Online Safety

Download: Online Safety Policy 2023-2024 [PDF]

What Parents Need to Know About Instagram

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents Need to Know About Instagram‘ below.

Download: What Parents Need to Know About Instagram [PDF]

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What is Instagram?

Instagram is a hugely popular social networking app with over 1 billion users worldwide. The app, which is accessible on iOS and Android devices, allows users to upload images and videos to their feed, create interactive ‘stories’, exchange private messages or search, explore and follow other accounts they like. Images and videos can be transformed with an array of filters to edit the shot before sharing and anyone with an account can see others’ online ‘galleries’ if their account is not private. To make posts easier to find, users can include searchable hashtags and captions to their uploads. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help parents and carers understand exactly what Instagram is about.

In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as exposing your child’s location, in-app purchases and poor mental wellbeing.

What Parents Need to Know About Xbox One

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents Need to Know About Xbox One‘ below.

Download: What Parents Need to Know About Xbox One [PDF]

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What is Xbox One?

The Xbox One is among the most popular video game consoles on the planet. Released in 2013, there are a multitude of Xbox One variants on the market, including the One, One X and One S, with the next full console, the Xbox Series X, coming towards the end of 2020. With units sold exceeding 50 million, there’s a whole network of gamers already enjoying online experiences together through the console’s Xbox Live service. That’s why it’s important that parents and carers understand exactly what the Xbox One is all about.

In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content and screen addiction.

What Parents Need to Know About Triller

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents Need to Know About Triller‘ below.

Download: What Parents Need to Know About Triller [PDF]

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What is Triller?

Triller is a social media video sharing app. Unlike TikTok and many other video sharing apps, Triller focuses more on making creative music videos. Users can film multiple takes of themselves and the app with then automatically compile the best clips and turn it into a music video. It is free to download and has amassed over 250 million downloads worldwide, including celebrity users such as Justin Bieber, Eminem and Alicia Keys.

In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as mature content, cyberbullying and unauthorised sharing of your child’s video.

What Parents Need to Know About Trolling & Online Abuse

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents Need to Know About Trolling & Online Abuse‘ below.

Download: What Parents Need to Know About Trolling & Online Abuse [PDF]

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What is Trolling & Online Abuse?

Trolling is a form of cyberaggression. It involved the sending of malicious, abusive or derogatory messages by one user (a ‘troll’) to another user online with the intention of upsetting or harassing them or damaging their reputation. It is often anonymous and does not meet the definition of bullying, yet might develop into online bullying. Trolls will often goad others until they react. They enjoy putting people down and causing discord, starting arguments or being inflammatory – stirring things up for their own entertainment. Trolling may take the form of a one-off offensive comment, hate speech or even threats made online.

In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as mental wellbeing, damaged reputation and age-inappropriate language.

What Parents Need to Know About Torrent Sites

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents Need to Know About Torrent Sites‘ below.

Download: What Parents Need to Know About Torrent Sites [PDF]

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What are Torrent Sites?

A torrent site is a website on the internet where visitors can upload, share, and download files. Whilst some torrent sites are legal, others are not due to the sharing of copyrighted material such as books, music, and movies. A torrent site allows users to download pieces of a particular file from various other users, known as seeders, until the complete file is downloaded.

In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as legal issues, hackers and malware.

What Parents Need to Know About Games Consoles

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents Need to Know About Games Consoles‘ below.

Download: What Parents Need to Know About Games Consoles [PDF]

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More Information

Much like a television allows you to watch movies or a radio allows you to listen to music, a game console allows you to play video games. The most modern ones are names you might be familiar with – Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, and Nintendo Switch – and almost all of them can now connect to the internet and be enjoyed online with friends.

In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as the addictive nature of games consoles, inappropriate online content and online chat.

What Parents Need to Know About Online Avatars

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents Need to Know About Online Avatars‘ below.

Download: What Parents Need to Know About Online Avatars [PDF]

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More Information

Online avatars are digital characters that look like you. They are a form of self-representation without using an actual picture. The use of online avatars is popular in online communities and on video gaming platforms. There are usually three different types of avatars found online; cartoon, anime and image avatars, which tend to be the most popular. Avatars can be a good way to protect your child’s identity online and reduce the risk from impersonation or identity theft. However, they can also be misused by other users who can use them for their own advantage.

In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as grooming, catfishing and trolling.

What Parents Need to Know About Search Engines

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents Need to Know About Search Engines‘ below.

Download: What Parents Need to Know About Search Engines [PDF]

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What are Search Engines?

A search engine is something that helps you find what you’re looking for on the internet. By far the most used and well-known search engine is Google, which powers more than nice out of ten internet searches in the UK, according to Statcounter.com. Search engines can be used to find results such as website, images and videos, which is where the dangers start to arise.

In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as bypassing SafeSearch, inappropriate content and misleading information.

What Parents Need to Know About Hacking

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents Need to Know About Hacking‘ below.

Download: What Parents Need to Know About Hacking [PDF]

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What is Hacking?

Hacking is the unauthorised attempt to exploit a computer system or network. There are different types of hackers who are usually categorised under ‘hats’. White hat hackers are known as ethical hackers and have no intent to cause harm, but rather will penetrate a system to identify weaknesses. Black hat hackers or Crackers are those who intentionally hack to gain unauthorised access to harm or steal sensitive information. Grey hat hackers act more for fun and exploit security weaknesses in computer systems to raise awareness of issues for recognition, political awareness, or financial reward.

In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as theft of personal data, inappropriate content and breaking the law.

What Parents Need to Know About Friends & Followers

Please find the National Online Safety guide for ‘What Parents Need to Know About Friends & Followers‘ below.

Download: What Parents Need to Know About Friends & Followers [PDF]

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More Information

What makes social media actually ‘social’ are the connections users make with other users on the platforms. Every social networking site handles these connections differently, calling them ‘connections’, ‘friends’ and ‘followers’, amongst others. Having friends and followers is how we find out what other people say and do. Your friends and followers are much more likely to see your online content than those outside of your network, which is why it’s important to be mindful of who you connect with and what you share. On some platforms, if two accounts follow each other, this may allow additional communication channels such as private messaging.

In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as online bullying, catfishing and access to private information.