Recommended Website to support Parents and Carers with Online Safety

E-Safety

As part of our curriculum, we teach pupils about keeping safe online and celebrate "Safer Internet Day" each year alongside other schools across the world. 

Aspects we cover include:

• cyberbullying
• keeping things personal
• privacy settings
• being kind when using the internet to communicate
• what to do if you feel unsafe

For a wider range of information on these and other categories we recommend using this website: http://www.internetmatters.org/ 

Social Media/Networking 

For a wider range of information regarding this subject please see this page - http://www.internetmatters.org/social-networking/apps.html

Social networking sites are a huge favourite with children, allowing them to stay in touch with friends, meet people with similar interests, and share photos and videos. Used appropriately, social networks are a great place for young people to demonstrate their creativity. As a parent, there’s plenty you can do to ensure your children’s experience is both safe and fun.

We recommend you refer to this website for advice on Social Networking: http://www.internetmatters.org/technologies/social-networking.html

Age Limits

Most Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube,Twitter, Tumblr, Ask.fm and Snapchat has a lower age limit of 13, this means that no-one under the age of 13 must use this website.

Sites aimed at younger children, like Club Penguin and Moshi Monsters, also have a social networking element and should be checked before your child uses them. 

Mobile Apps 

For a wider range of information regarding this subject please see this page- http://www.internetmatters.org/technologies/apps.html

Although child-friendly apps can make using the internet a more accessible and enjoyable experience, the thousands of apps available for different types of people mean it's important to make sure children use appropriate ones.

Chatting with strangers

Meeting and chatting with strangers online poses risks to young people who might be vulnerable to grooming and online (and offline) forms of sexual abuse.

Sending inappropriate content

With the physical barrier of a screen, some people feel more empowered to pressurise others into sending messages, often of a sexual or derogatory nature. 

Sharing a location

Many apps share the user's location. This can put children at risk from others who actively seek out children with the intention of meeting in the real world. Sharing a location can also raise concerns with identity theft and privacy.

Sharing information

Many apps work on the basis of identity or phone number information. In many cases apps don't always let you know that this information is being used, meaning children could be sharing personal information. As well as on the social networks themselves, privacy and security settings are available on most devices. 

Cyberbullying

Smartphones allow people to take photos and share them instantly on their social networks or post information about someone online in seconds. Sometimes this can mean young people are even more vulnerable to episodes of cyberbullying.

Explicit content

Although most apps now go through a process of classification and are rated based the type of content they contain, all apps are available to download by anyone who has a password to the app store.

This may expose children to explicit content, sometimes without their parents knowing. Some of this content can be illegal or simply inappropriate for children as it's meant for adults.

Hiding content

Some apps have been created with the specific purpose of allowing the user to hide content within them. These decoy apps can protect personal information from strangers but also allow people to hide content they don't want anyone else to see.

Online Gaming 

For a wider range of information regarding this subject please see this page- http://www.internetmatters.org/technologies/online-gaming.html

Online gaming means you can play in real time with people across the world through a PC, games console, tablet or smartphone connected to the internet. Games can offer children a world of adventure to immerse themselves in but it’s important to understand how children can stay safe and what games are appropriate for their age.

What does game ratings mean?

The PEGI (Pan European Gaming Information) labels appear on a game's packaging indicating one of the following age levels: 3, 7, 12, 16 and 18. They provide a reliable indication of the suitability of the game content for different ages. Descriptors will indicate the main reasons why a game has received a particular age rating. There are eight such descriptors: bad language, discrimination, drugs, fear, gambling, sex, violence and online gameplay with other people.