e-Safety for Parents and Carers

Many internet enabled devices e.g. Computers Mobile Phones PDAs, XDAs, etc Games machines NOT possible to control by blocking - can be accessed anywhere!

Why is it important? Devices easily accessible to most people Everyone has access to unfiltered internet (e.g. home, libraries, WiFi hotspots) Cannot always trace individuals

You have a key role in creating a safe ICT environment by promoting eSafety at home, reinforcing the messages from school.

Web 2.0 Music Download sites Games Sites Social Networking Blogs Virtual Worlds Podcasting Chat Rooms Learning Platforms Video Broadcasting

Content: child as recipient Opportunities Learning Educational resources Participation Global information Creativity Diversity of resources Identity & social connection Advice (personal/ health/sexual etc) Risks Commercial Advertising, spam, sponsorship Aggressive Violent/gruesome/hateful content Sexual Pornographic/harmful sexual content Values Racist, biased info/advice (eg, drugs)

Contact: child as participant Opportunities Learning Contact with others who share interests Participation Exchange among interest groups Creativity Invited/inspired to create/participate Identity & social connection Social networking, shared experiences with others Risks Commercial Tracking/harvesting personal info Aggressive Being bullied, harassed or stalked Sexual Meeting strangers, being groomed Values Self-harm, unwelcome persuasion

Conduct: child as actor Opportunities Learning Self-initiated or collaborative Participation Forms of civic engagement Creativity Self-generated content creation Identity & social connection Expression of identity Risks Commercial Gambling, illegal downloads, hacking Aggressive Bullying, harassing or stalking another Sexual Creating/uploading pornographic material Values Advice e.g. suicide/pro-anorexia

Challenges  Young People Like to post images and reveal some information about themselves Want lots of ‘friends’ Talk about their peers – can be hostile Use inappropriate nicknames Express insecurities and fantasies Trick others to make silly, embarrassing, dangerous acts with video or webcam

Reducing the risks Only enter non-sensitive information about yourself –First name or nickname –Walsall as an address –Never give phone numbers, financial info, etc Check the settings: –Make sure you’re not sharing your profile (personal information) with all other people

Reducing the risks People: –Be wary of those you have not met in real life (they may not be who they say they are) –of contacts of contacts (or friends of friends) Pictures etc: –When you post or allow access you no longer control them –anything posted is visible to others at any time! –Only send pictures to someone you know & trust –In practice anything posted on the internet will be there for ever.

Home and Family Guidelines Agree family guidelines and rules. Discuss online safety regularly. Keep virus and firewall software up to-date Enable Browser ‘safe search’. Learn together about new technologies and enjoy Monitor time spent on the internet View the ‘History’ or purchase filtering software. Have proportionate responses to problems. Your child may not tell you about a problem if they feel their access to the technologies will be restricted.

Remember … We are all inquisitive beings, children more than most. They are more likely to try things out of curiosity, or that they don’t understand. If you wouldn’t do it in real life, don’t do it online!

Questions & Comments

Social Networks & Virtual Worlds These are online social networks of people who have common interests. Used by millions of people everyday. Examples are: Facebook, Myspace, Bebo, Habo Hotel, Club Penguin, Second Life. Habbo Hotel is supposed to be for the 13 to 19 age range. However, the average age is 8!

Facebook/MySpace A free-access website which allows users to join one or more networks, such as a school, or region to easily join with other people. Membership is for anyone aged 13 and over. They are the most popular websites for uploading photos, with 14 million uploaded daily on Facebook alone. There have been criticisms because of privacy concerns, censorship issues and targeted advertising.

Second Life Is an Internet-based virtual world In Second Life: –There are about 15 million members –On average about 40,000 residents were logged on at any particular moment. Residents can explore, meet other Residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities, have virtual sex, create and trade virtual property and services with each other.

Second Life Joining Second Life is free, but registration of "payment information" (i.e. a credit card) is needed in order to own land, or access the support portal and online forums. Second Life's virtual currency is the Linden Dollar (L$). Real world money can be exchanged into L$. On average over $300,000 is converted into L$ each day and spent in Second Life.

How to stay safe on a social networking site Only enter non-sensitive information about yourself. Check the settings, make sure your profile is not shared with other members. Be wary about the pictures you post, or let others see. Be wary of people you have not met in real life, or are contacts of contacts! Remember: any comments posted are visible to other members at any time.