O2 seewhatwecando to protect our children

Helping children play safe online

Some of the newer mobile phones, including Bluetooth and WiFi enabled phones, can be plugged into computers and used to download pictures and other files. Many phones are also able to access the internet.

This means that, like a computer, a mobile can be used to look at websites or take part in chat room conversations. It can also be used to send and receive emails. This can be very handy. But it also raises some of the concerns that parents have about the internet, such as young people seeing adult content and visiting unsupervised chat rooms.

Mobile phones, the internet and Parental Control

When it comes to web surfing, O2 offers a service called Parental Control. With Parental Control, we can limit the web access of a mobile phone to a small number of sites that are suitable for young people. We make sure that the providers of these sites moderate any chat rooms they have to make them as safe as possible.

Feeling in control

Parental Control is quick and easy to activate. You can do it when you buy a new phone for your child, but you can also do it if you pass them down an old one.

There are four easy ways to do this:

  • Click here to activate Parental Control online.
  • Call the automated service on 61818 and follow the prompts
  • Ask in store when you buy the mobile phone
  • Call customer service on 0870 521 4000

For more ways to limit a child’s internet access, see blocking 18+ content

Keeping Watch

Internet Watch Foundation

We’d like children with mobile phones to feel safe with the technology they’re using and for parents to be comfortable with the content they’re seeing. To help us achieve this, we decided to join the Internet Watch Foundation (opens in a new window) (IWF) – in fact, we were the first mobile operator to do this.

Safety in numbers

We've made a handy little card with all the vital numbers for our child protection services on it - so you'll be able to remember 'safety in numbers' wherever you go. We're giving the cards out in store to parents, teachers and anyone else who looks after children, but you can download a digital version here

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