Helping to Keep Children Safe On line LornaNaylor Anti-bullying Coordinator CFCS September 2014

What are Zero to Eight children doing online? Over the last 5-6 years there has been a substantial increase in internet usage by children under 9 Children under 9 enjoy watching videos, playing games, searching for information, homework, socialising with others. More toddlers and pre-schoolers use internet connected devices especially touch screen. Children often have a digital footprint pre-birth. (Zero to Eight young children and their internet use, )

What do we know about young peoples on-line behaviour? The ABA and McAfee commissioned a survey in October and November The survey polled 1012 UK children (between the ages of 10 and 17) and their parents A quarter of young people spend between four to six hours online every day and much of this internet Currently more than half (53%) go online in their own room, nearly the same amount (43%) on a games console and two-thirds (66%) also use their smartphone for internet access.

What are the risks? ‘lack of technical, critical and social skills may pose risk’ especially for under 8(Livingstone et al 2011) Lack of research for under 8 age group. Concern over socialising online either within age appropriate virtual worlds or as under age participants in sites intended for teenagers and adults Some devices may put children at risk by compromising their safety and privacy Digital footprints created for children may cause problems for them in the future

But what about the benefits? Children today enter formal school years with significant experience in computers and use of the internet Have skills in assessing, understanding, viewing and creating in multiple, digital formats Have digital social skills Are digital citizens Enjoy online play

What main issues for young people? Too much personal information given online Contact with unsuitable people Cyberbullying Fake profiles Exposure to inappropriate content Damage to online reputation Not following safety advice

Where? Social Networking sites/sharing sites Gaming Mobile technology Webcams

Social networking sites

Popular sites/Apps for young people Sharing Chatting Messaging

Also watch out for! WeChat Vine WhatsAp Whisper KakaoTalk Kik Pheed Tinder

Opening a Facebook account

Facebook summary Use your address If you must lie, lie small! Limit the personal information Friends only! If you wouldn’t show your gran, don’t post it Check privacy Know how to report a problem Think before you post

What is Cyberbullying? Threats Hacking Manipulation Stalking Public postings Exclusion Prejudice

Advice for parents on cyberbullying Discuss behaviour online with your children - always respect others - treat your passwords with care - block/delete contacts & save conversations - don’t reply/retaliate - save evidence - make sure you tell Report the cyberbullying - school - service provider - police

Webcams

Skype-some tips Monitor your children when they use Skype. They should be aware that they should avoid contact with strangers. They should also know what to do when a stranger tries to communicate with them through Skype. It would help if you protect your child’s account with a long and unique password. Filter those who can contact your child’s account by using the privacy settings The more private your child’s profile is, the better. Include as little personal details on your child’s Skype profile as possible.

An abuser might pretend to be a boy or girl of the same age. They might even pretend to be someone they know. They chat and flirt online. They start to chat about sex. They ask for naked selfies, or to go naked on webcam. Then they threaten: “I will share this pic with everyone you know if you don’t do more things on webcam/ hurt yourself/ give me money... ” How does it happen?

Sexting The “exchange of sexual messages or images” and “Creating, sharing and forwarding sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images” through mobile phones and the internet.

NSPCC Study 2013 This is usually a result of peer pressure It is ‘friends’ in their social network not usually strangers It can lead to bullying and violence There appears to be double standards where girls are reluctant to discuss this but boys risk social exclusion if they don’t. There is a reluctance to ask for help/discuss with adults

Stay Safe Don’t do anything on webcam you wouldn’t want your friends or family to see. The Message for Young People

Advice

Share aware-NSPCC children-safe/share-aware children-safe/share-aware Share Aware – is a campaign for parents of children aged 8-12 – it will help to reassure you, and give you everything you need to keep your children safe. It has straightforward, no-nonsense advice

Gaming

Bullying through Games Consoles Some of the behaviour reported by our young people when using their games console Receiving messages from someone who was not who they said they were That tried to make them do something Asking to meet up Threats, name calling,insults, sexual language

PEGI (The Pan-European Game Information age rating system) was established in 2003 to help European parents make informed choices Bad Language - Game contains bad language Discrimination - Game contains depictions of, or material which may encourage, discrimination Drugs - Game refers to or depicts the use of drugs Fear - Game may be frightening or scary for young children Sex - Game depicts nudity and/or sexual behaviour or sexual references Violence - Game contains depictions of violence PEGI

i-Tune apps 4+ Applications in this category contain no objectionable material. 9+ Applications in this category may contain mild or infrequent occurrences of cartoon, fantasy or realistic violence, and infrequent or mild mature, suggestive, or horror-themed content which may not be suitable for children under the age of Applications in this category may also contain infrequent mild language, frequent or intense cartoon, fantasy or realistic violence, and mild or infrequent mature or suggestive themes, and simulated gambling which may not be suitable for children under the age of You must be at least 17 years old to purchase this application. Applications in this category may also contain frequent and intense offensive language; frequent and intense cartoon, fantasy or realistic violence; and frequent and intense mature, horror, and suggestive themes; plus sexual content, nudity, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs which may not be suitable for children under the age of 17.

Digital footprints

Online reputations What is my online reputation? Your online reputation is the perception, estimation and opinion that is formed when you are encountered online. This could be when someone visits your social networking profile, but could also be when anyone reads a comment you posted on another profile. It could also be when someone sees your online photo albums or an image with you in it, indeed any instance or reference of you that either you posted or someone else did - what your digital footprint says about you. Your online reputation will be formed through: Posts by you Posts by others but about you or linked to you Posts by others pretending to be you Who does it affect? Everyone! Obviously it applies to those who post online, however as other people could be posting information about you, you don't even have to have been on the internet before to have an online reputation! Rory Cellan-Jones commented on a survey conducted by AVG which concluded that 23% of unborn children already have a digital footprint.23% of unborn children already have a digital footprint What is your child’s digital footprint and how may it influence their future?

What employers look for According to the same survey, 35% of employers have rejected candidates based on: Provocative or inappropriate photos or information Drinking or using drugs Bad-mouthing previous employees, colleagues or clients Poor communication skills Discriminatory comments Lied about qualifications Young people should understand 2,3 or 5 years may seem like a long time in their world but actions today could hurt them in the future.

Tips  Is my child old enough to have a mobile phone? Set boundaries  Before buying your child a mobile, find out what functions it has – Internet, private messaging, built in applications  Set parental controls where required  Set mobile rules - no mobile phone in the bedroom at night, mobile free time before bed, no use after lights out Mobile Phones

Parental Controls Set controls on:  Computers  Laptops  Tablets  Mobile devices  Games Consoles  ALL internet enabled devices Remember… they are not 100% accurate and not a substitute for open communication! Set on all devices that link to the internet Parental Controls

Parental controls  Block sites that are not age appropriate  limit inappropriate and illegal material  Set timings – automatic switch off at bedtime  Monitor activity How can they help?

The Parent and Carers guide to the Internet

Vodaphone Guides

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre CEOP is the UK national lead agency who deal with the sexual exploitation of children in the UK and abroad

Click CEOP

Some Final Thoughts Do you think before you post? What is your child’s digital footprint? Do you know the e-safety and acceptable use policy for your school and do you respect it? Do your online and mobile habits set a good example to your children?