1. Helping to Keep Children Safe Online

2. 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, )

3. What do we know about young peoples 10-17 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.

4. What are the risks?
A ‘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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

8. Social networking sites – see the handouts on your chairs for lots of others to be aware of.

10. What is Cyberbullying? Threats Manipulation Hacking Exclusion
Prejudice
Cyberbullying can occur in different ways. A good reference to support this slide is available on the digizen website:
Threats and intimidation
Threats sent to people by mobile phone, , or online.
Harassment or stalking
Repeated, prolonged, unwanted contact or monitoring of another person.
Vilification / defamation / prejudice-based bullying
These may be general insults or racist, homophobic or sexist bullying.
Ostracising / peer rejection / exclusion
Set up of a closed group refusing to acknowledge one user on purpose.
Identity theft, unauthorised access and impersonation
‘Hacking’ by finding out or guessing a username and password.
Publicly posting, sending or forwarding information or images
Disclosing information on a website.
Manipulation
May involve getting people to act or talk in a provocative way.
Stalking
Public postings 10

11. 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
If you do think that a child in your care is the target of cyberbullying you can take action.
Be careful that you are not punishing the target of cyberbullying. Children may feel reluctant to tell adults they are the victim of cyberbullying if they think that their mobile phone or access to online services may be taken away from them. In this way they may feel they are being punished for something that is not their fault.
Try to get involved and understand the services or applications children are using. This will help you to better support them if things go wrong. It may also provide an opportunity for your children to show you what they know about the services and how they keep themselves safe whilst using them.
Discussion about cyberbullying is extremely important. These 6 points below are the key strategies and advice for young people and should be discussed with children to ensure they are aware of what to do in order to prevent cyberbullying from occurring or responding to it if it does occur.
Finally, know that you can report this behaviour to a number of places. Each school has an anti-bullying policy that is designed to deal with all sorts of bullying and they should provide you with information and support in this situation. The providers of technology have responsibilities to ensure that users are safe and do have policies in place for user’s protection. And if the bullying is serious or you need help in identifying the bully then the police may be called upon to help resolve the situation.
It is sometimes helpful for young people to know that the criminal age of responsibility is 10 – therefore if they are harassing or threatening anyone (as seen in the film) they are legally responsible for their own actions. 11

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Gaming Gaming Gaming Gaming
Can anybody tell me the names of the gaming sites their child uses?
As you will know, gaming is very different to how it used to be. Put Pacman and Tetris to the back of your mind and think MMORPG – this means that a game is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, which in short means that a site can have unlimited users and the game never ends.
Many gaming sites allow you to play and communicate against other users all over the world.
One of the most popular ways for children to kill time is on their games consoles. Put your hands up if you have a console in your home? Keep your hand up if it links to the internet? The majority of these do, which means your child can link to other users, talk and play against them.
How long do you feel is an acceptable amount of time for your child to be spending online of a school evening? There is no specific guidance set around this subject, so as a parent you need to set boundaries and rules on acceptable usage. Ensure they have enough time to do their homework of an evening and spend some time doing a technology free activity. A screen should not be the last thing they see before they go to bed!
MAPA Training for NUHT (Nottinghamshire County Council) 14 14

15. 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.

17. PEGI
PEGI (The Pan-European Game Information age rating system) was established in 2003 to help European parents make informed choices
Violence - Game contains depictions of violence
Discrimination - Game contains depictions of, or material which may encourage, discrimination
Sex - Game depicts nudity and/or sexual behaviour or sexual references
PEGI (The Pan-European Game Information age rating system) was established in 2003 in order to help European parents to make informed decisions about the games children play.
Just think of them like age rating systems for films. If the game has 3+ it is suitable for a player of 3 years and over; if the game has 18+, you need to be 18 or over. Do not let your child tell you otherwise. I have heard stories of children telling their parents that this is an ability level!
As well as the age ratings, there are symbols to go alongside. These will give you a better indication of what the game is about. Some games such as Grand Theft Auto will have all of these symbols.
I am sure we have avid parent gamers in the audience tonight, hands up? What are your favourite games?
That’s great, I am sure by knowing these technologies so well, you will be able to easily find the parental controls. I would ask you to be careful with the types of games you play with and in front of your child. Turning the sound down on an 18+ game is not a parental control!
Please visit for more information
Drugs - Game refers to or depicts the use of drugs
Fear - Game may be frightening or scary for young children
Bad Language - Game contains bad language 17 17

18. Digital footprints

19. Mobile Phones
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.
Tips
A good time to allow your child to have a phone is when it is needed. i.e leaving the house alone – starting secondary school
Before buying a mobile find out what functions it has – Internet, private messaging, built in applications
Set parental controls where required – talk to the service provider
Do not allow mobiles in the bedroom at night; insist that they need to be charged overnight in your bedroom or the kitchen 19

20. Set on all devices that link to the internet
Parental Controls
Parental Controls
Set controls on:
Computers
Laptops
Tablets
Mobile devices
Games Consoles
ALL internet enabled devices
Set on all devices that link to the internet
Ask the audience what they think they can do to reduce the risk of their child coming across inappropriate material online? Answer - Set parental controls
It is important that these controls are set on all devices that link to the internet – Visit the website of the provider for more information
Inform the audience that it does not mean they don’t trust there child, it helps put a safeguard in place and stops them stumbling across material that is not age appropriate. [Play film produced by CEOP]
Parents and carers need to remember that controls are not 100% accurate and they should not a substitute for open communication with their child about the topic of ‘things they might see online’
Play the clip which shows young peoples views on parental controls
[Content below from the CEOP ‘ Inappropriate Websites’ factsheet, available for download]
The Internet is not centrally moderated, but as a parent you can set controls on your child’s internet access in the home. Parental controls packages can enable you to block access to adult websites, such as pornographic and gambling sites.
63% of teens surveyed admit they know how to hide what they do online from their parents
Norton Online Living Report 2009
Setting age appropriate controls on the sites they use and your network can help reduce the risk, but remember no filter is 100% accurate. Contact the provider of your internet package, such as Sky, BT, Talk Talk, the majority of services now providers free parental control packages. Make sure you do the same on your child’s phone and all internet enabled devices.
Setting age appropriate controls is important but ensure that you also have an on going conversation with your child about content online. Ask them to tell you if you if they see anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or upset, so you can help them.
Remember… they are not 100% accurate and not a substitute for open communication! 20

21. Parental controls How can they help?
Block sites that are not age appropriate
Limit inappropriate and illegal material
Set timings – automatic switch off at bedtime
Monitor activity
Ask the audience to put their hands up if they have already set parental controls on any of their child’s devices (including mobile)? Ask how they believe controls can help them as a parent/carer?
Read through the content on the slide, which gives examples of some of the functions available.
Inform your audience that it is advisable that parental controls are set on the whole network (they must contact their service provider - Talk Talk, Sky, BT etc....) and on the individual devices and sites their children use.
What do young people think... [Play film]
[Content taken from a CEOP Inappropriate Websites Factsheet, available for download.]
“It is never too late to put these restrictions in place. You can set specific times when the internet is not available, time restrictions and even have the restrictions lifted when you know the children are in bed.
Please remember that once these settings are set, it does not mean that you are 100% “safe”. Some content may slip through the net and you will need to report it to your service provider. Moderation and open communication is most importance.
For more information please visit the parents’ website or call your service provider (BT, Talktalk Sky etc...) and see what packages they provide, some of which are free. There are also some you can pay.
To find out more Google ‘parental controls’. Remember, the internet is available through many devices. Make sure your child is safe by controlling their phone, games consoles, laptops and PCs.” 21 21

22. Vodafone Guides www.vodaphone.com www.vodafone.com

23. Blue Light
It boosts alertness, helps memory and cognitive function and elevates mood.
It regulates your wake and sleep cycle. Exposure during the day helps the rhythm.
Not enough blue light can cause near-sightedness.
Too much exposure at night can disturb the wake and sleep cycle by suppressing the release of melatonin.
Can cause digital eyestrain.
Could cause the early onset of retinal damage (macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness for those over 50).
More research is needed.

24. Blue Light
Top tips:
Decrease time spent in front of screen or insist on regular breaks (20 seconds into distance and 20 blinks).
No iPad / phone for 1 hour before bed.
Use the screen filters.
Computer glasses with yellow-tinted lenses can block blue light.

25. We have termly internet safety assemblies.
Teachers talk to their class about internet safety when going online and internet safety rules are displayed.
Use Primary Safe Search.

26. We also have Hector the Protector.
At College House we also have strict Nottinghamshire County Council restrictions on what they can access on the internet, this can only be bypassed by a proxy password.

27. Thanks for reading!
Please feel free to speak to your child’s class teacher or another member of staff if you have any questions.