Thinkuknow News 4th July 2016

New Thinkuknow parents and carers campaign launches today!

Today we are launching a brand new public awareness campaign. Through social media, articles, blogs, films and more, we want to get parents and carers thinking and talking about the importance of discussing sex, relationships and the internet with their children.

Today is Day 1 of this three month campaign, and we are excited to introduce our first new resource entitled “The world changes. Children don’t”.

This short film that tells the age-old story of Romeo and Juliet… with a modern twist. It shows how the lives of these young lovers might play out online today, including the Lark ‘tweeting’ and Romeo ‘friending’ Juliet.

Behind this contemporary remake is the message that, although technology and social media can seem overwhelming and forever evolving, children and young people don’t change. We try to remind parents that (just as when they were young), their children are still exploring and creating their identities, keeping up with their friends and dealing with adolescent pressures. Although much of this now happens online, we remind them that the kind of parental support and advice which keeps their children safe 'in real life' will keep them safer online too. And our Thinkuknow resources can be a useful place to start in thinking about how they might frame these discussions.

Your support for this campaign will make a real difference. There are three simple things you can do to help us reach as many parents and carers as possible:

1. Share the film: ‘The world changes. Children don’t’

2. Support the campaign on social media

If you have not done so already, you can ‘like’ CEOP on Facebook at ‘ClickCEOP’ and follow us on Twitter ‘@CEOPUK’ for live updates and shareable content.

3. Promote the Thinkuknow website

The parents section of the Thinkuknow website provides information to support parents and carers to understand and respond to the risks their children may face as they grow. It covers a broad range of online safety issues from nude selfies to what to do if you think your child is being groomed online. Find it at: www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents.

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Research tells us that having a supportive parent or carer can make all the difference in helping a young person learn to stay safe. We hope this campaign will raise awareness of the breadth of advice and support Thinkuknow offers, and its accessibility to anyone whether they would like more information about keeping their child safe, or is worried about a young person in their care.

Thank you, as always, for all of your support for Thinkuknow.

Reporting to CEOP:

We help children stay safe online. Has someone acted inappropriately online towards a child or young person you know? It may be sexual chat, being asked to do something that makes them feel uncomfortable or someone being insistent on meeting up. You can report it to us using the 'Click CEOP' button below.