Edinburgh Napier University

  Increasing access to the internet, at school and
at home, means that children and young people
are spending more time online1. While the internet
provides extensive educational, entertainment and
socialising opportunities for children and young
people, it also presents risks, to which children
and young people are more vulnerable than
adults1. Government policies which address the
management of such risks often use the language
of protection and protecting children. This briefing
considers the risks and opportunities associated with
internet use, and practice implications which focus
on monitoring and managing children’s internet
use relevant to their developmental age and stage,
protecting children whilst also supporting the
development of their self-protection skills.