Top tips for staying safe online at Christmas

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year, excitable children and time to relax with family and friends. And of course, there are new toys to play with.

With a huge increase in sales of devices (around 13 million people receive smartphones for Christmas each year) it is important to ensure that you and your children are safe when playing with new kit. To help, we’ve set out a few top tips to help keep your household safe online over the holidays.

The Tech:

Learn your way around

Most devices have controls to ensure that kids can’t access content you don’t want them to. Make sure your “in-app” purchases are disabled to avoid a nightmare surprise in the new year.

Tablets

Tablets are really popular with younger children, and the market has several which are geared towards child friendly content. When it comes to using them, start slowly; only download games and apps you have checked out carefully (sites such as www.net-aware.org.uk, or www.commonsensemedia.org provide useful advice!) and steer them towards age targeted content such as www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/cbeebies/features/iplayer-kids or YouTube Kids.

Mobile devices

If you have older children, and are thinking about getting them a new phone for Christmas, this can pose its own challenges:

The old online safety message about having your home computer in a communal place becomes defunct, because phones are literally mobile computers and have the power of most traditional desktop PCs.

Set boundaries

Our advice is to set some ground rules, and ensure they understand them. For example:

Screen Time

Agree a time limit or number of games beforehand, to avoid repeated disagreements around how long they can spend online.

Sleep comes first

It is advisable that the phone stays out of the bedroom to avoid those night time interruptions.

Ask for access 

If you’re genuinely concerned about them, ask them to allow you access to the phone.

Monitoring vs having a conversation

It is possible to install software onto devices that monitors online activity, alerts you to inappropriate behaviour, and can block access to certain content. This type of software is becoming increasingly popular, but while this might sound tempting, it does pose a number of issues around your child’s right to privacy & could have an impact upon your relationship with them. SWGfL published this blog earlier this year, which covers the subject in some detail and raises some interesting points.

The best advice we can give is to talk to your child regularly and openly about behaviour and risk, so that they know they can come to you if something goes wrong.

SWGfL also covered this in its Parenting in a Digital Age series earlier this year, in the blog: ‘It’s good to talk’.

Whole home approach

Consider setting parental controls on your Wi-Fi – you can block access to inappropriate or adult content, and set time limits which may help rein in those excessive Minecraft sessions. The UK Safer Internet Centre has advice on this here.

Gaming

Finally a word about games. This year there are so many exciting  games and consoles around, there is a good chance you might have one in your house. Whether a DS, Nintendo Switch or PS4, there is something for everyone, and every age.

Consider whether your child is mature enough to join an online community, and whether the games they are playing are appropriate. For more advice on this visit www.pegi.info or www.askaboutgames.com. Our blog from earlier this year, ‘The real cost of online gaming’ also gives an insight into the type of things to be aware of when it comes to gaming.

Finally, make sure you enjoy your tech together, it’s the perfect time of year!

technology

Christmas

gaming

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Almost 2 in 5 young people have seen fake news online

Ofcom have today released the findings from their 2017 Children’s media use and attitudes report, which focuses on children’s behaviour online and the way in which they interact with fake news.

The Ofcom report found that in 2017 nine in ten 5-15 year olds (92%) are online, an increase from last year when 87% of this age were online. The research also found that more than half of 3-4 year olds (53%) and 79% of 5-7s are online.

Young people getting their news through social media

More than half (54%) of 12-15 year olds use social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, to access online news, making it the second most popular source of news after television (62%).

However, many young people recognise that news they access on social media may not always be from a reputable source. Just 32% of 12-15 year olds who say social media is one of their top news sources believe news accessed through these sites is always, or mostly, reported truthfully, compared to 59% who say this about TV and 59% about radio.

Young people are questioning the content they see

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of online teens are aware of the concept of ‘fake news’, and four in ten (39%) say they have seen a fake news story online or on social media. 

The vast majority of 12-15s who follow news on social media are questioning the content they see. Almost nine in ten (86%) say they would make at least one practical attempt to check whether a social media news story is true or false.

Positively, the main approaches older children say they would take include:

• Seeing if the news story appears elsewhere (48% of children who follow news on social media would do this)
• Reading comments after the news report in a bid to verify its authenticity (39%)
• Checking whether the organisation behind it is one they trust (26%)
• Assessing the professional quality of the article (20%)

The young people also had techniques for what to do if they saw fake news online: 35% said they would tell their parents or other family member; 18% would leave a comment saying they thought the news story was fake; and 14% would report the content to the social media website directly.

Read the full 2017 Ofcom report.

Do you want to start a conversation with your children about using technology safely and positively? Our conversation starters can help you.

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Things to consider when buying tech gifts this Christmas

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday over and Christmas fast approaching there are plenty of new gadgets that parents and carers may be thinking about buying for their children. 

This blog contains advice for parents and carers to help them get to grips with the safety features available on the most popular gadgets this Christmas, as well as some key questions to ask before buying connected toys.

Smartphones, tablets and games consoles

The parents’ guide to technology gives useful and practical advice when buying a new smartphone, games console, tablet, connected TV or other internet-connected device. This guide looks at some of the most frequently asked questions about devices as well as looking at the safety features that are available.

Top tip:

Have a look at the device before Christmas day. Take the time to install the parental controls and safety settings that you want onto the device. This way you know how the device works and don’t have to worry about finding time to install parental controls once your child already has access to the device.

Setting up parental controls on your home internet

It’s important to look at what parental controls you have set up on your home internet, as this will help reduce the chances of children stumbling across something inappropriate while browsing the internet. Internet providers offer free parental controls that you may find useful- you can read the full guide to parental controls offered by home internet providers here.

Connected toys

Internet connected toys may also be at the top of your child’s wish list and they can offer fun and interactivity, but also present new risks and challenges. It’s important therefore that you ask questions about the toy in the shop before you make a purchase.

Some of the questions you may want to think about before you buy your child an Internet Connected Toy include:

• What information does the toy collect?
• Where will the information the toy collects be stored?
• Will the toy take pictures or store recordings of my child?
• Does it require location services to work or will I be able to turn this feature off?
• Who can interact with the toy and will it require a password?
• What parental controls are available and how do I access them?

It’s always worth asking about what privacy controls and safety settings you can use to make the device work for your family. Speak to the retailer at point of purchase or explore the safety features online via the manufacturers website.

Top tip:

Play with the toy together, this way you can find out first-hand how the toy works as well ensuring that you have some knowledge of the toy and its safety features, if your child comes to you for help.

Whatever presents you’re buying for your children this Christmas, one of the most important things you can do is have an open and ongoing conversation with your child about technology and the internet. By maintaining an open dialogue with your child and encouraging them to talk to you about their internet use you can help your children access the amazing resources the internet has to offer, whilst keeping them safe online. These conversation starters are a great ways to talk about the internet with your children. A family agreement is also a great way to start a conversation with your whole family about how you all use the internet and discuss together how to behave in a positive way when online at home, at school or at a friend’s house. 

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On the road again: on tour with SID TV

For the past four years SWGfL, as part of its work for the UK Safer Internet Centre, has been producing SID TV – film content to be used in schools for Safer Internet Day. The reach of the films has grown year upon year and our 2017 SID TV videos had nearly a million views!

As preparations for Safer Internet Day 2018 ramp, the team at SWGfL has been working hard, becoming  script writers, producers, runners and location fixers to create this years SID TV video content

SID TV hits the road

SID TV for 2018 will include a range of short promos as well as films for young people aged 3-7, 7-11, 11-14 and 14-19. We are also creating a film for parents and carers.

Our films will form part of the education packs for each key stage – they are designed to help start conversations and will be a natural extension of the activities from the packs.

This year, we are visiting primary and secondary schools in Cardiff, Belfast, Bristol and Edinburgh to talk to young people about how they feel when they are online, what effect does being online have on them and how they can develop empathy online.

We can also reveal, that our favourite puppets Red and Murphy will be making an appearance on SID TV 2018!
Look out for our SID TV films in early December when they will be available on our website and our YouTube channels.

Thank you to the schools involved!

The discussions we have had with young people of all ages during filming have been honest, open, inspiring and thoroughly enjoyable. The team here at the UK Safer Internet Centre have been humbled and moved by the willingness and enthusiasm of young people to talk about their feelings and relationships online and the consideration they give to the impact the internet has on their lives, both in a positive and a negative way.

It has been especially reassuring to see the strategies and resilience they are building to make their experiences online more positive. 

None of these films would be possible without the help and support of the young people and staff at the schools who kindly hosted us and were so keen to take part in SID TV. A huge thanks goes to Ysgol Melin Gruffydd and Cardiff High school in Cardiff, Westbury-on-Trym academy and Bristol Free School in Bristol, Ballyclare High in Belfast and Clermiston Primary in Edinburgh.

Find out more about Safer Internet Day 2018

Visit saferinternetday.org.uk to find out more about this year’s Safer Internet Day. You can also follow @UK_SIC on Twitter for all of the latest SID News, and sign up to the Safer Internet Day newsletter by emailing enquiries@saferinternet.org.uk

Safer Internet Day

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Online Safety Live: An A to Z of Online Safety

With Online Safety Live back in full swing, David Wright, Director of SWGfL and the UK Safer Internet Centre looks at its impact across the country.

Delivered by SWGfL’s online safety experts, as part of their work for the UK Safer Internet Centre, Online Safety Live is the UK’s largest online safety professional development programme for the children’s workforce. 

Since it started in 2013, it has so far reached more than 12,000 delegates across more than 300 events up and down the country, with 98% of delegates commenting that they feel better equipped to protect children online after attending one of the sessions.

Each Online Safety Live event follows a similar format: 

• Free to attend
• 2 hour duration
• presents updates and latest information on:
  • Changes
  • Research
  • Regulation
  • Tools & Resources
• offers attendees the opportunity to ask questions
• provides an online resource area with presentation materials and associated links to enable delegates to access further information relevant to them

The events are a privilege to present and we get a real sense of the challenges being faced up and down the country.  The events have been mainly attended by schools (Primary 41% and Secondary 15%), but also law enforcement, social services, healthcare and the voluntary sector. 

According to the feedback we have received, the issue that troubles delegates the most is cyberbullying (41%), while sexting is also an area of particular concern for many (15%).

The sessions are  continually updated to reflect the latest issues. Recently this has included elements on personal data and privacy issues, particularly how apps and other online services acquire and generate revenue from personal data.

The briefings are also a perfect way to share the latest updates on statutory requirements when it comes to online safety.  The most important aspect of the event is signposting to the latest online safety resources and services.

Visit www.onlinesafetylive.com to find an Online Safety Briefing Event near you

Online Safety Live

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Consultation for teachers about PSHE and RSE in a digital age

Teachers around the UK are invited to take part in a consultation to shape PSHE and RSE education in schools.

Childnet, as part of its work in the UK Safer Internet Centre, is consulting schools about best practice and gaps in how schools embed online safety within Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) and Relationships and Sex (RSE) Education.

RSE and PSHE in the digital age

It is essential that RSE and PSHE are fit for the digital age, covering issues such as online friendship, cyberbullying, online sexual exploitation, peer pressure online, healthy digital relationships, sexting and pornography.

Now is an important moment to influence this.

As of September 2019 it will be compulsory for primary school aged children in England to be taught Relationships Education and for all secondary school children to be taught Relationships and Sex Education (RSE).

The Department for Education is also considering whether to also make Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education compulsory in all schools in England.

Meanwhile, Kirsty Williams, Cabinet Secretary for Education established an expert panel to provide advice and support to the Welsh Government on issues relating to the delivery of Healthy Relationships education within the current Welsh curriculum in March 2017.

Therefore, we are very interested in finding examples of best practice in schools across the UK around this and also to identify gaps and challenges.

Taking part in the survey

By taking part in this consultation you can help to shape SRE and PSHE education to ensure it reflects children’s digital lives.

Take part in the English survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PSHEconsultation

Take part in the Welsh survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ymgynghoriadABGI

Teachers who complete the survey will be in with a chance of winning a £50 Amazon voucher.

The deadline for completing the survey is Tuesday 12th December 2017

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6 Tips for having a conversation with your child about cyberbullying

As Anti-Bullying Week comes to a close it is important to continue the conversations and messages that were highlighted during the week. Here are our 6 top tips for starting a conversation with your child about cyberbullying.

Discussing cyberbullying with your child, can seem like a daunting task sometimes but it is the best way to support your child and help them to be open and responsible about their time online. 

1. Know how to start the conversation 
   It’s important to involve yourself in your child’s online life and a simple and effective way  to this is by talking to them about their life online.  Try to maintain an open dialogue with your child and find opportunities to talk to them about what they love to do online. Parents can help children access the amazing resources the internet has to offer whilst keeping them safe online at the same time.
   Asking your child about what they want to do online and the sites they like to use is a great way to start a conversation about wider online issues. Our conversation starters can help you to have this conversation. 
2. Let them talk
   Give them the space to share what they want to in their way and listen. Try to avoid the temptation to interrupt because you know what’s going on, prompt if necessary but let them do most of the talking.
3. Don’t deny access to technology
   When we speak to young people about barriers to getting help, they often share that they are worried that their device may be taken away from them if they seek help from an adult or parent. Reassure them that this won’t happen if they speak up about something that has been worrying them online.
4. Let them know if you plan to talk to their school 
   If your child discloses that they have been cyberbullied and it is important to involve their school, communicate this to your child. Being honest about the next steps you are going to take will make you child more likely to come to you with other issues they may face.
   Schools play a vital role in the resolution of abusive online behaviours. They have a plethora of effective tools such as the Enable anti-bullying toolkit. Schools have anti-bullying and behavioural policies in place in order to provide a duty of care to all who attend. As such, they will want to know about any incidences that could potentially affect a child’s wellbeing. Take the evidence of bullying and any additional details about the context of the situation and length of time it has been going on for. It is helpful to discuss this with your child and you may want to speak to the school together.
5. Let them know that you are always available to talk
   Leave the conversation open so that your child knows they can always come back to you if they need help. Having an open and honest conversation means they it can be revisited when you or they need it to be.
6. Know what to do next 
   Our blog has advice for parents and carers concerned about cyberbullying and practical tips for how they can support their child. The Childnet website also contains a hot topic about Cyberbullying with tip to help parents

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