Staying Safe Online

Lesson Objectives In this lesson, you will: – Identify ways to keep safe online. – Minimise risk and harm in online communities. – Think about ways to advise other pupils on how to conduct themselves online.

Social Networking You may be thinking about signing up to social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter. You may have already signed up! – In pairs, discuss what you know about age restrictions on social media sites. – Put a checklist together for things that you might want to share and things you definitely don’t want to share online. Facebook and Twitter both have an age restriction of 13. – Who got that right?

Sharing Online – Feedback from Discussion Things you may wish to share…Things to keep safe…

General Guidelines Be as anonymous as you can. Protect personal / private information. Know how to amend you security settings; familiarise yourself with the site! Check comments carefully before you post – once you send it, it no longer belongs to you! Be honest about your age. Only add people you know in the ‘offline’ world to contact lists. Think carefully about posting any photographs and who might be able to see them. Always log out at the end of a session.

Photographs and Posts What do you think of this photograph? Discuss in groups of three or four.

The Reality The photograph you just saw was of a student from Cambridge University. The photograph was posted on Facebook after her final exams and just before she graduated. The photograph could be seen by anyone. Individually, make a list of possible future repercussions for this student.

The List Top five repercussions:

The Media Here’s what The Telegraph writer Mic Wright said about this particular photograph: ‘Most students are well aware that what they put online could come back to haunt them in the future. Those who choose to flaunt their idiotic behaviour on Facebook are actually doing the sensible majority a great service. At a time of huge competition for jobs, people willing to reveal themselves as boorish buffoons could conveniently reduce the number of rivals for a role.’ What do you think about Mr Wright’s point? Is it valid?

What do other people think? Once a photo is uploaded, no matter the length of time it spends in the public arena, it no longer belongs to the original owner. Screenshots, copying/pasting, and downloading directly can ensure that other people will always have access to that photograph. THINK: – SHOULD ANYONE ELSE SEE THIS PHOTOGRAPH? – COULD THIS PHOTOGRAPH BE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING? – WHO DO I WANT TO SEE THIS PHOTOGRAPH? (LIMIT THE AUDIENCE IN SECURITY SETTINGS).

Final Task Design and create a help leaflet for parents of teenagers, offering them advice to pass to their children about staying safe online. Include anything you have learned during this session, and any further information of interest from the following sites: – – You MUST include something about posting pictures online. You SHOULD include guidance on what information to share online and what not to share. You COULD offer different advice for different age groups, perhaps offering parents help with unfamiliar text speak (BRT, CWYL, QT etc.)