It was a cold winter morning just after the Christmas break. Mrs Phillips, the school secretary, had just got into work after being stuck in heavy traffic. She had thrown off her coat and sat down at her desk ready to face the mountain of emails which had landed in her inbox since before the
Many of us, including young people, use WhatsApp daily. It’s established itself as a messaging giant in the world of social media. But there are more names arriving on the scene which could put more pressure on WhatsApp as it battles to defend its privacy policy due to a recent backlash. It concerns how
Why have you received this alert? We have been alerted to the risk of potential grooming and abuse on the Avakin Life platform by members of our network. Our online safeguarding experts have reviewed and tested the game, and discovered a number of potential risks to young people. The major risk is that
TikTok has released privacy default changes to its platform. In this article, we explain what the new changes are and discuss their effectiveness. We also share our most recent TikTok safety resources. TikTok has announced a series of changes to protect children’s privacy and safety on the
The UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS) have updated its non-statutory guidance on Youth Produced Sexual Imagery (YPSI), which is entitled ‘Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people’ and replaces ‘Sexting in schools and colleges: responding to incidents and safeguarding young people’ (2016). The guidance has been
Coronavirus continues to spread in the UK, disrupting education and placing pressure on health and social care services. As misinformation continues to thrive online, it's now more important than ever to make sure you get your information from a trusted source. To support your remote and home learning efforts we have compiled a list
Do you receive our Safeguarding Alerts? Receive regular updates to help you safeguard children in a digital era. Online Training: Now Available! A brand new range of expertly designed courses bringing you up to date with the evolving trends, risks and threats to children in
What’s happening with Fortnite? Fortnite just released its latest version of Battle Royale: Chapter 2, Season 5 which introduces several new areas on the map, items, and characters from the popular Disney TV show, ‘The Mandalorian’ (which includes the adorable Baby Yoda). This latest version, like its predecessors, is
Do you receive our Safeguarding Alerts? Receive regular updates to help you safeguard children in a digital era. Online Training: Now Available! A brand new range of expertly designed courses bringing you up to date with the evolving trends, risks and threats to children in
In digital safeguarding we know that standing still is falling behind. Our team of online safety experts have been working tirelessly to make sure you have the right information in your pocket, when you need it. In the last few weeks there have been a number of major changes to the most popular social
4 min read Snapchat has released its new Spotlight feature to its 67 million daily active users. In this article, our team of online safety experts unpack the risks and functionality of the new feature and provide practical advice for empowering and protecting the young people in your care on this popular platform.
Twitter is the latest social media platform to announce that they are launching a disappearing feature. The new feature called ‘Fleets’ is now available to its 321 million users worldwide after several trials in Brazil, Italy, India, and South Korea found that Fleets ‘made people talk more on Twitter’. Although Twitter’s user base does
‘Let’s get to cunch-line’ From the Children’s Commissioners 2019 report ‘Gaming the System’ we know that around 93% of children in the UK play video games and this leisure time has benefits for their development. Despite these benefits, we know that some features of online games can and do present risks to children and
Following continued coverage of the risks the platform can pose to children and young people, TikTok has announced changes to its parental control settings. This article details the changes to the parental control settings and provides an overview of existing settings you can use to protect the children in your care.
All children and young people have the right to learn in a safe and healthy environment that’s free from bullying, harassment, and intimidation in all forms. Unfortunately, bullying still happens inside and outside of school, but most cases are resolved quickly. Bullying is best understood as a set of harmful behaviours directed at one
WhatsApp has now launched its disappearing messages feature and our team of online safety experts are busy testing this function. Sign up to our Safeguarding Hub Newsletter to keep up to date with alerts and changes like this one. WhatsApp has announced that they are releasing a Disappearing Messages function, which will
With over 1.5 billion downloads across 155 different countries, TikTok has soared in popularity. Some of you have recently got in touch to ask for more information about TikTok and its safety settings. To help you support the children and young people in your care, we have made a short video overview of
The internet is no stranger to harmful or disturbing content. Earlier this week, our safeguarding network was alerted to several young people mentioning ‘Rule 34’ as a potential source of information regarding sex. But what is the so-called Rule 34 and could it be harmful to children and young people? What is Rule 34?
The pandemic continues to impact how children and young people use online spaces. Now more than ever, it is essential to understand new and emerging apps, games and platforms that can present online risks to children. We are particularly concerned about the surge in the use of ‘friend-finding’ Apps, as authorities have previously warned during the pandemic that around 300,000 online offenders pose a threat to children in the UK. A recent report
Building emotional resilience in young people is essential for their development. The UK is facing a mental health crisis among its young people, with leading youth mental health charity Young Minds reporting that 1 in 6 young people have symptoms of a mental disorder such as depression or anxiety. On the 10th of October,
The Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has disrupted the lives of people all over the world, whilst bringing monumental change to how we teach and care for children and young people. Unfortunately, a major theme of the pandemic has been the spread of misinformation. The internet has played host to
Just like the real world, there are spaces, people, and places online which can be frightening or distressing for young people. Parents and policymakers have expressed concern at the sheer amount of inappropriate material that is freely accessible online, such as pornography or violent videos. Harmful content can include live news, violence, sexualised content
A recent video originating on Facebook Live depicting a man dying by suicide has made its way across popular social media platforms. We’re bringing you key facts and advice on how you can respond. When viral events happen information can travel quickly, often before full details have emerged. You should note that details, videos and
As we quickly become the ‘go-to’ provider for safeguarding training we have now launched our updated prospectus in response to your feedback for training to help you respond to safeguarding in our changing world. We know the challenges of finding the time to keep yourself up to date – so we’re here to make
The digital world is no longer a separate reality, it has become blended into every part of our lives. If you are responsible for a child or young person, opting out of the world of social media is no longer an option for you. By embracing technology you can develop an understanding of the
Feeling a strong connection online? Be cautious! Learn how to spot the signs of catfishing and protect yourself, and those in your care, from online predators. Our online safety shareable provides essential information on identifying red flags, verifying online profiles, and taking action if you suspect a catfish.
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