Megan Jacob (Ba QTS Primary - group 2) (2011) (2012) (2011) (2011) For text related references, see written reference sheet. Get the Knowledge… Cyberbullying is a common type of bullying, which can be similar to the typical type of bullying that children can be subject to. It can occur at any time of the day and at any place, through a range of means, including: Social Networking Text Messages Gaming Sites Video sites Instant Messaging Webcam And many more… Although some examples of cyberbullying are unintentional, the situation can escalate due to the ease of transferring messages within a large and ever expanding audience. In November 2011, 38% of young people admitted to being affected by cyberbullying, but many victims keep quiet. Is your child one of these? Set the Rules… Don’t be afraid to set some rules with your child about their use of the internet, as this is a common piece of advice given to parents by professionals. Reinforce the rules and the importance of them! Think … WHERE? Considering where your computer is placed in your house is a key step to helping your children stay safe on the internet. Having it in a central room will reduce the opportunities for any suspicious behaviours to arise and will help you to keep a subtle eye on what websites they are accessing. WHEN? How often is your child on the computer? Is this number increasing? Being vigilant about the frequency of usage of the internet could help you to notice any changes or potential problems. WHAT? What sites are your child accessing? Do they have minimum age restrictions or any specific rules? You can check the history of the computer after your child has been on it, to check which websites your child has been visiting. If you aren’t happy with any of them, you can block inappropriate materials through your internet service providers. The parent-control options can be implemented before your child begins to has independent access to the internet, to prevent exposure to indecent materials, or can be introduced later if needsbe. WHO? If your child is communicating with people via games sites, social networking sites, instant messaging etc, do you know who they are? Ensure your child are aware of being careful about who they are talking to and the dangers of talking to the wrong people. Make sure they don’t meet up with someone they have met purely off the internet. WHO? Who is your child saying they are on the internet? Ensure they do not give out any personal information (name, age, address), including a photograph. Give themselves a pseudonym to hide their identity and make sure other people have your permission before giving out any information about your child. COPPA… The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act was introduced in 1998 in the USA, as a means to protect our children during their ever increasing exposure to the internet. The main points of the act include ensuring… -Websites explain their privacy policies -Parental consent is gathered before collecting and/or using a child’s information -Sites are prohibited from requiring more information than necessary. For this act, children are categorised as under 13s, hence why many age restrictions on sites are 13. Although this is an American act, many of the areas of protection have become prominent in Britain and elsewhere. Why not research this act if you are feeling apprehensive about what your child is accessing on the internet? It may help to ease your mind, or even identify any sites and areas that are not following the rules, hence putting children into unintentional danger.