Online Safety
In an age of ever-changing technology, apps and ways in which we communicate, it is essential that we keep young people safe and ensure they behave responsibly when using such tools. The sites and services that your child likes to use may change regularly, but the messages they need to keep themselves safe will remain the same – think before you post, be kind online and ask for help if something makes you feel worried, upset or uncomfortable.
The following information is a general guideline which we encourage our parents and carers to follow. These are basic yet essential in ensuring that we are collectively responsible for safeguarding young people in cyber spaces.
Listen
- Take an active interest in your child’s online life and talk with them about how they use technology.
- Ask your child why they want to use specific apps? How did they hear about them? What will they be using them for and how they aim to keep themselves protected from potential vulnerabilities, such as being asked to share something private with other users on such apps.
- Discuss with them how they will keep themselves safe and make sure they know:
Functionality
Make sure that you understand how the app works so you can decide if you are happy for your child to use it. You may even wish to set up an account yourself first.
Consider:
- Does it allow video chat or the sharing of images?
- Does it allow user to communicate with ‘random’ strangers?
- Does it allow anonymous chat?
- Does it allow in-app purchases?
- Can you restrict access to the content that your child shares?
- How will your child’s personal data be used by the app?
Reviews
What do other people (i.e. other parents and carers) have to say about the app?
Ask your friends and family members or take a look online. You may be able to find reviews via search engines or using tools such as www.net-aware.org.uk and www.commonsensemedia.org
Age Restrictions
- You can usually find age restrictions within the apps terms and conditions. This is not the same as the app/google store rating.
- The age limit for many popular social networking sites is thirteen. This is due to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA). The age limit is not based on suitability of content and instead applies to any website, app or online service which collects, stores or uses children’s personal information. Some apps will have age limits of 18+ as they are exclusively designed for use by adults.
- If children use apps that are aimed at an older age group then this may leave them vulnerable to being exposed to unsuitable content (including advertising), as well as being contacted by strangers.
Safety
- Many popular apps will have ‘help’ and ‘safety’ sections, either within the app itself or via its website. Some apps will even have content specifically designed for parents and carers.
- www.saferinternet.org.uk has some useful parent guides which highlight safety tools on popular devices, and signpost to report mechanisms.
- Does the app have any privacy settings? If so then help your child to apply them appropriately – for example is it possible to set the app so that only trusted friends can see information they post?
- Discuss how they will deal with posting content or having content posted about them which they may find upsetting or upsetting others
- Explore the block and report features. Can your child block or report concerning users or inappropriate behaviour?
- If the app doesn’t have safety or help sections or doesn’t provide the ability to report and block then you may wish to consider if it is safe for your child to use.
Boundaries
- Talk to your child about safe and appropriate online behaviour.
- Consider setting up a family agreement regarding how their internet use will be supervised and how long they can spend online. Resources to help can be found at www.childnet.com and http://www.nspcc.org.uk/
- Apply appropriate parental controls to all devices: http://www.saferinternet.org.uk and www.internetmatters.org
- Discuss your expectations about the types of content and information they should share online, rules relating to adding friends and meeting people in real life.
Do they understand:
- That content posted online should never be considered to be private and may be copied and shared?
- That they should behave online the same as they would in “the real world” and be kind?
- How to be secure online such as by using safe and strong passwords. You can visit www.getsafeonline.org.uk for more advice.
Useful Links
If you have any concerns regarding online safety or questions about how you can keep your child safer online then please contact the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead; Mrs Justine Turner to discuss any queries. Or email the school office at admin@parklane.org.uk