Online Safety
Every year, we join schools and youth organisations across the UK in celebrating Safer Internet Day. Safer Internet Day is a global campaign to promote the safe and responsible use of technology, which calls on young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers and more, to join together in helping to create a better internet.
Using the internet safely and positively is a key message that we promote Crumlin High Level Primary, and celebrating Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity for us to re-emphasise the online safety messages we deliver throughout the year.
Snapchat
Snapchat is a picture sharing app that has gained considerable popularity with young people. Thinkuknow have created a guide (on the right) for parents and carers to help them understand the functions and features of Snapchat and ways to help young people stay safe if they are using the app.
Does Snapchat have age restrictions?
Snapchat’s Terms of Service state that young people under 13 years old are not able to create an account. Currently there is no age verification in place when signing up to the app. Children under the age of 13 could potentially sign up for an account without their parent’s permission and give a false date of birth.
How much is it?
For all phone types, Snapchat is free to download . Snapchat uses an Internet connection using 4G or Wi-Fi to send and receive messages and images. As long as the user hasn’t exceeded the data limit or is connected to a free Wi-Fi network, messaging over Snapchat is free. Sending and receiving images is also free.
Companies can pay Snapchat to advertise their products or services.
Keeping Children Safe Online
Keeping up to date with what your children are doing online can seem daunting. Technology is constantly advancing and sometimes parents feel that their children know more about the internet than they do. Whatever their age, the following websites, resources and links can help you to find out more about what they might be doing online and give you some simple, practical and easy advice on the steps you can take as a parent to keep them as safe as possible.
The following websites have dedicated pages for E-Safety with parents and carers sections:
Safer internet centre - As a parent or carer you play a key role in helping your child to stay safe online. You don’t need to be an expert on the internet to help keep your child stay safe online. Advice and resources are here to support you as you support your child to use the internet safely, responsibility and positively.
Think You Know – ‘Thinkuknow’ is an education programme from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP command. It is underpinned by the latest intelligence about child sex offending from CEOP Command. There’s lots of information and advice on this site to help you keep your child safe and access support.
Internet Matters - Children use the internet in different ways depending on their age and so this site provides checklists for parents that give you top tips on how to help them stay safe.
Childnet International - Whether you’re puzzled by parental controls or would like to know more about gaming, this website can help. They know that it can sometimes be challenging to keep up to speed with what children and young people are doing online. Luckily on this site you’ll find a whole host of useful ways to keep your child safe.
NSPCC - Guidance and resources are available from NSPCC for parents, carers to help keep children stay safe online
Resources for parents and carers
A full range of resources and information for parents and carers can be found on the following links below:
NSPCC ChildLine - Online and Mobile Safety
NSPCC Online games: helping children to play safe online
So You Got Naked Online - A leaflet resource created by SWGfL and UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) with help and advice for young people who find themselves in a situation where they or a friend have put a sexting image or video online and have lost control over who it's being shared with.
Social networks checklists - This resource contains a series of handy checklists for using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat safely. The checklists were created by the Professionals Online Safety Helpline, operated by South West Grid for Learning on behalf of the UK Safer Internet Centre.
A parent and carer’s guide to age ratings of apps and games - This article explores some of the challenges faced by parents and carers around appropriate ages for gaming and apps. It will help parents find out more about game ratings and where to get further help and support. It provides background to the topic followed by a series of useful hints and tips. Parents and carers will find links to helpful sites and resources alongside a range of practical suggestions and ideas to aid discussions with children.
A parent and carer’s guide to Google Safe Search and YouTube Safety Mode - This resource will help parents and carers find out more about using Google ‘safe search’ and YouTube ‘safety mode’ and where to get further help and support.
A parent and carer’s guide to talking to your child about staying safe online - This article explores ways in which parents and cares can begin and maintain the lines of communication with their children.
A parent and carer’s guide to sharing information and images online
Your Child’s Online World - A Guide for Parents - This booklet offers some simple guidance about the risks your child might face online, some advice about what you can do to keep them safe, and where you can go for more help and support.
Playlists for parents and carers
Sharing Images – A Playlist for parents and carers - This resource discusses the possible risks a child or young person may encounter and provide guidance on how to prevent and deal with these situations
Fact or Fiction: Don’t be fooled online for parents and carers - This is to help learners recognise, identify and understand the difference between factual and fictitious online information.
How to keep myself safe online for parents and carers - This resource explores how to stay safe online, including advice on choosing safe passwords and what to consider when accessing and sharing content online.
Online bullying for parents and carers - This resource explores the complexities of online bullying, including how it affects both the person being bullied and the person doing the bullying
Online friendships for parents and carers - This resource includes support on how to tell the difference between an online and a ‘real’ friend, what to do if someone is mean or unkind online and what to do is someone online wants to meet up in the real world.
Screen time overload for parents and carers - This resource provides some useful activities and suggestions on talking about screen time, what the experts say and the symptoms of excessive screen time.
Other resources
Meic is the national advocacy, information and advice helpline for children and young people in Wales aged 0 to 25. Young people can access the free and confidential service by phone (080880 23456), text (84001), instant messenger (www.meiccymru.org) or email.
Common Sense Media - Common Sense Media provides independent reviews, age ratings, & other information about all types of media.
CEOP - Child Exploitation and Online Protection -CEOP is a command of the National Crime Agency and works to pursue and prosecute child sex offenders. The website enables the reporting of online sexual abuse or concerns about online communication.
Internet Watch Foundation - An organisation that minimises the availability of online sexual abuse content hosted anywhere in the world. The majority of their work focuses on the removal of child sexual abuse images and videos.
Childline – this website is ideal for either looking at information with your child or enabling them to learn about staying safe online independently (ideally secondary school age).
‘ChildLine’ provides a wide range of online and mobile safety resources
Staying safe online - Follow our simple tips for staying safe online
Sexting - Find out what to do if a sexual image has fallen into the wrong hands.
Taking care of your digital footprint - Learn about how to keep your personal information safe online
Online gaming - We can help you learn how to stay safe online when playing games
Online grooming - We're here to tell you what you need to know to keep you and others safe.
Bullying and online bullying - Deaf Zone- Get support if you're experiencing bullying
Cover your tracks - A guide to keeping your visits to ChildLine private