The internet is on one hand an absolutely wonderful world of information, resources, news and entertainment whilst on the other being a potentially dangerous place where information, data, opinions and pictures are posted with little thought to the wider dangers of such information being put in the 'public domain'.

When I worked in at Church as Youth and Children's Minister the children and teenagers at our clubs often want to go on the office computers to check their e-mail, show others their 'BEBO'sites, play games together and generally use them as entertainment and fellowship. However, we had strick rules about what's okay and what's not.

Here's our top tips for 'online safety'(these particularly apply at club but we'd discus good rules for home use too);

1. If you chatting online can you describe the person you're talking to? (Online stranger-danger advise - only allow contacts or 'friends'that are people you personally know)

2. Never give out personal details (their own or their friends) and we discus the reasons for this (which include identity theft).

3. We always have an adult in the office in view of the computers to broadly moniter so they don't access inappropriate material.

4. No downloading (especially music and games).

5. No shopping.

6. ALWAYS RUN YOUR ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. We have bitter experience of cookies and viruses inadvertantly being allowed in causing havoc with the network. We have since upgraded and improved our anti-virus and firewall facilities so this isn't so much of a problem now.

7. Limit the time each young person is on the computer.

There is a lot more information now available to guide young people and parents, here's a summary.

Kidsmart andBEBO have good safety tips for parents and children;

Key things for parents; Discus with your child the potential dangers, your concerns, issues they face and the reasons for any rules you set in place. If you keep the channels of communication open they are more likely to come back to you if anything happens that makes them uncomfortable or distressed. Possibly the best thing you can do is share their interests and get them to show you and educate you on the sites they like. I would also urge caution about Webcams in bedrooms, for reasons highlighted in the BBC Panorama programme -One Click from Danger.

Thisreport into research about online abuse has raises some interesting issues for reflection.

Nicola David wrote a very useful piece on this subject in theChurch Timesrecently entitled 'World of danger behond the bedroom door'. It includes '12 online safety commandments'as well as insights into risks, addiction, cyber-bullying and protecting young people. Nicola has also written a Grove Book entitled'Staying Safe Online'.

The Byron Review has now been published and you can read Dr Tanya's reporthere. Aspecial versionfor children and young people may be useful to download and print off to talk through - well worth a look.

Guidance can be found on page 52 of'Protecting Children in the Diocese of Oxford' and Stephen Barber, Child Protection Adviser issuesthis adviceabout communicating electronically.