Today, Tuesday 9th February, is Safer Internet Day and we’re joining hundreds of organisations to highlight the positive uses of technology and exploring the role we can all play in helping to make the internet a safer and kinder place to be.

The internet is a big, amazing expanse of information, but with such a wealth of material available online it can sometimes be quite a daunting place. That’s why Virgin Media teamed up with BT, Sky and TalkTalk to launch Internet Matters back in 2014, a world leading child safety organisation that offers information about many of the issues and technologies that children may come across in the online world. The not-for-profit organisation increases awareness of the parental controls and filters available to you, and encourages you to speak to your kids about safe use of the internet.

We've have been working with various teams around the business, as well as Switched on Families, to drive awareness of the initiative. Check out the website here for a host of videos, tips and conversations on issues ranging from cyber-bullying to social networking. It’s even got resources for different age groups and different types of tech.

How you can get involved

• Safer Internet Day is a great excuse to talk to your child about their digital lives. Maybe share some tips about good digital citizenship, learn about e-safety issues together and get them engaged in a social media campaign.
• You can also join the conversation on social media by using the #SID2016 and #shareaheart hashtags. Take a look and you’ll find kids and adults sharing posts filled with positive statements and messages, things they love about the internet and how they're playing their part to create a safer digital world.

Have a great Safer Internet Day!