Don't give out your personal information to people / places you don't know.
Meeting someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. Always check with an adult you trust.
Accepting emails, files, pictures or texts from people you dont know can cause problems.
Check information before you believe it. Is the person or website telling the truth?
Tell an adult if someone or something makes you feel worried or uncomfortable.
We recognise that E-Safety issues are constantly changing and evolving and strongly recommend visiting the excellent ThinkUKnow website (www.ThinkUKnow.co.uk) run by CEOP (The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre).
SAFETY FEATURES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is the term used for any software that can be used to connect with someone else or a group of people.
Most social media apps/sites have their own safety features, the trouble is, these are not always the same. So you have to be careful of the settings - make sure they are private.
The main things to remember
Keep friends lists to a minimum (Most teenagers have more than 500 friends!)
Be aware that friends of friends might see your posts
If you have 50 friends! and your friends also have 50 friends then 2500 people could possibly see your posts!
BUT! If you have 200 friends and your friends have 200 friends then 40,000 people might have potential to see your posts. This depends on the settings.
Monitoring Software
Click here
TEENAGE BEHAVIOUR
How many apps do they use?
They tend to stick to the ones their friends have. Usually Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Be aware of them downloading dating apps too, such as Tinder, Hinge and Bumble.
Who are they talking to?
They will talk to anyone they trust, normally friends and relatives, but they are not shy to talk to strangers as there is no 'in person', immediate threat.
Will they give their personal details?
Unfortunaltey they probably will, even when they know not to. They will give information to anyone that builds trust, whether its friends or potential grooming.
Late nights or early mornings playing games and chatting
Lots of teenagers are awake way into the early hours of the morning playing games and on social media chatting. Encourage them to swicth off at a certain time or establish boundaries where they leave their phone downstairs or somewhere they wont use it.
Are they sexting (sharing explicit images and videos)?
New research shows that 1 in 7 teenagers are sexting! The older they are the more likely they are to do this. Girls and boys participate equally.
Is sexting illegal?
Taking naked pictures of yourself under the age of 18 is deemed as creating pornography and can get you a police caution. Sending naked images of yourself if you are under 18 can get you a police caution as the age of consent is 16, the age of distributing indecent images is 18. It is always worth thinking about your DIGITAL TATTOO, once something is online it can never be remanded from the internet. You can speak to the special desicated Ealing Services, Social Services, police and Education Department.
Visit EGFL here
Childnet information/activity for students
Is sending an indecent image of a friend to someone else illegal?
Yes, it is considered to be distributing child pornography. They can be prosecuted and go on the sex offenders register.
USEFUL LINKS
KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE ONLINE
THINK U KNOW
NATIONAL ONLINE SAFETY
NSPCC - SEXTING
INTERNET MATTERS ONLINE SAFETY
BETTER INTERNET FOR KIDS
KIDSMART