Useful links
The images below link to a range of websites that can give parents tips, advice, guides and resources to help keep your child safe online.
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Fortnite: everything you need to know about the online game
The craze for Fortnite, especially its multiplayer standalone mode Fortnite Battle Royale, has exploded recently especially amongst children. So, what do you need to know about the video-game of the moment? Peter Yates answers the important questions.
Snapchat latest updates enables users to see exactly where their friends are, so detailed that if you zoom in you can even see the street location.
This obviously raises safety concerns for children who use the app.
Many children tend to import all their random contacts when they set up their Snapchat so unless they or you check their settings it is possible that all these random strangers will now see an accurate location.
As a matter of urgency we would ask all children and parents to check that Snapchat is changed to ‘Ghost mode’ so that location isn’t shared with friends.
Useful Links:
Childnet – Introducing ‘Snap maps’
Childnet – How to Report In Snapchat
UK Safer Internet Centre – Snapchat
Parent advice: Your child’s age will determine how to proceed. YouTube is supposed to be for users over the age of 13, due to the fact that the parent company, Google, collects and markets user data. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) exempts children from data collection.
But, as we all know, plenty of kids have YouTube channels – below are a couple of sites that will support you to set up a child friendly YouTube channel.
Have you asked your child ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ don’t be surprised if they reply – a YouTuber
How to set up a child friendly YouTube channel
NSPCC NetAware have developed a guide, primarily aimed at parents of 8-12 year olds, about the social networks, apps or games with an interactive element that children use most frequently use.
Common Sense media provide age ratings and reviews for many apps, relying on developmental criteria to determine what content is appropriate for which ages. 
| How to set Parent Controls
Parental controls are designed to help protect children from inappropriate content they may come across online, such as pornography. These controls can be used to limit access to only age-appropriate content, to set usage times and to monitor activity. Click on the images below to see information on how to set up parental controls. |
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| Thinkuknow is an award-winning education programme from the National Crime Agency’s child protection command, CEOP. It aims to keep children safe from abuse, both online and off. Thinkuknow education resources are age-appropriate, non-scaremongering, and give children the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to stay safe online. They are used by over three and a half million children across the UK each year. |
| About Play Like Share – Play Like Share follows the adventures of Alfie, Ellie and Sam as they form a band and enter their school’s Battle of the Bands contest, taking on the mean but ‘cool’ Popcorn Wizards as they go. The three friends learn that while the internet can help, they need to use it wisely and safely. |
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The aim of the films is to help 8-10 year olds learn how to stay safe online. In particular, the films and activities teach them to spot the early signs of manipulative, pressurising and threatening behaviour by people they might meet online, and develops their confidence to respond safely and get help.
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