This page contains tips, advice, guides and resources from external agencies to help keep your child safe online. We will update this page regularly to keep up-to-date with new developments and trends.
“As a parent or carer you play a key role in helping your child to stay safe online. You don’t need to be an expert on the internet to help keep your child stay safe online. Our advice and resources are here to support you as you support your child to use the internet safely, responsibility and positively.” (saferinternet.org.uk)
Derbyshire Constabulary – Information to Share with Parents
During the Cornovirus lockdown children and young people have been spending increasing amounts of their time using online devices, games and apps. Unfortunately this has resulted in an increased risk of grooming, exploitation and abuse. In order to support agencies to protect and safeguarding children and young people from abuse and exploitation, please be aware that:
- ‘Banners’ on some sites may have chat facilities and these can be used by perpetrators to groom and exploit children.
- Instagram and Snapchat are still the most common applications used by online offenders, however Grindr is increasingly being used by perpetrators to make contact with young people in Derby and Derbyshire. Gaming apps such as ‘Worldcraft’ have a chat facility within them and this can be used by perpetrators to make initial contact with the child. Instagram or Snapchat user names are then exchanged and the contact continues on these platforms. Remember, any online connected device or toy can potentially be used by offenders to groom, harm and abuse children.
- It is vitally important that children, young people as well as their parents and carers are aware of how they can keep themselves safe online and know what to do to report concerns.
Cyber Bullying
The following is taken from the school’s Anti-bullying Policy in regard to cyber bullying.
Cyber bullying – when a person, or a group of people, uses the Internet, mobile phones or other digital technologies to threaten, tease or abuse someone. This can be in the form of:
- E-mail – sending abusive e-mails to people, or a group of people, who may then join in the bullying.
- Instant messaging and chatrooms – using instant messaging and chatrooms to send threatening or abusive messages to someone and asking others to join in. Using another person’s account to send abusive messages to others, without their permission.
- Social networking sites – creating fake profiles for people or leaving abusive messages on existing profiles for others to see.
- Mobile phone – sending abusive text, video or phone messages as well as sharing videos of physical attacks on individuals (happy slapping, etc).
- Abusing personal information – posting photos, personal information or fake comments and blogs on websites where they can be seen by anyone without your permission.
- If your child is reporting cyberbullying, keep messages or take screenshots to show your child’s class teacher.
If your child is experiencing any form of electronic bullying:
- Ensure your child is careful whom they give their mobile phone number and e-mail address to.
- Check exactly when a threatening message was sent.
- Report the incident to school if the message was sent by another pupil.
- Where necessary, report incidents to the police.
School fund online safety support for parents through National Online Safety – information on this, and how to access can be found here.
Please click on the links below for more information.
Parental information about using particular apps can be found by clicking the links below:
