Getting online and staying safe

Benefits of getting online

The web opens up a world of information, and given the rapid growth in mobile and tablet devices, is more than often used on the move. These are just some reasons to get online.

Talking to friends and family

You can exchange messages with friends and family - this can be through email, or more likely these days through social media e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp or SnapChat - to name just a few. We use social media to talk to our customers, so if you'd like to see what we talk about, go to our Facebook (link opens in new window) or Twitter (link opens in new window) - you don't need to be registered to see what we are talking about online.

Meet people who share hobbies / interests

You can meet new people who share your hobbies and interests - this can be through websites, email groups and also social media groups too. This is a great way of talking to like minded people online, from all parts of the country and around the world!

Find information

You can also obtain information about any given topic - the web has a wealth of information, and you might have heard of Wikipedia as a typical information site. The web is great for this, but of course, as its so open, don't always believe everything you read.

Catch up on the latest news

You might want to read newspapers and magazines - most big news sites will offer free access e.g. BBC. Some will offer areas of the site which will require you to register or pay a subscription. No site should automatically take money of you, but if you give a credit / debit card, you might find that you get free information for the first month and then get a monthly charge.

Online banking

This allows you to manage your finances and bank accounts - you can transfer money between accounts, pay bills, check your balance all at the touch of a button. Get safe online has top tips and advice for safe online banking.

Book travel online

The world is your oyster and with the web you can explore it all from the comfort of your living room. Get online to plan your journeys and book travel tickets - you can find some great deals online by shopping around different websites. You can also book trips with different operators to get a great price. Some websites will do this for you.

Listen to radio stations

You can listen to radio stations from all over the world. If you get bored with your local radio station, why not tune into a station in America or down under in Australia. The web offers immediate access to these sites plus will also tend to have the latest news from that area

Watch TV

Watch recent TV programmes. A lot of popular TV stations have playback, catch up or on demand facilities. This lets you see shows that have been broadcast in the last week, month or longer. Some will need you to log in to view content and some will charge a subscription fee.

Shop online

You can shop for food, clothes, or practically anything, without leaving your home. So many sites now offer next day or two day delivery, straight to your home or work. This opens up so much more choice when buying your next outfit.