Online Safety

Download: Online Safety Policy 2023-2024 [PDF]

What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Palworld

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Palworld’ below.

Download: What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Palworld [PDF]

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Releasing in January 2024, Palworld took the gaming scene by storm, selling over five million copies in just three days. A new take on the survival genre – blending mechanics similar to games like Minecraft with the ability to catch and fight alongside creatures reminiscent of Pokémon – it saw plenty of coverage from games journalists and influencers alike. 

However, despite its lower age rating and popularity with young gamers, Palworld has been criticised for its reliance on shock humour – touching on topics including animal abuse and sweatshop labour – and as a game featuring online multiplayer, one can expect certain safety concerns to arise. Our Wake Up Wednesday guide dives into the risks of Palworld, offering expert tips on how to safeguard children who simply want to enjoy the game.

What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Pop Ups

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Pop Ups’ below.

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On the internet or on social media, it’s likely that you’ve come across the occasional pop-up – promising a great deal on some product or service, declaring that you’ve won some kind of prize, or making any other number of tempting claims. This marketing tactic has been around for almost 30 years and shows no signs of disappearing any time soon.

Unfortunately, pop-up advertising carries with it various online safety risks, as we can never be certain where those links will take us or how legitimate their creators are. These ads can be especially risky for children and young people, who may not yet be able to look at such marketing with a critical eye. However, our free online safety guide will educate you on pop-ups, their associated risks, and how to safeguard yourself and young people from this phenomenon.

What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Helldivers 2

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Helldivers 2’ below.

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Within the last few months, Helldivers 2 has propelled to immense popularity in the gaming community, with players of all ages enjoying its frenetic combat, humorous presentation, and challenging gameplay. Whether they’re cooperating with friends or competing with strangers, the game has attracted many young players despite its higher age rating. 

As can be expected from an online game – especially one rated 18+ – there are several inherent online safety risks posed to children and young people who play Helldivers 2; from the content of the game itself to the dangers of interacting with strangers online. Our guide highlights the most prominent hazards of Helldivers 2 and provides you with top tips for keeping its younger players safe.

What Parents & Educators Can Learn from the Ofcom Media Report 2024

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents & Educators Can Learn from the Ofcom Media Report 2024’ below.

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On 19th April 2024, Ofcom released their annual Media Use and Attitudes Report, detailing the findings of several surveys and their implications for parents, children and young people in the UK. These statistics often include plenty of thought-provoking information relating to online safety.

The report itself is extremely extensive, so instead we’ve provided a bespoke selection of data gathered by Ofcom about children and young people’s experiences on social media, video games and the like. Check our guide for a thorough breakdown of the headline findings.

What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Shopping Platforms

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Shopping Platforms’ below.

Download: What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Shopping Platforms [PDF]

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Long gone are the days where eBay and Amazon were the only means of buying quality items online. The rise of user-friendly, accessible shopping apps has meant that getting clothes, gadgets and other goodies delivered direct to your door can be accomplished with a few touches of your phone’s screen while you’re on the go.

These apps aren’t without their issues, however, and users still run the risk of scams, data breaches and other online safety concerns. Being aware of these dangers will go a long way to keeping your money and information safe, so you can still enjoy what these shopping apps have to offer. Our guide has some top tips to help protect young people on these purchasing platforms.

What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Township

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Township’ below.

Download: What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Township [PDF]

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Potentially addictive online games are nothing new, but the specifics of this kind of media can vary enormously – and, as a consequence, the risks in each individual game are just as diverse. The city-builder Township is no exception: providing its legions of devotees with accessible, satisfying fun … but exposing them to potential hazards at the same time.

However, any safeguarding issues that the game might have can (with a little knowhow) be neutralised – allowing young players to have some engrossing fun without adults needing to worry about children’s data, their money or their mental wellbeing. Our guide outlines how to help young gamers enjoy Township safely and responsibly.

What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Shopping Platforms

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Shopping Platforms’ below.

Download: What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Shopping Platforms [PDF]

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Long gone are the days where eBay and Amazon were the only means of buying quality items online. The rise of user-friendly, accessible shopping apps has meant that getting clothes, gadgets and other goodies delivered direct to your door can be accomplished with a few touches of your phone’s screen while you’re on the go.

These apps aren’t without their issues, however, and users still run the risk of scams, data breaches and other online safety concerns. Being aware of these dangers will go a long way to keeping your money and information safe, so you can still enjoy what these shopping apps have to offer. Our guide has some top tips to help protect young people on these purchasing platforms.

What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Clickbait

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Clickbait’ below.

Download: What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Clickbait [PDF]

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While scrolling online, you’ll almost inevitably have come across posts or links with headlines like “You Won’t Believe These 10 Crazy Facts about …”. Such lurid language – and the often-dubious nature of the content it promotes – has become something of a running joke on the internet. Yet while these articles are often laughed at by communities online, they can have an insidious side.

Clickbait, as it’s known, can frequently function as part of a trap: intended to draw users in for the sake of advertising revenue or, in worse cases, masking an attempting to collect their personal information. This #WakeUpWednesday guide explores the various risks of clickbait and offers some top tips for evading the pitfalls of this controversial marketing technique.

What Parents Need to Know About Jeffy

Safeguarding experts have received reports about a YouTube cartoon series called Jeffy. At first glance, the puppet-style cartoon could be mistaken for child-appropriate content. However, Jeffy is part of a wider trend of animated videos that may look child-friendly but content-wise, they’re anything but.

Learn more about Jeffy here: https://oursaferschools.co.uk/youtube-cartoon-jeffy/

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What Parents and Carers Need to Know about Monkey

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents and Carers Need to Know about Monkey’ below.

Download: What Parents and Carers Need to Know about Monkey [PDF]

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With Omegle finally shutting down in late 2023, the top spot among video chat services is up for grabs – and Monkey has its eyes set on the crown. Randomly matching its users for 15-second conversations, the platform’s developers claim to have created a dynamic online space for people to make new connections and, potentially, even some new friends.

Despite these innocuous-sounding intentions, however, Monkey has been criticised for moderation which may not be comprehensive enough to defend against the obvious dangers that unregulated, random video calls pose to the younger element of the site’s userbase. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide tells trusted adults what they need to know about Monkey.