but may not give an immediate response. If you need to speak to an officer directly and in confidence about concerns you may have please call the National Police Prevent Advice Line 0800 011 3764.
Remember, in an emergency, please make sure you are safe and dial 999.
I've got a bit of a concern and it's bugged me for some time, my daughter is online a lot more now as she’s getting older.
As well as using the internet for her homework for school, she also uses her laptop to chat with her friends and social media. How can I talk to her about online radicalisation and make her aware of the dangers?
I've got a bit of a concern and it's bugged me for some time, my daughter is online a lot more now as she’s getting older.
As well as using the internet for her homework for school, she also uses her laptop to chat with her friends and social media. How can I talk to her about online radicalisation and make her aware of the dangers?
Good afternoon and thank you for your question. The information contained within this site is very useful. Also, if you access www.actearly.uk you will find interesting information for both yourself and your daughter.
My 13 year old has mental health issues and lockdown has made it all worse. He's onloine all the time and I'm not finding it easy to montior everything he's looking at. He has started to say some extreme things that have really worried me, I assume it's from stuff he's seen online as it's nothing I would say (or any of the family). I don't want to overreact, but how can I handle this? How do I now if he's being targeted by extremists? What if I contact the police and I’m wrong? I don't want to do anything that makes his mental health worse.
Not sure if this is a daft question, but are there any sites/apps etc that we should be particularly worried about or keep the kids away from? Mine play things like Roblox and Among Us. Are they danger areas???
My 13 year old has mental health issues and lockdown has made it all worse. He's onloine all the time and I'm not finding it easy to montior everything he's looking at. He has started to say some extreme things that have really worried me, I assume it's from stuff he's seen online as it's nothing I would say (or any of the family). I don't want to overreact, but how can I handle this? How do I now if he's being targeted by extremists? What if I contact the police and I’m wrong? I don't want to do anything that makes his mental health worse.
Hi Charlie, thankyou for your question.
I understand that this can be really worrying.
Monitoring his online use can be difficult especially when young people have such mobile technology. Are there restrictions you can put on his devices or the wifi as an initial measure?
Has school been in touch to say if his behaviour there has changed at all? It may be worth contacting them to see what support they might be able to offer, and to see if he may open up to them?
Family and friends are often the first to know when something’s not right with those they are close too, and you are best placed to spot worrying behaviour at an early stage and to help your child get the support they may need.
You are not alone, and there will be a lot of parents out there that feel the same way you do.
Together we can help prevent them from becoming drawn into harmful activities or groups, and help them choose a different path.
If you want to talk to someone in more detail, you can call the national Police Prevent Advice Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, and our specially trained Prevent officers will listen carefully to your concerns.
Not sure if this is a daft question, but are there any sites/apps etc that we should be particularly worried about or keep the kids away from? Mine play things like Roblox and Among Us. Are they danger areas???
Hello Billy, there is no such thing as a daft question!
Any computer games that have the ability for unknown people to interact with your children, are of concern.
Having said that, the games themselves are not.
The general advice would be for the children to play the games in a family room and on devices that you are able to check and monitor.
There are many helpful websites that offer advice on how to support your children to be safer in the online space. If you check on your local council/Education websites, these will be listed.
The children's school/s will also often have useful links on their website.
Not sure if this is a daft question, but are there any sites/apps etc that we should be particularly worried about or keep the kids away from? Mine play things like Roblox and Among Us. Are they danger areas???
Hello Billy
Further to my colleagues reply, the following website lists many of the apps, games and other chat sites that are in use today along with parental advice for each one.
App Reviews for Parents and Caring Adults | Protect Young Eyes
This is not something I've ever had to worry about before really and my LO is quite young so I've got a few more years until she uses social sites like Facebook and Instagram. She does like playing on her iPad for games though and watches videos on YouTube.
Is there anyway to get alerts or site blockers I can implment so I can manage what she searches for on google.
This is not something I've ever had to worry about before really and my LO is quite young so I've got a few more years until she uses social sites like Facebook and Instagram. She does like playing on her iPad for games though and watches videos on YouTube.
Is there anyway to get alerts or site blockers I can implment so I can manage what she searches for on google.
Hello Sarah, thank you for your question.
Youtube host a child friendly version called Kids Tube which limits what children can access - this can be set up with parental controls.
The internet is more tricky. There are software packages that you can install that will flag key words - all schools use this type of software.
Unfortunately, we are not able to endorse or recommend any products however, if you complete a google search on 'Computer monitoring software for parents' it will give you a few examples to consider.
There is a great deal of information available to families dedicated to safeguarding children using the internet.
Here are a few of the excellent UK websites:
www.getsafeonline.org/safeguarding-children
www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe
Hi Jill, following on from the above, there are also some really useful links to partner websites on the Act Early website: Our partners | ACT Early
Parent zone Home | Parent Zone has some really useful parent guides available.
This is not something I've ever had to worry about before really and my LO is quite young so I've got a few more years until she uses social sites like Facebook and Instagram. She does like playing on her iPad for games though and watches videos on YouTube.
Is there anyway to get alerts or site blockers I can implment so I can manage what she searches for on google.
Hi Sarah, following on from Jill's response, there are also some really useful links to partner websites on the Act Early website: Our partners | ACT Early
Parent zone Home | Parent Zone has some really useful parent guides available.
My daughter is 15 and has made a new group of mates now that schools are back. Part of me is like glad that she’s making friends after so long in lockdown, but I’m starting to feel really worried about their influence on her as she seems to be changing as person.
Since hanging out with them, she’s completely changed. She’s becoming obsessive, has started getting realy angry about the news – she was never like this before. What 15 year old gets mad with the news? But she does, and some of what she says is nothing she's heard in this house, it's all realy spiteful and nasty and sounds like it's something she's heard someone else say.
I would hate to think that she’s involved with extremists, especially as it could be just a phase or normal teenage behavour? I know I was no angel when younger, but this is diff! What if I’m overreacting tho? I don’t want to call the police if there’s a chance I’m wrong and I could risk ruining my relationship with my daughter and just wasting police time.
My daughter is 15 and has made a new group of mates now that schools are back. Part of me is like glad that she’s making friends after so long in lockdown, but I’m starting to feel really worried about their influence on her as she seems to be changing as person.
Since hanging out with them, she’s completely changed. She’s becoming obsessive, has started getting realy angry about the news – she was never like this before. What 15 year old gets mad with the news? But she does, and some of what she says is nothing she's heard in this house, it's all realy spiteful and nasty and sounds like it's something she's heard someone else say.
I would hate to think that she’s involved with extremists, especially as it could be just a phase or normal teenage behavour? I know I was no angel when younger, but this is diff! What if I’m overreacting tho? I don’t want to call the police if there’s a chance I’m wrong and I could risk ruining my relationship with my daughter and just wasting police time.
Good evening Donna,
Thankyou for your question, it sounds like your worried and as her family you are most likely to know when something doesn’t feel right, and to spot worrying behaviour.
It sounds like you have some things that would be good to discuss in more detail, you can call the national Police Prevent Advice Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, and our specially trained Prevent officers will listen carefully to your concerns.
They will be best placed to discuss your concerns and advise if a referral into your local prevent team would be advisable.
Calling for advise would never be a waste of time, even if this just puts your mind at rest.
The www.actearly.uk website has a lot of useful links and information which I would also recommend you look at.
Any other queries, or anything you'd like to discuss, please ask.
Good evening Donna,
Thankyou for your question, it sounds like your worried and as her family you are most likely to know when something doesn’t feel right, and to spot worrying behaviour.
It sounds like you have some things that would be good to discuss in more detail, you can call the national Police Prevent Advice Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, and our specially trained Prevent officers will listen carefully to your concerns.
They will be best placed to discuss your concerns and advise if a referral into your local prevent team would be advisable.
Calling for advise would never be a waste of time, even if this just puts your mind at rest.
The www.actearly.uk website has a lot of useful links and information which I would also recommend you look at.
Any other queries, or anything you'd like to discuss, please ask.
Thank you so much. This is very helpful
