As you move towards becoming an adult you will naturally have more choice about the things you do and where you go. This might include socialising in spaces shared with adults and attending events such as parties, concerts and festivals, without supervision from a parent or carer. You will also have more freedom around travelling alone and the distance you can be away from home.
It is important you understand how to keep yourself safe when out at new or crowded places and at night.
It will be helpful for to know the risks around certain situations and take steps to protect yourself and this way you will be able to enjoy your social activities and new found independence safely.
Also remember the importance of keeping safe online by protecting your identity and personal information and being aware of the law around sharing intimate images (sexting).
Remember criminals often target people online for financial scams or to exploit them, do not share any details of you location with people you have met online
The internet is somewhere we are spending more and more of our time, especially younger people. It is full of interesting, entertaining, funny, and sometimes outright strange information and is also a great way to connect and share with friends, family and social media contacts.
The reality is, it can also be a dangerous place and you should prioritise your safety online as much as you would when out and about mixing with people in public.
Unfortunately, there are also criminals operating online who could try to steal from you, blackmail you or use your personal information to commit fraud.
Online grooming refers to an adult pretending to be a child or younger person to engage another child or young person in sexual activity, sending inappropriate images or start a relationship with them. You should also be aware of the rules around sexting and sharing sexual images for under 18’s.
Cyberbullying is the online abuse or harassment of an individual. This can have really bad effects on health and happiness. Check out the link here to learn more Protecting children from bullying and cyberbullying.
It’s also worth thinking about how accurate the pages and images you see online are; and always question the credibility and trustworthiness of the information you access.
Remember your cyber footprint will be around for years so think carefully about the things you post which are linked to your identity, remember to be kind and polite on social media.
Who can help?
For more advice about keeping safe speak to one of our team. You can Call Us on 0300 029 50 50 or Text Us on 07520 649887 to start a conversation. **Monday to Friday 9.30am - 4.30pm excluding bank holidays**
Older children (aged 11-19) can ask advice from a school nurse by texting our confidential ChatHealth service on 07480 635 443.
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Delivering excellence in Children and Young People’s Services:
a partnership between Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
Funded by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council