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Online and Media Safety
Mobile and online technology is a wonderful thing. However, it also presents opportunities for people to attempt to share content and communicate with others, particularly children, in ways which are not appropriate. This includes the sharing of inappropriate, offensive or explicit material and the use of technology (internet, email, chatrooms, mobile telephones, hand-held devices) to bully, groom (strangers attempting to meet) or abuse others.
School Guidance for Parents and Children
We have published our own guidance for parents which covers:
- Use of a range of media
- Television and Film and its impact on Children
- Games and online gaming
- Using the Internet
- Unsuitable or Inappropriate Content
- Filtering
- Blocking Unsuitable Material
- Unsuitable and Inappropriate Contact
- Chatrooms / Instant Messaging
- Grooming
- Inappropriate Conduct and Online behaviour
- Social Networking
- Accounts and Passwords
- Sharing and Privacy Settings
- Publication of Photographs
- Dealing with Issues
- School Involvement
- Mobile Telephones
- Online Shopping
- Advice for parents
- Reporting Concerns
Download : “Keeping your Child Safe in a Digital World” (PDF Document)
Useful Resources
- The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) has published a short, really helpful guide for parents and carers whose children are using social media. The guide includes practical tips about the use of safety and privacy features on apps and platforms, as well as conversation prompts to help families begin talking about online safety. It also contains pointers to further advice and support.
- A family agreement is a great way to start a conversation with your whole family about how you all use the internet and discuss together how to behave in a positive way when online at home, at school or at a friend’s house. To support parents in creating a family agreement, Childnet International have put together some free advice and a family agreement template.
- The Anti-Bullying Alliance has joined forces with internet security company McAfee to produce a series of videos on the topic, looking at how and why cyberbullying occurs; advice for children and young people to protect themselves and tips to pass on to parents about steps they can take at home.
- This video from Common Sense Media gives students five basic rules for engaging with social media, including switching on privacy settings and turning off location tracking features that harvest data (parents might be interested to watch this Guardian video which explores this in more detail).
- Common Sense has also created videos explaining how the most popular apps and sites work, so if you have ever found yourself wondering what Snapchat, Vine and Instagram are, these are a good place to start your education.
- For younger children (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2), there are a number of picture books available online (and in print), including the tale of Digiduck, who shares a nasty picture of a friend, and Smartie the penguin, who runs into trouble with his new computer.
Vodafone Digital Parenting Magazine
Vodafone publish an excellent magazine for parents called ‘Digital Parenting’. This is available online. The magazine includes a range of articles, information, advice, tips and issues about family use of the digital technology, and media and internet safety.
Here are direct links to the issues of the magazine:
Useful Websites
There are a number of useful websites offering guidance, advice and activities to help parents and children stay safe whilst using the internet.
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