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Online safety

The internet provides both opportunities and threats to young people, such as bullying, grooming, exposure to pornographic materials, radicalisation & extremism and sexual exploitation.

Online safety is as an umbrella term for promoting the safeguarding of children and young people when using any device over the internet.  We know that the online world can add great value to the lives of children and young people; whether it being personally or educationally.  This is also an evolving area with developments now in virtual reality there are major shifts in how young people interact with the world.

Many adults believe that young people know more about technology than them, but there’s more to technology that the technology itself.  The internet more than ever is about relationships, choices and respect. Its proper usage requires wisdom, positive personal values, emotional intelligence and self-reflection, and this is where schools can really take a lead.

Definition of online abuse

“Online abuse is abuse that is facilitated using technology. It may take place through social media, online games, or other channels of digital communication. Children can also be re-victimised if evidence of their abuse is recorded or uploaded online. Technology can facilitate a number of illegal abusive behaviours including, but not limited to: harassment; stalking; threatening behaviour; sharing indecent images of children under 18; inciting a child to sexual activity; sexual exploitation; grooming; sexual communication with a child; and, causing a child to view images or watch videos of a sexual act. Using technology to facilitate any of the above activities is online abuse.”

Quotation marks

Knowing their world

It is not only computers that are internet enabled, with games consoles, mobile phones and tablets all allowing the children who use them access to chat rooms, pornography and other sites where they may be at risk. In this digital age online safety is a concern for all who work with, or are parents to children and young people. The internet is a wonderful resource for learning but there are inherent risks in online activity, online abuse is increasing at an alarming rate with a 298% increase in reported incidents of indecent images over the last eight years.

Sometimes when thinking about online safety we focus on risks such as bullying, sexting, CSE and radicalisation. However, we also know that the online world also has the ability to compromise the well-being of an individual in terms of sleep, self-esteem, confidence, peer pressure and the fear of missing out. What is the culture around online life in your school – are young people feeling under pressure to reply on social media throughout the night?

Daily life is now becoming online life, so other areas of risk from our world, such as gambling, are now easily accessible online and young people can find themselves getting into difficulty. Opening up conversations to bridge the divide between the internet and young people’s lived experience in their families, schools and communities can create opportunities to help.

Know the risks

  • grooming: through social media and/or gaming, this may involve radicalisation and/or sexual abuse;
  • cyberbullying: can occur through any ICT, especially mobile phones;
  • sexting: sending explicit or compromising photos or videos;
  • sexual abuse: including non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways;
  • financial: although this is rare towards children it does occur – online gambling is an increasing risk;
  • exposure to inappropriate materials, racial hatred, frightening or pornographic pictures and videos;
  • obsessive use of the internet and ICT, for example, addiction to video games;
  • inappropriate or illegal behaviour, for example, exposure to hate mail or offensive images;
  • copyright infringement, for example, the illegal sharing of music, pictures, videos or documents.

Spotting the signs

It is not always easy to spot signs of online abuse or lack of understanding of online safety. They may include:

  • spending much more or much less time online, texting, gaming or using social media;
  • appearing withdrawn, upset or outraged after using the internet or texting;
  • being secretive about who they’re talking to and what they’re doing online or on their mobile phone;
  • having lots of new phone numbers, texts or e-mail addresses on their mobile phone, laptop or tablet.

What to do...

  • Do the children and young people you work with know how to ask for help, support and advice?
    • Are they aware how to report to CEOP?
    • Do they know the different ways they can contact ChildLine and the advice and support they offer, including the partnership they have with the Internet Watch Foundation?
    • Do children and young people know about appropriate support, advice sites and apps available to them?
    • Who would they speak to at the school?
    • Would they seek help and support? This is an important question to ask, as there are many reasons why someone would not seek help and support.
  • Is online safety an integral and full part of the curriculum?
  • How do you promote ‘Wellbeing’ within your setting?  How could people see the qualities of self-compassion, self-care and self-reflection through young people’s online presence?
  • Are you working to engage with parents?
    • Does your school actively send out material to parents?
    • Is your website up to date? Do you know the resources available for your website?
    • Is your e-safety policy up to date and accessible to parents?
  • Are staff members at the school up to date with what young people are doing online? Do staff members receive regular information / training, themselves?
  • Does the school have adequate policies and procedures in place, and is everybody following them?

Get some help

We offer online safety training for staff and students focusing on the concept of young people’s digital well-being. Contact us to arrange training or an audit of your school’s approach today.

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  • Training resources for DSLs to use in team meetings
  • Reference documents for additional information
  • Handout for school staff summarising online safety
  • Quiz to test staff understanding
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