Everything you need: Online safety
More and more children have access to the internet and they are going online younger and younger. It’s not surprising -even fridges have some connectivity now! So loads of things your child touches have some sort of connection to the outside world. With all the benefits this brings, there are also dangers and the regulation just hasn’t kept up.
In parallel there is also an increase of mental ill health, anxiety and depression among our young people. There appears to be a link between the constantly contactable, comparable, consuming world and ill health.
The Big Players
There are big tech firms who hold a lot of sway and are largely global. Their company value increases as usage of their products or services increases so they are not incentivised to block children from using their services. They are actually incentivised to have very addictive content or low barriers to entry.
Social media companies Meta (facebook and Instagram and Whatsapp) TikTok YouTube etc
The technology providers like Google (Android devices) and Apple (IOS devices) and Windows
The internet providers who are the infrastructure under all this connectivity (obviously electricity too but we don’t need to go so low level!)
The Big Influencers
Similarly incentivised for engagement and reactions, influencers are not incentivised to protect children. The money behind being an influencer can be astounding, and many children are seeing influencing as a career path. However, it is hard for a child to understand the motivations behind an influencer’s post. Product placement is very subtle. Even just getting paid per view from the advertising beside the influencer’s videos in YouTube can make the influencer incentivised to post engaging, addictive content which is not necessarily appropriate for your child.
The Big Safeguarding Powers (UK)
There are some key bodies who are trying to put up safety controls, provide reporting, practical help for children. This is in the UK other countries will have their own.
The UK Government are introducing an online safety bill. It will protect children by making social media platforms:
Remove illegal content quickly or prevent it from appearing in the first place. This includes removing content promoting self harm
Prevent children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content
Enforce age limits and age-checking measures
Ensure the risks and dangers posed to children on the largest social media platforms are more transparent, including by publishing risk assessments
Provide parents and children with clear and accessible ways to report problems online when they do arise
National Crime Agency (NCA) of which there is a section called the Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre (CEOP)
These track down criminals and has a place for you to report them.
CEOP is the Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre and was set up by the Government in 2006 to help protect children across the UK from online predators. As well as helping UK police forces to bring these people to justice, CEOP can help provide advice to you and your parents when something like this happens.
You can report something to CEOP here
If you’re concerned about your child you can go here
They also have ambassadors and training to spread the word
National Society for the Protection of Children from Cruelty (NSPCC)
They provide a child line for supporting children and lots of materials for parents and children and schools. Visit the website here.
Young Minds
Offer a free 24/7 crisis messenger for under 18s to access support when experiencing a mental health crisis. You can access the crisis messenger by texting YM to 85258. Find more information on their website
Internet Matters
Provide information to arm parents and children schools about the latest way to keep safe online
The Internet Watch Foundation
An organisation in the UK who have the ability to remove child sexual abuse imagery, hosted in the UK. If your picture has been shared online and you know where it is, you can report the link to the IWF. They will review the image and if it is illegal, will remove it.
South West Grid for Learning Trust
A not for profit, charitable trust company, dedicated to empowering the safe and secure use of technology through innovative services, tools, content and policy, nationally and globally. Find more resources at here.
The most effective approach to online child protection combines technological safeguards with ongoing education and open dialogue. By fostering trust and providing guidance, parents can help children navigate the digital world safely while developing essential digital citizenship skills.
