Google visits school in Exeter to boost kids' online safety

In 2017, Google conducted research with more than 200 teachers to learn about their experience with online safety in the classroom. We found that teachers believe children should start learning about online safety as early as the age of seven and that 99% felt that this should be a part of the curriculum. To help teachers educate their pupils about staying safe online, we launched Be Internet Legends in partnership with family internet safety experts Parent Zone, and it is accredited by the PSHE Association.

Be Internet Legends is an educational programme aimed at 7 - 11-year-olds to help them be safe, confident explorers of the online world – through online platforms, teaching resources, face-to-face workshops and assemblies, and free training resources to over 19,000 UK teachers.

The Be Internet Legends programme has reached over a million children across the UK. It consists of five key pillars, which children in St Thomas Primary School were taught today, to help them learn the essentials of how to stay safe online:

1. Be “internet sharp” – think before you share

2. Be “internet alert” – check it’s for real

3. Be “internet secure” – protect your stuff

4. Be “internet kind” – respect each other

5. Be “internet brave” – when in doubt, discuss

Children at St Thomas Primary School were also shown Interland – a fun-filled adventure game to make learning about online safety fun and informative. Children learn about avoiding hackers, phishers and bullies practising the skills learnt with the programme. This is free online visit beinternetawesome.

“We are delighted to visit St Thomas Primary School today to help teach children about how to Be Internet Legends. By getting acquainted with what we believe are the five core areas of online safety, we want to prepare children to have a safe and positive experience online,” said Rosie Luff, online safety public policy manager at Google.

“It is essential that children learn to think carefully and critically about what they do and see online. Parent Zone has teamed with Google to teach younger children the essential tools they need to become safe and confident online explorers, helping them be resilient, kind and positive in this digital age”, said Vicki Shotbolt, founder and CEO of Parent Zone.