Helping children be safe and confident explorers of the online world
To make the most of the internet, children need to make smart decisions. Be Internet Legends empowers younger children to use the web safely and wisely, so they can be confident explorers of the online world.
The Internet Legends Code
THE FUNDAMENTALS
Be Internet Sharp
Think Before You Share
Good (and bad) news travels fast online, and children can sometimes find themselves in tricky situations with lasting consequences. But what can they do to prevent this? The answer: understand how to share smartly with those they know – and those they don’t.
Every Word Matters
- Treat online communication the same as face-to-face communication.
- If it isn’t right to say, it isn’t right to post. If in doubt, get guidance on what kind of communication is (and isn’t) OK.
- Personal details about family, friends – and yourself – should stay private.
Be Internet Alert
Check It's For Real
People and situations online aren’t always what they seem. Internet Legends know how to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not.
Spot the Signs of a Scam
- If messages about 'winning' or getting something for 'free' feel too good to be true, they probably are.
- Things getting too personal? Ask yourself, why would someone have private information about you?
- Always think critically before doing anything online – and learn to trust your intuition. Be on your guard for phishing attempts – which are efforts to steal information (such as login or account details) by pretending to be someone you know in an email, text, or other forms of online communication.
Be Internet Secure
Protect Your Stuff
Personal privacy and security are as important online as they are in the real world. Keeping valuable information safe helps children avoid damaging their devices, reputations and relationships.
Create a Strong Password
- Make it memorable, but don't use personal information, such as names or birthdays.
- Use a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, symbols and numbers.
- R3pl@ce le++ers wit# sYmb0ls & n^mb3rs 1ike Thi$.
Switch It Up
- Never use the same password on different sites.
- Create a few different variations of the same password for different accounts.
Be Internet Kind
Respect Each Other
The internet amplifies everything: good things seem more exciting, bad things seem much worse and can hurt – a lot. A great rule to live by online, as well as off, is ‘treat others as you would like to be treated yourself’. Children can have a positive impact on others and stop bullying in its tracks by refusing to join in.
Set an Example
- Be a force for good. Use the power of the internet to be nice, not nasty.
- Stop the spread of harmful or untrue messages by not passing them on to others.
- Respect others’ differences.
Lead the way
- Block mean, upsetting or inappropriate behaviour online.
- Be a Legend. Step in and provide support to those being bullied.
- Encourage everyone to speak up against, and report, online bullying.
Be Internet Brave
When in Doubt, Discuss
When children come across something they're not sure about online, they should feel comfortable talking to a trusted adult. Adults can support this by showing they're open to talking, even about difficult or embarrassing things at home and in the classroom.
Encourage Legendary Behaviour
- Set clearly defined family or classroom rules and expectations around technology, and let children know of any consequences there might be for inappropriate use.
- Rather than having one big 'internet safety conversation', keep the dialogue going by encouraging children to ask questions whenever they want.
- Encourage children to talk to other trusted adults such as teachers, family friends or relatives as well.
Tools & Resources
Play Safe.
Learn Safe.
Stay Safe.
Interland game
Children can become Internet Legends with Interland, an online adventure that teaches the key lessons of internet safety through four fun, challenging games.
Play Now
Be Internet Legends Curriculum
Teachers can download lesson plans to deliver in class, as well as classroom activities to bring the five pillars of the Legends Code to life.
Download
Online Safety workshops
If you are a primary school teacher in Ireland, you can book a Barnardos internet safety and cyberbullying workshop for your class directly with Barnardos. A grant from Google.org has helped Barnardos to expand these workshops giving teachers and children access to highly trained educators nationwide.
Book now
Digital Wellbeing Packet
Comprehensive guide designed to support educators in introducing digital wellbeing to students to help them balance and enjoy their digital lives.
DownloadOur collaborators
Experts in internet safety
We worked with experts in internet safety to ensure every element of the programme addresses the things families and teachers need to know.
Barnardos provide interactive workshops on internet safety and cyberbullying for children and young people, teachers, and parents. These workshops seek to promote communication between children and adults on internet safety.
Parent Zone supports families and schools in the digital age by creating expert information on all of the issues affecting children and young people that are caused or amplified by the internet.