Internet Safety
Teen Safety on Facebook
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) has launched ClickCEOP, a Facebook application providing support and advice on online safety and giving direct access to CEOP's advice and reporting centre from their homepage.
Delivering continuous e-safety support to prevent online bullying
JKP author Adrienne Katz discusses how online bullying can be prevented with more effective e-safety education. Rather than running one-off e-safety sessions which can be easily missed or the information forgotten, she argues the case for continuous e-safety support in schools and discusses how particularly vulnerable teens can be better served by this system.
Childline have useful material on online bullying for young people and parents
Sexting
ChildLine and the Internet Watch Foundation are taking an initiative in relation to “sexting.” This partnership follows a ChildLine survey of 13 to 18 year olds which found that young people are often taking significant risks by making and sending sexual images of themselves on the internet or through mobile phones.
The partnership with IWF means that ChildLine can help young people verify their age before logging a complaint to get an image removed swiftly and efficiently.
ChildLine has also developed an app for young people, which is designed to help them diffuse pressures on them to send an explicit image. The app, called Zipit, offers witty images to send instead of explicit ones and provides advice on how to engage in safe chat and what to do if you are threatened.
The NSPCC is complementing the ChildLine initiative by providing advice to parents on what they can do to advise and support their children in relation to “sexting.” Many children and young people are more savvy about internet and mobile phone technology than their parents, so the advice posted on the NSPCC website will enable parents to take action.
NSPCC advice to help you understand the risks and support your child if they've been "sexting."
This YouTube video by Children of the Street Society's Just One Photo campaign features the story of a young girl who shared a private photo online with someone she trusted.
Other useful links
Teaching Your Teen Online Safety (My Tutor)
Sexting in Schools and Colleges (UKCIS) [PDF]
7 questions parents ask about nude selfies? (Thnkuknow)
A Parents Guide to Dealing with Sexting (UK Safer Internet Centre)
Knowthenet
A survey by Knowthenet has revealed that only 30 percent of parents can identify the most common internet slang terms and acronyms used by their teenage children. Only 8 percent of parents knew that LMIRL stands for 'let's meet in real life', a strong indication their child may be about to meet a stranger they have been chatting to online.
The organisation recommends that parents regularly use resources such as its own knowledge centre to keep up to date with constantly changing internet slang.
Resources for Parents
- Supporting young people online: Information and advice [PDF]
- BBC Webwise- A series of short films introducing topics in relation to Using Email, Using The Internet, Using Mobiles and Keeping Safe Online.
- ThinkUKnow website for Parents (CEOP Education at the National Crime Agency)
- Digital resilience toolkit for parents (Internet Matters)
Websites you may like to look at with your child
Advice from CEOP Education at the National Crime Agency
Funmoods' Online Safety Kit- Little Red Riding Mood
Childnet wellbeing guidance
Childnet International has produced guidance for parents and carers on looking after the digital wellbeing of children and young people. This 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 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.
Further information, go to Childnet's Digital wellbeing