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.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) [opens in new window]
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 13-18 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.
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/sexting/zipit-app/
The NSPCC is complementing the ChildLine initiative by providing advice to parents and carers 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.
Other useful links
- UKCCIS | Sexting in Schools and Colleges
- NSPCC | Sexting
- Thnkuknow | Has your child shared a nude selfie?
- UK Safer Internet Centre | A Parents Guide to Dealing with Sexting
- UK Safer Internet Centre | Nude selfies what parents/carers need to know
Knowthenet
A survey by Knowthenet has revealed that only 30% of parents can identify the most common internet slang terms and acronyms used by their teenage children. Only 8% 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]
- ThinkUKnow website for Parents
- BBC Webwise
- Digital resilience toolkit for parents
Websites you may like to look at with your child
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:
The Ultimate Parental Guide to Protecting Your Child on the Internet
