Online Green Cross Code

Insight into your Childrens Unaccompanied activity

Online Green Cross Code Launches For School Children In The UK

If you're of a certain age you'll remember the many TV adverts for the Green Cross Code. The UK Government have decided to use this "safety message" as a basis for a new Online Green Cross Code aimed at children as young as 5 in the UK. The idea is to have children taught the basics of keeping themselves safe online as part of their normal schooling. I can't see why anybody wouldn't support this scheme, Cycling Proficiency (in order to keep our kids safe on public roads) has been included in schooling for years. I suppose many parents would argue that online poses at least as much danger. My only question would be who lets their five or six year old child use social networking and instant messenger services (or the internet at all for that matter) unaccompanied? Either way this is definitely a step in the right direction and anything that can help keep kids safe online gets my vote, I just hope that the message of "Zip It", "Block It", "Flag It" gets through.

"It will encourage children to not give out personal information on the web, block unwanted messages on social networks and report any inappropriate behaviour to the appropriate bodies, which may include the website, teachers or even police."

"The digital code is the green cross code for the digital age," said Dr Tanya Byron, who headed a review into inappropriate material on the internet and in video games.

You can read more about the Click Clever, Click Safe campaign on the BBC website.