Online Safety

Online Safety

Staying safe on the internet is an important message which we reinforce with our children at all times but we do look more closely through our Online Safety Lessons. This important message is something that should also be discussed as a family at home. Please  feel free to use this link to the CEOP website to gain more information about online safety and a place where your child can access some fun activities to back up their learning.

www.thinkuknow.co.uk

Social Networking

The use of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are becoming increasingly popular.

Did you know the minimum age for most social media platforms is 13?

These include Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, Musical.ly , TIKTOK and Twitter. The minimum age is set at 13 so that our children are safe and protected from what they read, see and who they talk to online. It is extremely important parents know and monitor how their child is using the internet and social media.

This is despite the fact that you have to be 13 years old in order to have a Facebook profile. There is a wealth of advice online about social networking sites. Please click on the links below for further support:

Top Tips for Parents

  • Talk to your child about what they’re up to online. Be a part of their online life; involve the whole family and show an interest.
  • Encourage your child to go online and explore sites which are fun, educational and that will help them to develop online skills.
  • Keep up-to-date with your child’s development online.
  • Set boundaries in the online world just as you would in the real world. Think about what they might see, what they share, who they talk to and how long they spend online.
  • Keep all equipment that connects to the internet in a family space.
  • Know what connects to the internet and how. Make sure you’re aware of which devices that your child uses connect to the internet, such as their phone or games console.
  • Use parental controls on devices that link to the internet, such as the TV, laptops, computers, games consoles and mobile phones. 

Click here to find out how to set up filters on your home internet to help prevent age inappropriate content being accessed on devices in your home.

The NSPCC have published new safety advice in response to evolving safeguarding risks around children being exposed to the ‘Metaverse’ through new gaming devices and peripherals such as Virtual Reality headsets linked to new high powered gaming devices such as new and more powerful gaming PC’s and Microsoft PlayStation 5.    

Some of the risks involve:

Experiencing physical injury

Negative impact on mental wellbeing

Experiencing unwanted contact

Encountering harmful content

Oversharing private information

Spending real money

The following NSPCC link covers this in more detail:     Virtual Reality Headsets | NSPCC

 

Handy Guides for Parents