Web Cams

Webcams and phone cameras have become an increasingly popular and useful tool for young people and adults. People can now video chat face to face with family and friends through video calling services such as Skype and FaceTime, Hold video conferences with more than one person on Google Hangouts and social networking sites, Some games consoles also allow the use of a camera to video chat or capture footage of someone playing a game. It is important that we all recognise that we need to think about our behaviour when using these devices to ensure that we and the people around us are kept safe during online conversations. Please check this resource from the Safer Internet Centre that has some excellent advice and guidance regarding using web cams.

Instagram

The ability to share our experiences online is a feature of the digital age but ensuring that as far as possible we keep our privacy and online identity as secure as possible. Instagram offer a number of security options which can be viewed here including tips for parents which can be viewed here.

On line advice from Childnet

Finding up to date and relevant advice on esafety issues can be a challenge but the organisation Childnet does provide a good range of advice targeted both at students and parents. Checkout the hot topics section by following this link.

Is it time for an esafety conversation?

For many parents the subject of esafety can seem remote and perhaps not relevant to their son or daughter. However, research tells us that those families where esafety is a topic of general conversation and where family members support each other to maintain a safe and secure online identity incidents relating to esafety concerns are less.

How to start an esafety conversation can be a challenge and there is some very useful ideas to be found here. The key point is to make the dialogue as much an ideas sharing process rather than a 'lecture' on esafety, you would perhaps be surprised that quite a few young people have a far more secure approach to interacting online than their parents.

Keep safe through the summer break.

It may surprise you that but 57% of parents have not made any parental control setting amendments to their home PC. This and many other concerning facts can be found at the Internet Matters website.

There is a very clear layout and if you scroll down the using Parental Controls page  page there is a host of useful links from a range of the main home broadband providers and video tutorials to gain control of your home network. Remember that the most effective controls are those were all parties recognise the importance. Very often a strategy for home control that focuses on keeping everyone safe will gain a greater level of understanding and recognition from all family members.

Safety tips for Ask.fm

There are still concerns regarding Ask.fm  so please review the safety guidance released by Ask fm regarding some Top Tips for Staying Safe Online alongside a couple of videos for parents and students discussing the important topic of safety on Ask.fm. Take a look and while you're at it, why not read the Online Safety Guidance created to help users on Ask.fm navigate privacy settings and show them how to report and block users should they need to.  As always the important message is think before you post.

What would you do to create a better internet?

As part of Safer Internet Day 2014 the European commission are gathering ideas from young people about how to make the internet better. 

So far a number of young people from across Europe have given their opinions on what matters to them when it comes to our digital future.  These ideas include:

• The opportunity to express ourselves freely on the Internet - to seek, receive and impart information and ideas.
• The right to feel physically good without the possibility for you to get harmed because of the Internet.
• Lessons for online employability and entrepreneurial issues should be included in schools
• The right to access education to develop my digital literacy skills.

Now it is your opportunity to have your say. 

By logging onto https://tricider.com/en/brainstorming/1NgYq you can choose which ideas to vote for and also submit your ideas for others to choose.  You can also invite your friends to take part.

All the ideas submitted will be collected as part of the European consultation for young people across Europe. 

Safer Internet Day 2014

February 11th is Safer Internet Day and this year's theme is centered around us all creating a better internet together. There are some excellent resources on the Safer Internet Day website with a section for parents and students. There are not only advice sections but also opportunities to get involved via twitter (#SID2014) and watching SIDTV.

Safer Internet Day is an ideal opportunity for you to engage with your son or daughter around the whole area of esafety and work together so that as a family you all have a clearer understanding of how to make your digital experience as secure as possible, while recognising the many benefits that the internet brings to our lives.