E-Safety - Parental support and advice
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We have put together a number of resources on this page to support parents and carers in understanding the risks of social media and online safety.
Social networking is hugely popular. Many young people are sophisticated in the way they use social media apps and websites, tailoring their communication for different audiences, and accessing them from a range of devices including smartphones, tablets, and games consoles. But social media, like all forms of public communication, comes with some risks. Not all of these risks turn into actual problems; and if children never face any risks, they never learn how to deal with them. By helping your child understand what the risks are, you can play a big part in preventing them from turning into problems. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding online safety please get in touch with the school immediately. Useful Advice: Online safety checklist Social Media Guidance Teenagers checklist Kayleigh's Love Story
Below is the terrible but true story of a Leicestershire girl Kayleigh. Kayleigh’s Love Story is a film about aspects of the last 13 days of the life of 15-year-old Kayleigh Haywood. Please note, some viewers may find the content distressing. |
Three short videos highlighting the dangers of not knowing your childs' online journey and persona. The key is communication, so start talking to your child now!
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Breck's Last Game
Breck’s Last Game is a film based on the real-life murder of 14 year-old Breck Bednar in Grays in February 2014 by Lewis Daynes. It highlights the dangers of online gaming.
https://www.essex.police.uk/news/news-and-features/2018/09sep/breck-s-last-game-major-new-grooming-awareness-p/ Huge support as nearly a quarter of a million people have viewed Breck’s Last Game since it was launched online this morning (Wednesday, April 3) at 9am. That number is rising fast.
Visit the link to view the short film which tells the story of Breck Bednar, who was murdered by a man he met on a gaming site. Parental discretion advised as carries 15 rating. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/hZIYSCE-ZjY Many people are commenting about the powerful impact the film is having, alerting them to the potentially horrifying consequences of online grooming. Parents and carers are pledging to start conversations with their children about online safety. Children in Britain are online more than any other developed nation - it’s now more important than ever that parents, carers and professionals know how to have conversations with kids and teens about online safety and where they can go for further support. Breck’s Last Game aims to trigger those conversations. 
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#WakeUpWednesday Campaign
Please see below latest campaign from the National Online Safety Team
As part of our #WakeUpWednesday campaign, we've created a free online safety guide for schools to share with parents and carers about Kik Messenger; a free messaging app aimed at users aged thirteen and over. Used by more than 300 million people worldwide, Kik lets users exchange messages, photos, videos, GIFs and web pages with friends, family, chatbots and even strangers.
Unlike WhatsApp, Kik doesn’t require a user to sign up with a phone number. Instead, friends can be added via their username, making it easier for users to receive unwanted contact from strangers. Police in the UK issued a safety warning earlier in the year, claiming that Kik has featured in ‘more than 1,100 child sexual abuse cases in the last five years’ and that ‘children are at risk’ on the app. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45568276)
Please feel free to share our guide for parents and carers across your social platforms:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/natonlinesafety/status/1072800442025984000
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NationalOnlineSafety/photos/a.1681508315488685/1932027903770057/?type=3&theater
WEBSITE: https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/kik-online-safety-guide-for-parents/
Please see below latest campaign from the National Online Safety Team
As part of our #WakeUpWednesday campaign, we've created a free online safety guide for schools to share with parents and carers about Kik Messenger; a free messaging app aimed at users aged thirteen and over. Used by more than 300 million people worldwide, Kik lets users exchange messages, photos, videos, GIFs and web pages with friends, family, chatbots and even strangers.
Unlike WhatsApp, Kik doesn’t require a user to sign up with a phone number. Instead, friends can be added via their username, making it easier for users to receive unwanted contact from strangers. Police in the UK issued a safety warning earlier in the year, claiming that Kik has featured in ‘more than 1,100 child sexual abuse cases in the last five years’ and that ‘children are at risk’ on the app. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45568276)
Please feel free to share our guide for parents and carers across your social platforms:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/natonlinesafety/status/1072800442025984000
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NationalOnlineSafety/photos/a.1681508315488685/1932027903770057/?type=3&theater
WEBSITE: https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/kik-online-safety-guide-for-parents/
Welcome to the National Online Safety
April 2018 Newsletter Welcome to the April edition of the National Online Safety newsletter – keeping you up to date with the latest online safety news, providing you with practical tips and advice.
April Game Focus
"Fortnite: Battle Royale"
Are your pupils playing Fortnite: Battle Royale? You may have come across your pupils talking about the game Fortnite. As with many online games, Fortnite: Battle Royale comes with risks to children and young people. The game is PEGI rated at 12+ however, there is no proof of age required, which can expose younger children to violent content as well as inappropriate comments from older users. We’ve put together a FREE guide for schools and parents with more information about the game to help you keep children safe:
Download your FREE parent's guide
Listen to our podcast about Fortnite with UKEdChat! We were delighted to join UKEdChat this month to discuss the game taking the nation by storm; ‘Fortnite: Battle Royale’. Take a listen to what our Senior School Business Consultant, Chris Skinner, had to say about the game here: Listen to the podcast
App updates to note in April Apps and games have regular updates to their features. As a teacher, it is important to keep an eye on these updates so you know as much as your pupils. Here are the ones to note from April:
Slang term of the month: 'Griefing' Griefing is when someone purposely upsets another player in a game. This can be done by setting traps, damaging or stealing something from another player, intentionally killing them and just generally doing something in the game to spoil gameplay for them. Essentially, ‘Griefing’ is a form of cyberbullying and can be extremely frustrating for players.
The game to watch out for in May... With the release of the Marvel movie this month, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, the mobile game ‘Marvel Strike Force’ is sure to be a popular release with children - not to mention it is free to play! The game is available on iOS and Android. You can watch the game trailer here: https://youtu.be/HoC7yFRSnsQ
Dangers to consider with the game:
FREE Snapchat guide download! Snapchat is a photo, video and message sharing app for mobile phones and tablets. The app allows users to share images for a limited number of seconds, chat with users before messages disappear, and share images with their friends list through a ‘story’. We’ve put together this useful guide for teachers and parents which details the features of the app and explains more about the associated dangers. Please feel free to share this with your school community and on your social media channels.
Download your FREE parent's guide
Martin Lewis warns over Facebook scams A Facebook executive has told MPs that they have removed "thousands" of fake adverts which feature Martin Lewis (founder of MoneySavingExpert.com) after he took the social media platform to court this month. Here are our top tips on how to spot a scam:
WhatsApp announce ban for under 16s in the EU ‘WhatsApp’ have announced that they will ban under 16s from using their service in the EU, ahead of the introduction of the GDPR which will come into force on the 25th May 2018. Currently, the minimum age limit for WhatsApp users is 13 years old. Under the new Terms and Conditions of use, WhatsApp users will be asked to confirm their age in order to proceed with using the service. Users will be required to nominate a parent or carer to give permission for them to share data. If users do not obtain permission, they will experience a less personalised version.
26% increase in sexual abuse reports Earlier this month, The IWF published it’s 2017 Annual Report. The IWF works proactively to remove child sexual abuse content from the internet, helping to make the UK and other countries hostile places to host online child sexual abuse content. Whilst the response rate for removal of Child Sexual abuse content is swift and relatively small in volume compared to the rest of the world, the IWF has still seen a 26% increase in reports processed from 2016.
We have summarised the key findings from the report for you. Click here to view: https://nationalonlinesafety.com/iwf-annual-report-reveals-a-rise-in-online-child-sexual-abuse-images/
45% of 11-16 year-olds are aware of Skin Betting. Are you?
Skin betting and gambling has become more prevalent over the last few years and the number of instances is rising. ‘Skins’ are cosmetic elements in a game (such as clothing) which do not affect the success of a game. Skins can be earned, traded and bought with real money. BUT there are also opportunities for players to gamble their skins with the hopes of winning more valuable ones. ‘Skin betting’ is addictive and is also an easy way to lose money, fast.
Want to learn more? Take a look at our online safety course for school staff here: https://nationalonlinesafety.com/training/online-safety-for-school-staff/
Does social media accelerate gang culture? Earlier in the in the month, Met Chief Commissioner Cressida Dick associated social media with the rise of knife crime in the UK amongst children – she named, YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram for the rising problems. Does social media help to accelerate gang culture? We asked our Online Safety Expert, Fay Morris to comment:
https://nationalonlinesafety.com/does-social-media-help-to-accelerate-gang-culture/
Online abuse and disabled people Businesswoman and model Katie Price has campaigned for an investigation into the online abuse and experiences of disabled people. The House of Commons select committee debate on the 24th April included the impact of online abuse for people with disabilities and support for victims of online abuse. You can watch the petitions committee meeting here:
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/7b449354-b410-424b-9606-9a9121a8f078
April 2018 Newsletter Welcome to the April edition of the National Online Safety newsletter – keeping you up to date with the latest online safety news, providing you with practical tips and advice.
April Game Focus
"Fortnite: Battle Royale"
Are your pupils playing Fortnite: Battle Royale? You may have come across your pupils talking about the game Fortnite. As with many online games, Fortnite: Battle Royale comes with risks to children and young people. The game is PEGI rated at 12+ however, there is no proof of age required, which can expose younger children to violent content as well as inappropriate comments from older users. We’ve put together a FREE guide for schools and parents with more information about the game to help you keep children safe:
Download your FREE parent's guide
Listen to our podcast about Fortnite with UKEdChat! We were delighted to join UKEdChat this month to discuss the game taking the nation by storm; ‘Fortnite: Battle Royale’. Take a listen to what our Senior School Business Consultant, Chris Skinner, had to say about the game here: Listen to the podcast
App updates to note in April Apps and games have regular updates to their features. As a teacher, it is important to keep an eye on these updates so you know as much as your pupils. Here are the ones to note from April:
- YouTube have announced plans to add new settings to its kids app including giving parents the option to hand-pick every individual video and channels they are happy for their children to see.
- Snapchat have launched a group video chat feature this month, allowing up to 16 people to join one video chat at one time.
- Instagram now lets users share multiple photos and videos on their stories.
- Instagram has also launched a ‘focus’ filter to the story mode which blurs the background when taking a portrait or selfie, making photos look more professional.
- Spotify have introduced a ‘data saver’ feature for their free users, which optimises the listening experience using less mobile data.
- Facebook Messenger is planning to implement a new feature that will allow users to unsend messages. Watch this space!
Slang term of the month: 'Griefing' Griefing is when someone purposely upsets another player in a game. This can be done by setting traps, damaging or stealing something from another player, intentionally killing them and just generally doing something in the game to spoil gameplay for them. Essentially, ‘Griefing’ is a form of cyberbullying and can be extremely frustrating for players.
The game to watch out for in May... With the release of the Marvel movie this month, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, the mobile game ‘Marvel Strike Force’ is sure to be a popular release with children - not to mention it is free to play! The game is available on iOS and Android. You can watch the game trailer here: https://youtu.be/HoC7yFRSnsQ
Dangers to consider with the game:
- In-app purchases and the in-game store: You can progress through the game without making purchases, but the game will take longer to complete.
- The game is rated PEGI 12: This game is unsuitable for primary school children but there is no proof of age required when signing up.
- Talking to strangers: There is a live chat during gameplay which could expose young children to inappropriate conversations. This can be turned off in the settings.
- It can be addictive: There are timers when new challenges and levels are released which encourages players to continually return to playing the game when new elements become available.
- Violence: Battling is central to the game so there is fighting and use of weapons.
FREE Snapchat guide download! Snapchat is a photo, video and message sharing app for mobile phones and tablets. The app allows users to share images for a limited number of seconds, chat with users before messages disappear, and share images with their friends list through a ‘story’. We’ve put together this useful guide for teachers and parents which details the features of the app and explains more about the associated dangers. Please feel free to share this with your school community and on your social media channels.
Download your FREE parent's guide
Martin Lewis warns over Facebook scams A Facebook executive has told MPs that they have removed "thousands" of fake adverts which feature Martin Lewis (founder of MoneySavingExpert.com) after he took the social media platform to court this month. Here are our top tips on how to spot a scam:
- Check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Legitimate companies should not have any errors in their posts.
- Check how long the page has existed for. If it is relatively new with little followers, this should ring alarm bells.
- Check the comments on the post. Unfortunately, others may have fallen for the scam and want to let other people know about it.
- Does the offer look too good to be true? Usually, if it seems this way, it is!
WhatsApp announce ban for under 16s in the EU ‘WhatsApp’ have announced that they will ban under 16s from using their service in the EU, ahead of the introduction of the GDPR which will come into force on the 25th May 2018. Currently, the minimum age limit for WhatsApp users is 13 years old. Under the new Terms and Conditions of use, WhatsApp users will be asked to confirm their age in order to proceed with using the service. Users will be required to nominate a parent or carer to give permission for them to share data. If users do not obtain permission, they will experience a less personalised version.
26% increase in sexual abuse reports Earlier this month, The IWF published it’s 2017 Annual Report. The IWF works proactively to remove child sexual abuse content from the internet, helping to make the UK and other countries hostile places to host online child sexual abuse content. Whilst the response rate for removal of Child Sexual abuse content is swift and relatively small in volume compared to the rest of the world, the IWF has still seen a 26% increase in reports processed from 2016.
We have summarised the key findings from the report for you. Click here to view: https://nationalonlinesafety.com/iwf-annual-report-reveals-a-rise-in-online-child-sexual-abuse-images/
45% of 11-16 year-olds are aware of Skin Betting. Are you?
Skin betting and gambling has become more prevalent over the last few years and the number of instances is rising. ‘Skins’ are cosmetic elements in a game (such as clothing) which do not affect the success of a game. Skins can be earned, traded and bought with real money. BUT there are also opportunities for players to gamble their skins with the hopes of winning more valuable ones. ‘Skin betting’ is addictive and is also an easy way to lose money, fast.
Want to learn more? Take a look at our online safety course for school staff here: https://nationalonlinesafety.com/training/online-safety-for-school-staff/
Does social media accelerate gang culture? Earlier in the in the month, Met Chief Commissioner Cressida Dick associated social media with the rise of knife crime in the UK amongst children – she named, YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram for the rising problems. Does social media help to accelerate gang culture? We asked our Online Safety Expert, Fay Morris to comment:
https://nationalonlinesafety.com/does-social-media-help-to-accelerate-gang-culture/
Online abuse and disabled people Businesswoman and model Katie Price has campaigned for an investigation into the online abuse and experiences of disabled people. The House of Commons select committee debate on the 24th April included the impact of online abuse for people with disabilities and support for victims of online abuse. You can watch the petitions committee meeting here:
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/7b449354-b410-424b-9606-9a9121a8f078