New Project Empowers Parents to Support Children’s Safe Digital Lives
By Charities Correspondent
The University of Gloucestershire has partnered with The Cyber Trust to support parents in helping children stay safe online, as digital use begins at increasingly young ages.
The Family Internet Safety Project offers guidance on parental monitoring tools, helping families manage children’s device use and reduce exposure to risks such as bullying and exploitation.
Recent figures from Ofcom show how early online activity has become more common.
Around 38% of children aged 5 to 7 are using social media, and nearly a quarter own a smartphone. Among children aged 3 to 5, many are already accessing platforms such as TikTok and WhatsApp, sometimes without supervision.
The project provides practical resources, including step-by-step videos and advice to help parents guide children’s online habits and build awareness of digital safety.
Researchers from the university are also working with families to understand how these tools fit into daily life, particularly for children aged 11 to 12, and how they influence behaviour and technology use.
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Dr Laura Castillo Eito said:
“We’re pleased to be supporting The Cyber Trust’s Family Internet Safety Project helping parents to keep their children safe online.
“Thanks to the parents and children taking part in our study, we’ll be able to gather valuable data around the integration of monitoring tools into daily routines, their impact on digital behaviour, and the drivers or barriers to their adoption.
“Going forward, this information will support the development of strategies that will enable parents to allow their children to enjoy the benefits of the online world through monitoring tools while also helping to minimise the risks.”
Dave Thomson of The Cyber Trust added:
“While the UK Online Safety Act 2023 increases responsibility for tech companies, parents remain best placed to understand and manage risks for their children.
“Rather than banning phones for under-16s, children should learn to navigate technology safely. The Cyber Trust’s Family Internet Safety Project aims to support families in doing this.”
