On-line safety

 

KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE ON LINE 

NSPCC Learning has published information on online safety during the coronavirus lockdown The've pulled together resources (updated information on communicating with children via social media, running online services, tips for parents and carers and advice to share with children) to help you understand and tackle the risks children face online.

NSPCC has also partnered with O2 to create Net Aware, to help parents and carers who may be worried about their child sharing videos and images online. The content discusses why children use apps like TikTok and Snapchat, and provides guidance for parents and carers to help keep their children safe including: setting their account to private; reminding them not to post locations in real time or share personal information; and talking to them about sexting and sharing nudes.

CEOP has activity packs and advice on how to keep children of all ages safe online, including when gaming at home, sharing images, using social media. These simple, 15-minute online safety activities are available here.

For more information about on-line safety or if you are worried about an online situation go to the CEOP website

or the NSPCC

 see also the links about bullying including cyber bullying on our advice-and-support page 
 
 
Virtual work with young people
 
Read the Panel information leaflet here complete with an example risk assessment to help you to plan how to do youth work safely on line 
 
Read the Child net international in depth document on keeping young people safe online 
https://www.childnet.com/ufiles/FINAL-Guide-1---Working-with-children-and-young-people-online-v3-accessible.pdf

A guide to apps, games and social media sites: Net Aware: Your guide to social networks, apps and games (net-aware.org.uk)

  Parents and carers can contact the NSPCC Advice Line if they have any questions about parental controls, privacy settings or about apps and social media. Call 0808 800 5002, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.​ 
 Test your child's online safety knowledge with this NSPCC/O2 / Net aware quiz here. Have fun with the whole family and find out just how much your child knows about keeping safe online with this  online safety quiz. We have two versions available one for under 13s and one for over 13s. click here for a useful quiz
 

Talking to children about online abuse

The Childrens Commmissioner for England has published a helpful document to help parents discuss online abuse with their children: 
cco_talking_to_your_child_about_online_sexual_harassment_a-guide_for_parents_2021.pdf (childrenscommissioner.gov.uk)
 
"My advice to parents and carers is to create the culture before the crisis. Children have told us they want their mums and dads to create a safe, judgment‑free space for them to talk about these issues. It’s better to do that before you hit a problem rather than trying to create that mood while you’re dealing with one." Dame Rachel de Souza