This week in school we supported 'Safer Internet Day'. Safer Internet Day 2023 is celebrated across the UK and the theme this year was - ‘Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online.’
The campaign this year aims to put the voices of children and young people at the heart of the day, encouraging
them to shape the online safety support they receive.
As children have access to the Internet in a variety of places other than school it is important that we educate them in how to behave appropriately online, and to understand the importance of discussing problems and issues that might arise. In school this week, staff have discussed lots of topics with pupils - have a look at the class website pages.
As parents it is important that we continue to discuss often with our children the following points -
· Never give out personal information online such as full names, ages, addresses, school name, siblings etc.
· Never meet alone anyone they have met through an Internet source.
· Once information is published online it can be disseminated with ease and cannot be easily destroyed e.g., photographs.
AND what can you do at home?
· Keep devices in a communal area of the home.
· Be aware that children have access to the Internet via gaming stations and portable technologies such as smart phones.
· Monitor on-line time and be aware of excessive hours spent on the Internet.
· Take an interest in what your children are doing. Discuss what they are seeing and using on the Internet.
· Discuss the fact that there are websites/social-networking sites/games which are unsuitable for them to be accessing and discuss how they should respond to unsuitable materials or requests.
Furthermore, to mark Safer Internet Day, the Education Authority (EA) has launched guides for schools and for parents and carers on the use of the social media app, TikTok.
The TikTok Guide for Schools and TikTok Guide for Parents and Carers were created in partnership with
Safer Schools NI at INEQE Safeguarding Group and the Department of Education (DE) as part of the EA's
commitment to keeping children and young people safe whilst online; to helping to tackle online abuse of
staff and pupils; and to enhance the support and guidance offered to schools and parents in relation to
social media.
Please have a look at the Parent's Guide attached.
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