While we are seeing social media platforms introduce features that focus on curating content for your ‘close friend’ groups, another trend is seeing a resurgence in popularity with children and young people in the UK. A ‘finsta’ (a slang term that combines ‘fake’ and ‘Insta’, a popular
With the launch of the new TikTok Stories feature, we take a look into what social media stories are and why young people use them. Long gone are the days of buying disposable cameras - capturing moments with friends on school holidays to bring in and show around to classmates on the morning back to
Read the script below Hello and welcome to Safeguarding Soundbites with me, Colin Stitt, Head of Safer Schools at INEQE Safeguarding Group. Today, I’m bringing you this week’s safeguarding news highlights, plus all the latest updates from INEQE’s Safeguarding experts! I hope you’re having a wonderful
There seems to be ‘an app for everything’ now. With the simple push of a button, we can now order our groceries, listen to an entire album, play complex videogames... The list is endless. It makes sense that some companies have begun to try and use this
Read the script below Hi and welcome to another Safeguarding Soundbites – where I bring you up to speed with all the safeguarding news you need. I’ll also be telling you about Ineqe Safeguarding Group's latest articles and releases that will help guide and support you on
Communications regulator Ofcom has released its latest Media Use and Attitudes Report 2022 looking at the recent online trends and attitudes of children and parents across the UK. The report provides a clear snapshot of parents, children, and young people’s current media habits that can help us understand the emerging trends,
Social media is a great place for young people to share photos with each other – showing what they’ve been up to, commemorating special occasions, and sharing special memories. Unfortunately, there have been documented cases of people scouring social media profiles to find photographs of children and young people in school
A horror game character from ‘Poppy Playtime’ named Huggy Wuggy has been raising concerns amongst parents, police and safeguarding professionals. WARNING: This contains images and details some people may find disturbing. This should not be shared with young children.
Read the script below Hi, welcome to Safeguarding Soundbites. I’m Colin Stitt, Head of Service and Safer Schools at Ineqe Safeguarding Group and today I’ll be bringing you the latest in safeguarding news and talking about the online issues we can all take action on to help
According to the Children’s Commissioner, 93% of UK children regularly play video games. With constant competition from other games, social media, and streaming sites, the challenge to stay engaging is a daily one for any gaming platform. This has led to the rise of gambling in gaming
You may have heard about the Online Safety Bill – and if you haven’t, it’s likely you soon will! The Online Safety Bill marks one of the biggest planned changes to date in the way online tech companies are held responsible for content that appears on their platforms. It’s specifically
Research shows that disabled youth, especially those with autism, are at increased risk for bullying compared to their neurotypical peers. At Ineqe Safeguarding Group, we believe that all young people should have safe and equal access to the digital world. Social media and the online world can be a difficult place
Read the script below Hello and welcome to Safeguarding Soundbites, the go-to podcast for getting up-to-date safeguarding news fast! I’m Colin Stitt, head of Safer Schools at Ineqe Safeguarding Group and this week I’ll be talking about Rocket League, Instagram updates and, as always, this week’s online
While you might have fond memories of videogames like Mario Kart and Sonic the Hedgehog, children and young people today will probably be more familiar with games like Rocket League. This free online game can be played on almost any console – no wonder it has
This blog is about Assistive Technology and how it can be used to include children with additional needs in digital spaces. Our Makaton video will enable children to build a trusted team of adults who they can rely on for help, support and guidance. INEQE Safeguarding Group values an online
Read the script below Welcome to Safeguarding Soundbites with me, Colin Stitt, Head of Safer Schools at Ineqe Safeguarding Group and your host for today’s episode of the pocket-sized podcast that brings you the latest in digital news and safeguarding expert views. This week was Young Carers
The lifestyle of being a carer is often a lonely one and for young carers any isolation can be tough to cope with. In honour of Young Carers Action Day 2022, here’s our guide on how to spot, support and stand with the young carers in your
Read the script below Hello and welcome to Safeguarding Soundbites, the bite-sized podcast that brings you snapshots of the latest in online safeguarding news, as well as a weekly round-up from our online safety experts. The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine has taken over media attention and
As a global community, we have faced a turbulent few years, ruled chiefly by the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions it brought. Now as we enter Spring 2022, the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine has taken over media attention and national concern. We live in a time
Read the script below Hello and welcome to Safeguarding Soundbites, the bite-sized podcast that brings you straight-to-the-point updates on the latest online safeguarding news, as well as a weekly round-up from our safeguarding experts. How much do you know about the Metaverse? Recent statistics show that around
This article features a case study which includes details that some readers may find upsetting. Please note: this article should not be shared with children and young people. With Facebook changing its name to ‘Meta’ and news outlets releasing investigative reports around the
In the last few years, as the impact of social media influence continues to grow, there has been a growing concern over the link between influencers and eating disorders. Websites that encourage disordered eating have been around almost as long as the internet has existed. In the 90s, ‘pro-anorexia’ sites (often
Over the course of the pandemic, mental health in the UK has worsened by 8.1%, with young people and women most affected as the groups who already had been struggling with mental health issues prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. We know from emerging research that self-harm referrals and presentations at
Read the script below Welcome back to another safeguarding soundbites, the mini safeguarding podcast that gives you all the essential news and updates in the world of online safeguarding for children and young people, with me Colin Stitt, Head of Safer Schools. This week, we’re talking
Snapchat have recently announced the release of a new feature: Snapchat live location sharing. It will allow users to share their real-time location with friends via the app, expanding their existing Snap Map feature that launched in 2017. What is Snap Map? The Snap Map is a