Online Safety

Download: Online Safety Policy 2023-2024 [PDF]

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Technology Attachment

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Technology Attachment’ below.

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Many young people and children today are deeply attached to their digital devices – often using screens for comfort, connection, and even validation. This attachment can quickly turn into dependency, especially with many apps designed to be habit-forming. Our guide breaks down how and why these connections develop, and the ways in which they might affect children’s behaviour, focus, and emotional resilience.

From disrupted sleep patterns to distorted self-image, the consequences of excessive screen time can be far-reaching. This guide also examines how digital communication may shape friendships and social skills, as well as the hidden risks children and young people face in virtual spaces. With expert insights and practical strategies, it’s a valuable read for anyone supporting children and young people in our digital world.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Online Slang

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Online Slang’ below.

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Online slang can be a vibrant way for young people to express themselves, but it also changes rapidly and can sometimes carry hidden meanings. This guide helps adults navigate this shifting landscape by breaking down what some of today’s most-used slang terms actually mean and why they matter. From ‘rizz’ to ‘sigma’, it’s a handy starting point for anyone wanting to better understand how young people communicate online.

We’ve created this free guide offering parents and educators information about online slang and the risks involved – from generational misunderstandings to being used as a veil for harmful content or behaviour. Importantly, it offers advice on encouraging open conversations and critical thinking about language. With slang constantly evolving, this guide encourages adults to stay curious, connected and supportive.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Group Chats

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Group Chats’ below.

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Group chats are a hugely popular way for children to stay in touch with their friends, whether via messaging apps, social platforms or games. These online groups can help them feel connected, strengthen relationships and encourage creativity – but they also come with certain risks.

From teasing and exclusion to privacy worries and inappropriate content, children can experience a wide range of challenges in group chats. This guide helps parents and educators recognise the signs of trouble and offers simple ways to support children in using group chats safely and respectfully.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about VPNs

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

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With more young people turning to VPNs to mask their online activity, it’s vital that parents and educators understand both the benefits and the risks. While VPNs can improve privacy on public Wi-Fi, they can also be misused by young people to sidestep safety filters and access harmful or age-inappropriate content.

This week’s guide explains the dangers of untrustworthy providers, malware threats, and the false sense of security that VPNs may give children. It also shares top tips – from checking devices to having open conversations – so adults can guide safe and responsible online behaviour.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about AI-enabled Scams

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents & Educators Need to Know about AI-enabled Scams’ below.

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AI isn’t just transforming the way we learn and work, it’s also reshaping the tactics scammers use online. From generating convincing phishing emails to fabricating influencer videos, criminals are using AI to make their scams more convincing than ever. Young people, who often embrace new tech quickly, can be especially vulnerable.

This guide highlights several AI-enabled dangers – including romance scams, deepfake audio and video impersonations, and fake job offers – and explains how to spot and report them. With clear tips for verifying content, thinking critically, and using trusted platforms, it’s essential reading for parents and educators to help young people stay one step ahead of the scammers.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Apple iPads

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Apple iPads’ below.

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iPads are a familiar fixture in many households and classrooms, offering access to educational tools, entertainment, and the internet in one sleek package; however, with great versatility comes notable risk. From accidental spending and data privacy breaches to excessive screen time, there’s plenty for parents and educators to consider before handing over the device. While Apple offers built-in safeguards such as ‘Screen Time’ and ‘Family Sharing’, these features must be correctly set up and actively managed to be effective.

Our #WakeUpWednesday guide walks you through these options and highlights some of the more surprising ways children can get around restrictions – including with Siri – while offering practical advice on how to help keep young users safe and healthy online.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Nintendo Switch 2

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Nintendo Switch 2’ below.

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Nintendo’s long-awaited Switch 2 has finally arrived, blending fresh hardware with fan-favourite franchises. From Mario to Pikachu, the familiar mascots are back – but so too are evolving online features, in-game purchases, and potential exposure to mature content. As ever, it’s essential that parents and educators understand the risks to young players.

Among these are GameChat voice communication, camera-based gaming, and potential access to mature-rated titles. This guide outlines what to watch out for and how to keep children safe, engaged and having fun.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about YouTube Kids

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents & Educators Need to Know about YouTube Kids’ below.

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YouTube Kids promises a safe, child-centric experience with colourful visuals, age-filtered content, and robust parental controls. Designed to appeal to younger viewers, the app has grown rapidly, being used by tens of millions of children worldwide. But is it as safe as it seems?

Despite YouTube Kids’ safeguards, reports have highlighted worrying issues, such as inappropriate content slipping through filters, subtle advertising, and the use of manipulative design to keep children engaged. Our guide explores how to navigate these pitfalls, offering practical advice for making sure children get the most from the platform – without the risks.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Violent Content Online

Please find the National College guide for ‘What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Violent Content Online’ below.

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With around 70% of teens reporting they’ve seen violent real-life content on social media in the past year, this guide shines a light on a disturbing – and increasingly common – aspect of young people’s digital lives. From shocking videos to hate speech, many children don’t go looking for this material, it finds them via algorithms or peer sharing. 

The guide outlines key concerns, including the mental toll of repeated exposure, shifts in behaviour, and the worrying normalisation of harmful ideologies. It also explains how such content can escalate from screen to street, and why some young people may feel pressured to share or even create violent media themselves.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Minecraft

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

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With its limitless opportunities for building, exploring and collaborating, Minecraft remains a global gaming phenomenon. Its broad appeal lies in how open-ended it is – but this also means it’s not without risk. From chatting with strangers on public servers to the grief of having a beloved creation destroyed, young players can face challenges if left unsupervised. Minecraft can also become a time sink for enthusiastic players, with late nights spent crafting and constructing, potentially impacting school and social lives. 

We’ve created this free guide to help parents and educators understand how to keep young gamers safe – from choosing age-appropriate game modes to setting boundaries around screen time and spending.