NEXT week (February 8), marks Safer Internet Day 2022 - an annual event which promotes online safety and looks at how we can improve it.

Last year the NSPCC helpline saw a 45per cent increase in contacts from people worried about children experiencing online sexual abuse. One in every five people using the internet in the UK is a child, and for many, online life is real life.

Children can never be completely certain who they’re speaking to online. The NSPCC is campaigning for laws to protect young people online and will continue to do so until we’re satisfied the legislation is up to scratch.

But we all have a role to play - parents, carers, family members and friends - so it’s vital that we’re familiar with basic safety advice, tools and resources to help keep children safe online. There’s lots of information at nspcc.org.uk, where we recently launched an online safety hub.

One of the new sections is the result of a partnership with Ambitious about Autism and conversations with parents of children with dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties and other special educational needs. This section brings online safety tips, advice and activities dedicated specifically for parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including specially designed visual articles to share information simply and clearly.

Being online can be positive for children and young people, including those with additional needs, and so much of our communication now happens via online messages, in games or through video calls. But letting your child go online can be intimidating; you might worry about the different spaces they explore and people they meet digitally .

The most important thing you can do to help a child stay safe online is to have honest conversations about how they spend their time online. By showing an interest in their favourite games and apps, how they use the internet and who they’re speaking to, you’re letting them know you’re approachable if they want to talk.

Our Childline counsellors speak to thousands of young people every week who are worried about an experience online. Childline can be contacted at childline.org.uk, and children can talk to other young people on our moderated message boards. Safer Internet Day reminds us that the online world can be an incredible resource, but it holds significant dangers too, but they’re dangers we can prepare to face together. Visit nspcc.org.uk or email help@nspcc.org.uk