NORTH Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has backed a campaign by a leading children’s charity highlighting the risks of social networking.

The NSPCC has launched the campaign as many children and young people start the new year having scooped iPads, games consoles and smart phones among their Christmas presents.

The campaign, which involves two animations – I Saw Your Willy and Lucy And The Boy – shown on prime time television and digital spaces, follow the stories of children who share too much about themselves online.

Justin has been on the front line of the debate about cyber security and young people since becoming Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ed Vaizey, the Culture and the Digital Economy Minister, and much of his work has involved working with the NSPCC to help improve child safety online.

He said: “As PPS and particularly as chairman of the video games group in parliament I have been working very closely with the NSPCC on this very subject.

“Going online can be very exciting and rewarding for children, and offers much wider opportunities for young people to learn. But children and parents should always be mindful of particular dangers they could encounter online, whether this be cyber-bullying, or access to content of a sexual nature.

“The latest campaign is a result of close work with the NSPCC to help make children and their parents aware of the dangers and how to stay safe online so they can make the most of the internet in a safe way.”

As part of the research for the latest campaign the NSPCC, which also operates ChildLine, spoke to 500 parents across the UK about websites popular with young people. They also spoke to almost 2,000 children and teens about the social networking sites they used.

Matt Forde, from the NSPCC, said: “We know children take risks online, sometimes without realising it.

“And we know some parents feel confused by the internet, out of their depth and out of control.

“Our Share Aware campaign gives parents straightforward, no-nonsense advice that will help them to untangle the web and feel confident talking to their children about online safety.”