Telewest Broadband and Childnet tackle parents’ internet concerns: 56% of British parents unsure of their children’s online activity Embargoed release: 00:01, 16 September 2003

New research from Telewest Broadband reveals that over half of British parents are unsure what their children are doing online and 40% are uncertain where to get advice about making the internet a safer place for their kids.

The research, conducted by NOP* with over 500 parents, also found that half feel they have to resort to sitting with their children throughout every internet session and more than a third (37%) have been concerned about material their children have seen online.

In response to these findings Telewest Broadband has set up a strategic partnership with Childnet International, the award-winning children’s internet charity, to educate its blueyonder customers about protecting young people online, while making the most of broadband internet access.

Chad Raube, director of internet services for Telewest Broadband, said: “It’s clear that many parents are worried about the safety of their children while using the internet, but it’s important these fears don’t cloud the amazing educational potential of broadband.

“We’re delighted to be working with Childnet, because their guidance allows children to discover what a great place the internet is while ensuring they, and their parents, are clued up.”

Telewest Broadband will include Childnet’s KIDSMART leaflets in its blueyonder internet welcome packs and also provide online advice at blueyonder.co.uk, written in association with the charity.

The leaflets – Keeping up with your Child on the Internet and Helping your Parents be Cool about the Internet - are aimed separately at parents and children and provide advice on subjects including chat rooms, parental control, aggressive marketing material and web content.

In addition, Telewest Broadband is supporting Childnet’s Net Detectives programme, which links schools together via broadband internet in exciting role-play activity. Pupils solve real life scenarios, including internet safety, with support from community experts and the police.

Stephen Carrick-Davies, chief executive of Childnet International, said:

“We want to commend Telewest Broadband for its proactive approach to educating its customers about internet safety issues and using our Kidsmart resources.

It’s crucial parents take an active interest in what their children are doing online and help them use the internet positively and safely. We hope other companies will follow Telewest Broadband’s example and provide quality information on this important issue.”

Ends

Notes to editors

Telewest Communications plc, the broadband communications and media group, currently passes 4.9 million homes and provides multi-channel television, telephone and internet services to 1.72 million UK households, and voice and data telecommunications services to around 70, 800 business customers. Its content division, Flextech, is the BBC's partner in UKTV. Together they are the largest supplier of basic channels to the UK pay-TV market with a portfolio that combines wholly owned and managed channels, including the eleven joint venture channels with the BBC.

Childnet International is a registered charity set up with the aim to help make the internet a great and safe place for children and to promote and protect the rights of young people in international communications. Through its work Childnet has the privilege for working with both young people, teachers, parents and professionals in a wide range of sectors (non-profit organisations, government departments, law enforcement, industry) not only in the UK but around the world. See www.childnet-int.org.

*NOP research conducted in August 2003 with a representative group of 507 parents, all with home internet access being used regularly by their children.

High-resolution Telewest Broadband images are available for the media to view and download free of charge from www.vismedia.co.uk.

For further information
John Moorwood, Telewest Broadband – 01483 582802 or john.moorwood@telewest.co.uk
Alexandra Legg, Telewest Broadband – 01483 582 716 or alexandra.legg@telewest.co.uk
Stephen Carrick-Davies, Childnet International – 0207 639 6967, 0771 245 1859 or stephen@childnet-int.org

Or visit www.telewest.co.uk/blueyonder, www.net-detectives.org or www.kidsmart.org.uk.