Together we Learn
Internet Safety
Just to highlight the issue, from the BBC website:
Facebook is one of the world's most popular social networks, allowing people to share details about their life with their 'friends'.
What we say...
Facebook terms and conditions state that Facebook users must be over 13 years of age. Whilst we understand that children like to keep in touch with each other outside of school, it is very easy to be fooled into thinking that Facebook is more private than it actually is. Keeping up to date with the latest changes to Facebook's privacy settings is very important. It is notoriously difficult to get facebook to remove content from its site. Comments made on Facebook are considered in the public domain and therefore are covered by both libel and slander laws.
It is important for children to understand the difference between a real friend and a Facebook friend - who in some cases can be a complete stranger.
Further guidance (please click on the links below)
Twitter is a way for individuals and organisations to give brief real time updates to their 'followers', sharing their latest news and images. Our official school twitter feed is @GrogganPrimary.
What we say...
It can be quite exhausting keeping a twitter feed up to date! Do you want your child to feel the need to constantly inform people of what they are doing and when? We need to ensure that children understand that they are entitled to keep things private. We certainly agree with our pupils when they say that people on twitter are not always who they seem.
Further information (Please click on the links below)
Minecraft
Minecraft is an incredibly popular 'sandbox' game, meaning that players are involved in creating their own virtual 'plot' from scratch as part of the virtual Minecraft world. It is incredibly popular with children and can be played on a wide range of devices including, mobiles, tablets, PCs and games consoles.
What we say...
Minecraft allows children to develop important computing skills in their use of the computer to aid them in designing and shaping virtual objects in a virtual world. Playing Minecraft online however opens the possibilities of the children playing Minecraft with friends as well as strangers. There have been reports of children being targeted by internet trolls whilst playing on these online versions of the game.
Further information (please click on the links below)
Instagram is a popular photo sharing app, mainly used on mobile phones and tablet devices. As well as sharing images with friends, it is possible to comment upon each others images, search for images and message other instagram users.
What our pupils say...
"It's like Facebook, but only for kids"
What we say...
How ever children view Instagram, it is a tool for sharing images of themselves and others. Interestingly children seem to have a view that Instagram is 'for kids' - in fact it is used predominantly by adults and teenagers. As a result it is relatively easy to come across pictures of a more adult nature including those involving drugs, obscene gestures or partial nudity. Children must realise that they should not post pictures of or involving other children without first seeking permission (we would suggest at this age that that permission actually needs to come from the parent.)
Further information (please click on the links below)
Snapchat
Snapchat is a photo and video messaging service with a difference - the content sent 'self destructs' after a matter of seconds - disappearing from your phone!
What we say...
The problem with snapchat is its immediate nature. No matter how vigilant you are as a parent, if messages are come and gone within a matter of seconds then it is very hard to monitor your child's use of this. The potential for cyber bullying is very real. There is also the potential for users to be tempted to send images that are riskier than they may ordinarily be happy to send, due to the fact that they think they will only be seen fleetingly. However even though the message 'self dectructs' it is possible for quick witted phone users to take a screen shot of the image/ video or even photograph it from another device.
Further information...
Mobile Phones
We are finding increasingly that older pupils in school have access to their own mobile phone. Where this is not the case, more often than not they are able to access mobile technology through the phones of older siblings, parents or other friends.
What we say...
It is up to individual parents to decide when they feel that their child is mature enough and responsible enough to handle the responsibilities, possible consequences and temptations that come from having a mobile phone. If your child has a modern 'smart-phone' then they have access to the whole world at their fingertips - good and bad.
Further information (please click on the links below)
Where to go next
One of the sites we would recommend is Safer internet, click on the links below to access materials that you can print or download.
Click here to access information about apps and social media.