MP Victoria Atkins backs online safety for kids

Latest research shows children in all areas of the community are increasingly connected and reliant on the internet for both their education, entertainment 
and social lives.

The schools taking part were Edward Richardson, St Michael’s CEP, Theddlethorpe Academy, Fulstow PS, St Helena’s CEP, North Cotes, Toynton All Saints, East Wold, and North Cockerington.

The event, hosted by Google on YouTube live, was to highlight their ‘Be 
Internet Legends’ programme

Ms Atkins said: “I was delighted to take part in the Be Internet Legends assembly for children in my constituency.

“It’s important that we teach children to thrive in a digital age and develop their digital skills to explore the opportunities of the 
internet safely.

“I’m pleased that Google and Parent Zone are helping facilitate these discussions and continue to raise awareness of online safety within schools.”

Google research shows that 99 % of teachers say that online safety should be part of the school’s curriculum.

To help teachers and parents educate children about online safety during the pandemic, Google and Parent Zone are now virtually delivering their educational programme Be Internet Legends which empowers 7 to 11-year-olds to become safer, more confident explorers of the online world.

Since May 2020, Google and Parent Zone have been delivering hundreds of interactive live assemblies for children at home and in school, as well as teacher training workshops, professional roundtables and sessions for parents.

Be Internet Legends is in partnership with family internet safety experts 
Parent Zone, and it is accredited by the PSHE Association.

The programme has reached over a million children across the UK.

It consists of five key pillars, which children from Louth and Horncastle were taught, to help them learn 
the essentials of how to stay safe online:

•1. Be “internet sharp” – think before you share

•2. Be “internet alert” – check it’s for real

•3. Be “internet secure” – protect your stuff

•4. Be “internet kind” – respect each other

•5. Be “internet brave” – when in doubt, discuss

The schools were were also shown ‘Interland’ – a free online adventure to make learning about online safety fun and informative.

Children find out how to avoid hackers, phishers and bullies and practise the 
skills they’ve developed from the programme.

Last year, to encourage parents and children to continue learning from home, Google also released The Legends Family Adventure, a three-part animated series following a family of Internauts on an epic online safety adventure.

Vicky Shodbolt, founder and CEO of Parent Zone: said: “Empowering children to be confident online explorers has never been more important.

“We are delighted to work with Google and schools around the UK supporting communities with essential internet safety messages.”