TikTok
Did you know that TikTok is currently the fastest-growing social media platform? As a result, many parents have questions around how it works and how to help their child use it safely. That’s why we’re hosting a live and interactive workshop to provide you with all the ‘need-to-knows.’, you will find more information here
Keep your child safe on WhatsApp
Parentzone - A Parent Guide to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (or ‘PUBG’) is a popular battle royale-style game available for console and mobile devices. It’s compatible with almost all gaming platforms. PUBG regularly has millions of users, as it is both free-to-play and very accessible. The game features realistic and engaging battles with many other players. More information can be found here.
Is TikTok safe for children?
A recent report by Ofcom highlighted that just over half of all 3-17-year-olds are using TikTok. Over the last few months, you may have seen reports in the press about young people coming across inappropriate and harmful content on the platform. The NSPCC have put together a guide to help understand the risks, and give an overview of some of the safety settings that might help to keep children safer on the app. The guide that you may find useful can be accessed here.
Parentzone - A Parent Guide to YouTube
YouTube is the most popular video sharing service in the world, with 22 billion monthly visits. Alongside video uploads, users can live-stream, broadcasting directly to their audience. To make an account and upload content, users must be 18+ (or 13+ with parental consent). However, you don’t need an account to watch content on the site. The Parent Guide explores the risks children might encounter on the platform and the settings available to help them have safer experiences while they watch - it can be found here
Parentzone - Search Engines
Find out about search engines and what you need to know about safer searching from Parentzone - here
Safer Internet Day
Our Safer Internet Day newsletter can be found here.
A Parent Guide to oversharing online
Sharing things is a key part of online life – and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Many young people use social media to express who they are, update what they are doing or post things they feel particularly proud of. But some things are not suitable to be shared online, and in some cases, could even be dangerous. This Parent Guide explores the risks around oversharing and what parents can do to help their child share more safely online. The guide can be found here.
Advice for parents and carers to keep their children safer online
Lots of us will continue to rely on technology over the winter break, for entertainment and keeping in touch with friends and family. You may find useful the following articles from ‘Thinkuknow’, which is an education programme from the National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Command to help keep children safer online:
- A parent's guide to privacy settings
- Gaming: what parents and carers need to know
- What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
Getting Tech Ready at Christmas
Parent Zone have provided a guide for setting up you divices - Getting tech-ready at Christmas | Parent Zone
Parentzone - Yik Yak
Parentzone - A quick guide to Instagram
#Ask The Akward
#AskTheAwkward aims to help parents and carers have regular conversations with their children about online relationships and more. The resource includes three short films created in a social experiment style, with real parents and their children to capture their reactions to a range of questions.
ParentZone
PZ Parent Letter SSC
PZ Poster
Think You Know
The parents and carers website has been recently updated and provides advice and guidance on a number of topics such as sharing images, social media, livestreaming, gaming and more.
Reporting Racism Online
The Safer Internet Centre has useful information on how to report racism on line. You can find information here.
IPAD Training
Family Fund are offering free iPad workshops. One of the workshops focuses on online safety. You can find out more here https://www.familyfund.org.uk/Pages/Events/Category/ipad-workshops
Online Safety
Whilst there are huge benefits to being online in order to stay connected to family and friends during this period, the government recognises many parents may feel concerned about the activities and content their children are accessing. This guidance outlines resources to help keep children safe from different risks online and where to go to receive support and advice.
COVID19: support for parents and carers to keep children safe online
Parents and Carers Online Safety Newsletter from CEOP
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, which is a command of the National Crime Agency, has produced an online newsletter for parents and carers. With many children and young people accessing the internet, you may find the newsletter useful - the newsletter can be found here.
Social Media and online platforms
NSPCC have joined forces with O2 to help parents explore and understand online life as children know it and I had previously shared information about their website. The NSPCC and O2’s Net Aware site and app have now been updated with all-new reviews from parents and young people. It provides online safety information and advice on privacy settings and other features, as well as recommended age guidance and risk ratings for inappropriate content. Net Aware is a tool for parents or anyone working with children, who want to better understand what young people are doing online. Please click here
The UK Safer Internet Centre offers advice for families wanting to set online safety resolutions for the new year. Tips include: have an open and honest conversation; create a family agreement; look at all your accounts; use the internet together. Please click here
On-Line Safety – Parentzone
We are working closely with ParentZone to promote on-line safety for all our students and their families. You can access their ParentZone site here
Parentzone weekly newsletter for up to the minute information on social media and E-safety click here.
Once in the website you need to enter your email address and the password we sent you - you can access the login details here. Get in touch if you need any help.
Up to date information is also available from Parentinfo
On-Line Safety – Childnet International
Childnet International has produced guidance for parents and carers on looking after the digital wellbeing of children and young people, which you may find useful . The guidance includes having an awareness of how being online can make children and young people feel, and how they can look after themselves and others when online. The guidance includes: age specific information for 3-7 year olds, 7-11 year olds, 11-14 year olds and 14-18 year olds, about how children and young people are interacting with the internet; top tips to support young people at this age; and ideas to help start a conversation about digital wellbeing.
The guidance can be accessed via here
On-Line Safety – Fortnite
UK Safer Internet Centre – Safer Internet Day
The UK Safer Internet Centre launched resources for Safer Internet Day 2021. You can find resources and useful information here: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/2021
Harmful content
UK Safer Internet Centre has launched a new online reporting tool for abusive and harmful content, which you may find useful and want to share with children in your school/setting and their parents/carers. ‘Report harmful content online’ is a reporting and advice system for online issues relating to: bullying; harassment; impersonation; pornographic content; suicide; self-harm; threats; unwanted sexual advances; violent conduct.
To report harmful online content please follow the link here
