E Safety
E-Safety & Social Media
Do you know what your child is doing on their phone, tablet, iPad or computer? We have recently been made aware of a few incidents of children posting inappropriate videos on social media outside school. These are the main sites with the minimum age required to have an account:
| Social media site | Age |
|---|---|
| Dubsmash | 13 |
| 13 | |
| Flipgram | 13 |
| Snapchat | 13 |
| 13 | |
| Live.ly | 13 |
| Musical.ly | 13 |
| Tumblr | 13 |
| ooVoo | 13 |
| 16 |
E safety Policy
Games Consoles and Video Games
Video Games can be great, with many social and educational benefits, however it is essential that children are protected whilst they play. Due to the nature of games, many can be totally inappropriate for primary aged children. Please see below for more information about the PEGI age rating system that you will find on all games.
Top Tips for Keeping your Child Safe Online!
Regulate Screen Time
Set limits to how long your child is on their phone, tablet, laptop or games console. It is vital that they have regular breaks and time away from technology. Make sure that younger children still gets lots of chances to play, explore and interact in real life, away from screens.
Set Parental Controls
You can set up parental controls to limit what your child does online. You can block any sites that you think are inappropriate and on windows you can set time limits on when your child uses their device.
Do Digital Things Together
Download apps that you can play together or an ebook that you can read with each other. There are many family orientated apps out there for you to use alongside your child to show how technology can be used responsibly.
Set the Example
Model to them how to be responsible when using technology. If you have set a limit to their technology time, set one for yours too.
Try Not to Worry too Much!
Just as with any other aspect of parenting, it's almost impossible to get everything absolutely perfect. In today's digital world, it can be really hard to prevent children from spending too much time around screens, or to make sure they're only exposed to age-appropriate media.
Treat online activity the same way you would if your child was going to play outside.
Ask positive questions about what they're doing online. Some examples may include:
What?
What do you like doing online/on your tablet?
What can you do if you feel worried about something online?
What do you watch online?
What apps do you like to download and play?
Who?
Who do you interact with online? (Especially when children are playing games consoles online).
Who are you friends with online?
Who can you talk to if you're worried about something online?
Where?
Where do you go online?
Where do you find your games/apps?
Where do you find your videos/apps?
Where do you enjoy going online?
Fortnite
It has been brought to our attention that some pupils are playing the game "Fortnite". Below is some information about what the game is:
What is Fortnite?
Fortnite is an online game where players play solo or in squads of up to four players. They are dropped on to an island where they have to eliminate other players, using weapons. The aim is to be the last one standing.
What is the PEGI Rating?
The PEGI rating is 12 which means players must be 12 years or older.
PEGI ratings which are recommended for your child are :
**SNAPCHAT UPDATE**
There has recently been an updated version of SnapChat released. The new version features the option to include your exact location when sending pictures, even down to the street.
We advise parents to be extra vigilant if you allow your child to use this app and offer the following guidance:
- Ensure children are using their technology (including phones, tablets and consoles) with a responsible adult present. Children shouldn't be using devices alone in bedrooms.
- Only accept friend requests if they know the person and can check if it is them by asking them in person before they accept.
- Disabling location services on all devices so applications cannot access your location.
- Remember that the age to have a SnapChat account is 13 years old.
If a date of birth is entered which is below 13 years of age, the user will be redirected to a child friendly version of SnapChat called SnapKidz.
Online Safety Newsletters
"MoMo Challenge"
Thank you to the parents who have brought the "MoMo Challenge" to our attention.
MoMo is an image of a stretched, disfigured face with bulging eyes and large smile attached to a bird's body. The creature is allegedly encouraging children to perform acts of self-harm.
Please follow the link below to find out more information and advice about this issue.
ParentZone - MoMo Challenge Briefing
