Modern technology is part of our everyday life , we all use it extensively to support us with our learning, gaining information and social interaction. However we should be mindful of the problems and risks that technology can also bring. Risks can include our children viewing inappropriate content, sharing personal information, cyber bullying and grooming.
Online safety runs through our computing curriculum and general keeping ourselves safe support for our children. We promote an ethos of speaking out to our trusted adults and to always check with our adults when accessing online content.
We encourage all parents and carers to explore apps and online content with their children to ensure it is used appropriately and what they are accessing is appropriate for their age.
Please ensure appropriate privacy settings are activated on your child’s devices, be aware of who they are interacting with through their devices and know how to block and report if necessary.
Communication
A key way to support your child with being safe online is to know what they are accessing and who they are talking to. Talking with them about being safe on line, never sharing personal information, installing parental controls and checking settings are vital. Accessing the area where they use digital technology eg: a family room supports your knowledge of your child’s online experience and that they are less likely to act inappropriately (i.e. via webcam) and getting involved with the apps and platforms they are using supports your understanding of what they are accessing and how they are using digital technology.
Top Tips!
• Never give out personal information i.e email address, phone number, school name, sports club, photos, videos of themselves, family or friends. (Small pieces of information can be pieced together to form comprehensive insights into lives and daily activities.
• Make children aware information and pictures that are shared/posted on online platforms, that once published, anyone can change or chare these images of them.
• Remind children that the internet is not a private space and once something is posted, picture, video, chatroom message, information on a profile they are available for anyone to see and interpret. Anyone could look at these images and comments including a future employer.
• If your child receives spam or junk email and texts, remind them to never believe the content, reply to them or use them.
• Don’t open files that are from people that you do not know. It could be a virus, or contain inappropriate material.
• Never meet up with anyone from online – help children understand that some people lie online and therefore may not be who they say they are.
• Always keep communication open for a child to know that its never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable.
• Teach young people how to block someone online and how to report them if necessary.
Reporting Abuse
Always keep communication open for a child to know that it’s never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable. Teach young people how to block someone online and how to report them if they feel uncomfortable.
