Life

A Safe Wi-Fi campaign has been launched to protect children browsing in public places

The campaign calls on businesses to let customers know that their internet filters out inappropriate content.
The campaign calls on businesses to let customers know that their internet filters out inappropriate content. The campaign calls on businesses to let customers know that their internet filters out inappropriate content.

A RISE in the number of children using smartphones has led to the launch of the ‘It’s Good To Know’ campaign to keep children safe while using public wi-fi.

It's being run by Friendly Wi-Fi, a unique government initiated scheme which will advise parents that their children can browse safely whenever they see the Friendly Wi-Fi symbol.

The child-friendly service has already been adopted by high street giants Tesco, Starbucks and IKEA and now campaigners are calling on businesses which have children and families regularly using their public wi-fi to show that they are ‘friendly’.

The huge increase in the number of public wi-fi spots has also played a role in the campaign calling on businesses to let customers know that their internet filters out inappropriate content.

In 2014 there were 5.6 million wi-fi hotspots in Britain and the north – and this is predicted to triple by 2018.

Figures have shown that nearly half of the population regularly use public hotspots and it is estimated that more than half of the world’s wi-fi remains unfiltered for adult content.

Friendly wi-fi was set up in 2014 and ensures that public wi-fi meets filtering standards in those areas that children are present.

Venues displaying the Friendly wi-fi symbol deny access to pornography, websites known to host indecent images and those with advertisements to such content.

NSPCC head of online safety Claire Lilley said: “The Friendly wi-fi symbol can help parents feel confident that their children are protected when they are accessing the internet in public spaces.

“We’d encourage all business to sign up to give customers the re-assurance that their wi-fi is safe.”

:: Get involved with the campaign using the hashtag #ItsGoodToKnow