We’re supporting Safer Internet Day, which aims to promote the safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile devices amongst children and young people.

To support this day we’re raising awareness of the strict online advertising rules that are in place to protect children from inappropriate or harmful content and by highlighting the resources we have available to help make the internet a safer place.

We know that young people are spending more time online. A large proportion own tablet computers and smartphones, are avid users of social media and, increasingly, watch ‘TV like’ content online via their devices. To ensure that the advertising they see and hear in these spaces is responsible, our advertising rules cover marketing on companies’ own websites and in other online space under their control such as on Twitter and Facebook. We also work with the advertising industry through our sister organisation the Committees of Advertising Practice to help them stick to the rules, most recently helping vloggers and bloggers to clearly signpost when they’re advertising.

We will not hesitate to ban any ad that could result in a child’s physical, mental or moral harm. We have a list of resources that young people, parents and teachers can use to find out more:

  • Children and young people can check out our new flyer to help them understand that online ads should not mislead or cause harm.
  • Teachers can use our resource for secondary schools, Ad:Check, to help children become better equipped to understand and critically assess ads.
  • Parents can help young people and children by highlighting what ads aren’t appropriate for them to see and hear. Our dedicated advice for parents includes a leaflet summarising our rules, guidance on how to make a complaint and links to other organisations that provide support for families or who campaign on children’s issues. We also work with the website Parentport which lets parents, guardians and carers know who they can contact if they have seen or heard something in the media that they think is unsuitable for a child.
  • Our Hot Topic on Children and Advertising contains further information about our work in this area.
  • Read the Non-broadcast Advertising Codes for Children

Find out more about Safer Internet Day and by joining the conversation on twitter #SID2016. Check out our Facebook page to see why we love the internet.


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