Lessons in using the Internet safely are set to become a compulsory part of the curriculum for primary schoolchildren in England from 2011.

The lessons are one element of a new government strategy being unveiled called “Click Clever, Click Safe”.

Children will also be encouraged to follow an online “Green Cross Code” and block and report inappropriate content.

The measures have been drawn up by the UK Council on Child Internet Safety, a new body comprising 140 organisations.

The “Zip it, Block it, Flag it” campaign is intended for use by schools, retailers and social networks, although it will be up to individual sites to choose how they use it. The campaign intends to encourage children to not give out personal information on the web, block unwanted messages on social networks and report any inappropriate behaviour to the appropriate bodies, which may include the website, teachers or even police.

Speaking ahead of the internet strategy launch, Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said the code would “provide a handy tool for children and parents to give them the confidence to know how to protect themselves online”.

To find out more about on and offline security see this great article – Security for your PC & Online Activities.

Chris, Web Designer at Input Youth