Elective Home Education - Child Online Safety for Parents
Did you know!?
According to a You Gov statics report (January 2020), when parents were asked about online gaming...
- 50% of Parents said that they were worried about their child’s internet use
- However, only 20% of parents engaged with their children in games online
But, what does this mean…?
…. let’s get engaging! As parents, it’s important to be present with what your children are doing online to keep up to date - the online world changes very quickly!
The tips in this guidance will help you to safeguard your child online.
Aims of the guidance
- Identifying the issues children encounter online.
- Identify ways to keep your child safe online.
- Recognise the online risks and what they could lead to.
- Be aware of how to manage online issues and risks.
- Know where you can access information and support.
Online Safety issues for Children
- 1 in 4 children have experienced something upsetting on a social network site
- 1 in 3 children have been a victim of cyberbullying
- Almost 1 in 4 children have come across racist or hate messages online
- In 2018 there were over 19,681 counselling sessions with young people who talked to Childline about Online issues (up 7,681 since 2017)
Cyber bullying is any form of bullying which takes place online or through smartphones and tablets. This includes social networking sites, messaging apps, gaming sites and chat rooms such as Facebook, XBox Live, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and other chat rooms.
Ofcom 2019 – Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report
- 50% of 12-15 year olds say that they have seen something hateful about a particular group of people since 2018.
- 25% of 12-15s who play games online say they have played against people they don’t know – with boys being more likely to do this than girls (31% vs. 17%).
- Girl gamers are on the increase. Almost half of girls aged 5-15 now play games online – up from 39% in 2018.
- 39% increase in parents of 5-15s who are concerned about their child seeing content which might encourage them to harm themselves.
- Only 50% of parents have controls set up on their child’s gaming devices.
Apps and Social Media
Please find below, information about different apps and social media commonly used by young people.
- Here are some key safety facts to think about regarding all social media and some popular apps / games:
- Be aware that when users sign up to apps, it’s possible to lie about your age without any checks being done.
- Extremist influencers are almost certainly using mainstream social media like those shown above.
- The attraction for influencers to use social media is that they can get a large following of young people as it’s popular with them.
- Influencers use popular topics like news, sports, beauty and gaming to attract young people to their information, this often then links to their extremist content.
- Children are choosing to get their information and news from social media / apps – safety and monitoring for these are key.
To use WhatsApp, you must be at least 16 years old.
- Messages and online status (if somebody is currently using the app) can be set to private.
- Messages can be coded by users so that others can’t see, however the police can do work to look at this.
- You can make face time video calls using the app.
- WhatsApp has become more popular over the past year – with Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram it’s one of the top social media apps used by children.
Snapchat
The legal age to use Snap Chat is 13. No one under 13 is allowed to create an account or use the Services.
- When you download Snapchat, it asks for your date of birth. If you’re under the age of 13, you’re directed to ‘SnapKidz’.
- Snapchat has short videos (10 seconds or less) that disappear. This can be an issue if you want to view them afterwards.
- Snapchat has an update which has raised concern. It lets people see other users (can be strangers) on a map and then click on their name and view their profile and videos
The legal age to have an Instagram account is 13 years old.
- If a child is younger than 13 years old and has created an account, you can show them how to delete it.
- Instagram has been linked as ‘troubling’ for young people as users often only upload edited and filtered photos that don’t show the real image.
- Instagram has a useful ‘Tips for Parents’ page.
YouTube
- The legal age to use YouTube is 18. If you are under 18, you must always have parent or guardian’s permission.
- YouTube say more than 200 million users watched video-game-themed content on its platform every day.
- Problems occur with YouTube as people try to seek fame by sharing videos aiming for the most views and likes.
- YouTube remains a favourite for young people to watch rather than TV or TV apps.
- There have been issues as young people have searched for and watched videos for things that they have seen in the news or that interest them without proper guidance / discussion with a trusted adult.
- YouTube have a page that covers their policy on violent extremist content. For October – December 2018 there were 49,618 videos removed.
- The figure is now around 85,000 videos removed
Facebook requires everybody to be at least 13 years old before they can create an account.
- Creating an account with false info goes against their terms. This includes accounts registered on the behalf of someone under 13.
- You can setup your page and posts to select whether your posts are private, to friends or the public.
- There have been issues with Facebook. Including live videos of attacks (Christchurch, New Zealand) and Facebook have been accused of not removing individuals/groups expressing somewhat extreme views.
Roblox
- Problems of grooming and online child abuse have been linked to Roblox as players are made up from users of all ages.
- We’re aware of a case study where a 10-year-old had been groomed online into joining an extremist hate chat group and then committing a violent extremist attack (child groomed by an adult pretending to be a young person).
- Players aged 12 and younger have their posts and chats filtered for unsuitable content and to stop personal information from being posted.
- To agree to Roblox’s terms you need to be 18 or have parent’s/guardian’s permission to agree to them. However, you can be any age to have an account.
- Account holders can stop who can chats with them.
- Roblox have a useful ‘frequently asked questions’ page for parents.
Fortnite
PEGI rating of 12 due to frequent scenes of mild violence.
- It is not suitable for players under 12 years old.
- Fortnite is a Zombie style shooting game which has an in-game ‘voice chat’ feature.
- We’re aware of instances where younger siblings have overheard their older sibling playing the game and the younger sibling thinking that it was real life and that an attack was going to happen.
- Gaming chat features have been linked to issues for grooming and into gang related issues and radicalisation.
TikTok
If you are under 18 years old, you can only use TikTok with consent from your parent or guardian.
- TikTok is short 15 seconds of music /dance video sharing.
- TikTok is one of the newest and most popular apps, especially during COVID-19 with young people making home videos for the above.
- Recent concerns reported with a video circulating, apparently showing a very graphic image of a person taking their own life.
- There are issues with TikTok like with other apps, with users trying to gain fame and becoming a target for online groomers.
- Any user can comment on your child’s video if their account is set to public.
- As TikTok is a newer app, influential extremists and groups have moved their activity to the app after being banned from other apps.
- A recent BBC Panorama investigation found that TikTok failed to ban a ‘child predator’ after the BBC had made a fake account to report this.
Ways to keep your child safe online
- Limit your child’s time on the internet and stick to it - consistency is key!
- Take phone and all electronic devices away from children at night and when you are away for long periods.
- Children to seek permission from you before downloading any apps. Stick to the age limits and monitor.
- Regular monitoring – check search history, apps and talk history, every day or at least twice a week.
- Accounts are private, and location is turned off.
- Report any issues through the apps/websites.
- Set clear and consistent boundaries - work with your child.
- Turn on parental control settings on all devices.
- NSPCC/O2 call free helpline 0800 800 5002 - to set up parental controls, adjust privacy settings or get advice on social networks.
News and Developing Issues
- New apps may not have the same ways to report issues and safeguard as those that are more established.
- Current online culture can lead to additional pressure on young people having to have the ‘perfect image’ or to be the best online (to be ‘beautiful’ on social media or high performing on games).
- Issues have been raised with these attracting the attention of online influencers, looking for those that can influence others.
- Social media is often used to reel in young people by giving an unrealistic and attractive impression of what other’s lives are like.
- There has been a rise in V-logs (video diaries) as children are being drawn to online ‘role models’ in their area of interest.
- Videos or messages showing things that people find ‘funny’ or show issues / conflict tend to travel faster and get shared more often. This includes memes (‘funny’ images or very short videos that can be offensive and have been linked to racism).
- These videos can lead to fake news, cyber bullying or even criminal consequences on those sharing them.
- Memes, dark humour & language used on games gets the interest of a younger audience.
How do I talk to my child about being safe online?
Working as a TEAM to stay safe online
Sites like NSPCC have some excellent information for online safety and promote exploring the internet together with your child as a T.E.A.M.
- Talk about staying safe online.
- Explore their online world together.
- Agree rules about what is okay and what is not.
- Manage your family's settings and controls.
Talk
- Tell your child to speak up and that they should not keep secrets if something is worrying them.
- Reassure them that you're interested in all aspects of their life.
- Say that you'd like to talk about stuff they've seen online, sites and apps they visit, and that you'll share the things you've seen too.
- Recognise that there will be positives to them being online, like using the internet to research homework, for example.
- Learn how to keep safe online together. This will help if online safety comes up as an issue later.
- Talk often. This will help you keep up to date with what they are doing online and who they are talking to regularly.
- Plan the time to talk into your family’s week – this way you will prioritise the time to talk and you can share any worries or questions.
Ask your child if they know:
- Where reporting functions are
- How to block someone
- How to keep information private
Show them how to do these things….
Use Net Aware to help
Talk about online privacy, and being Share Aware
Explore
- Ask your child what sites or apps they like?
- Write a list - look at the apps together.
- Be positive about what you see and open up about the concerns you have: "I think this site's really good" or "I'm a little worried about the things I've seen here".
- Ask what they think is OK for children of different ages – they'll feel involved in the decision-making.
Be aware that your child might talk about friends who use apps or sites that you've decided aren't suitable.
Be ready to discuss your reasons but recognise that they may not agree with you.
Listen carefully for the reasons why?
Go through simple ways to protect their privacy. Avoid usernames like birth dates or locations that give away too much information.
Go through a final list of sites you both agree are ok and work out when you'll next discuss it.
Agree
- Agree how online behaviour – including sharing personal information, should be the same as what you would do in person.
- Agree to be careful what you share – sometimes people aren’t who they say they are.
- Discuss images and photos, what might be suitable to share and what isn’t.
- Discuss how photographs can give people a sense of you, and that sharing the wrong kind of image can give the wrong impression.
- Tell your child that if they're in any doubt they should talk to you first. When talking to your child - staying calm and approachable is the key.
Manage
- Set controls on all children’s devices and yours if your children use them.
Call 0800 800 5002 and they’ll talk you through it.
REPEAT ALL STEPS ON AT LEAST A MONTHLY BASIS
BE AS HONEST AND OPEN AS YOU CAN WITH YOUR CHILD
This will build trust. If your child is worried or come across worrying material online, they will be more likely to talk to you about this. This is important because it will help you to see the risks and help you reassure them also. If you are too strict they will not always turn to you when they are in need!
Information and Support
NSPCC
NSPCC/O2 - 0800 800 5002
Childline
Internet Matters
Parent Info
Educate against hate
Let’s Talk About It
ParentSafe
Net-Aware
Vodafone Digital Parenting magazine
Inform the Police of a non-emergency on 101 or in an emergency call 999
School Designated Safeguarding Lead
If you need further information or if you have a query, email your local Sandwell Prevent
Prevent Training - Supporting Information
For information, support or guidance on Prevent in Sandwell, you can email: Prevent_Inbox@sandwell.gov.uk
If you would like to talk to someone about any queries, concerns, or a referral do not hesitate to make contact via this email.
Prevent referrals
If you would like to submit a referral regarding an extremism concern
Report concerns anonymously
Anti-terrorist hotline - 0800 789 321
The Department for Education helpline: 0207 340 7264 or email: counter_extremism@education.gov.uk
Additional Resources you can visit online:
Educate Against Hate
Run, Hide, Tell
Action Counters Terrorism (ACT)
The Counter Terrorism Policing ACT Awareness
The Counter Terrorism Policing ACT Awareness e-Learning is now available for the public to access & complete
"Don't give your kids a hard time. But it's important they are aware that you are aware!"
- Sandwell Council Prevent Team