5. Information and online resources for understanding consent in a digital world

UK Safer Internet Centre

UK Safer Internet Centre:

The European Commission appointed UK Safer Internet Centre is made up of three partners; Childnet International, the South West Grid for Learning and the Internet Watch Foundation. Together we raise awareness about internet safety, develop information materials and resources and organise high profile events such as Safer Internet Day. Resources include a parent’s guide to technology, information about parental controls and safety tools on social networks and other online services. You can access a range of resources from across the UK, Europe and wider afield at www.saferinternet.org.uk/parents.

Childnet:

Childnet International is a non-profit organisation working in partnership with others around the world to help make the internet a great and safe place for children. The Childnet website hosts all the online resources detailed below, as well as a number of recommended resources for young people, parents, carers and teachers. The Parents and Carers area also contains key advice, information on reporting and detailed information on a range of online safety topics in the hot topics section. www.childnet.com

South West Grid for Learning:

The South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) is a not for profit, charitable trust dedicated to the advancement of education through information and communication technologies. They provide safe, supported broadband internet, teaching and learning services for 2,500 schools in the South West of England and e-safety education and training regionally, nationally and internationally. They provide professionals, parents and children with advice, resources and support to use internet technologies safely to enhance learning and maximise potential. www.swgfl.org.uk

Internet Watch Foundation:

The Internet Watch Foundation is the UK’s hotline for reporting illegal content found on the internet. It deals specifically with child abuse and criminally obscene images hosted in the UK and internationally. The IWF works in partnership with the online industry, law enforcement, government, and international partners. It is a charity and a self-regulatory body with over 100 Members from the online industry. www.iwf.org.uk

Safer Internet Day information, resources and further support

Safer Internet Day:

Celebrated globally every year, Safer Internet Day offers the opportunity to highlight positive uses of technology and to explore the role we all play in helping to create a better and safer online community. This year’s theme is ‘Together for a Better Internet’ and in the UK the campaign will particularly empower young people to take control of their digital lives and consider how consent works in an online context. It will explore how young people ask, give and receive consent online. This could be in their friendships or relationships, how they take and share images and videos of how they manage their privacy and data. www.saferinternetday.org.uk

Children’s Commissioner – Young people’s rights on social media:

The Children’s Commissioner has created a set of one page documents explaining what the terms and conditions mean for the social media sites Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat and YouTube. Each of the guides are also broken down into three sections – ‘our rules’, ‘your rights’ and ‘our rights’. bit.ly/SID2019CC

Newsround – Terms and Conditions explained:

Newsround has produced a useful guide and video explaining what terms and conditions really mean.
bit.ly/SID2019newsround

UK Safer Internet Centre advice:

The UK Safer Internet Centre produces weekly blogs which offer information and advice on a range of topics. They are written to reflect current and emerging trends as well as questions received during training sessions. Some useful ones for this year’s theme would be:
••Social media and the age of digital consent bit.ly/SID2019blog1
••How do I decide if a game is right for my child? bit.ly/SID2019blog2
••Sharenting: how am I adding to my child’s digital footprint? bit.ly/SID2019blog3
••Age restrictions on social media services bit.ly/SID2019blog4

Resources to use with children

Family Agreement:

As a family you may wish to set up a family agreement which is a great way to start a conversation with your whole family about how you all use the internet and discuss together how to behave in a positive way when online at home, at school or at a friends house. www.childnet.com/resources/family-agreement

Digiduck’s Big Decision:

The Digiduck® story collection has been created to help parents and teachers educate children aged 3 - 7 about how to be a good friend online. The collection includes a book, PDF and interactive app.
www.childnet.com/digiduck

Family Lives advice for talking about consent:

Family Lives is a charity which offers support with all aspects of family life. They have advice on talking about consent with children which can be applied to online consent as well.
www.familylives.org.uk/advice/teenagers/sex/talking-about-consent/

Factsheets/information for parents and carers

Supporting Young People Online:

A free guide created by Childnet providing Information and advice for parents and carers on supporting young people online. The advice is also available in 12 additional languages including Arabic, Hindi, Polish, Spanish, Urdu and Welsh. www.childnet.com/resources/supporting-young-people-online

Information and Advice for Foster Carers/Adoptive Parents:

The UK Safer Internet Centre has worked together with Islington Council to create leaflets for foster carers and adoptive parents. The leaflets, which are free to download and easy to print, include top tips and conversation starters to help foster carers and adoptive parents get to grips with internet safety.
www.saferinternet.org.uk/fostering-adoption

Keeping Under Fives Safe Online:

Children love using technology and are learning to navigate websites, online games and consoles, and touch screen technology like iPads and smartphones from a younger and younger age. This advice contains top tips for parents and carers for keeping children aged five and under safe online.
www.childnet.com/resources/keeping-under-fives-safe-online

Where to report /get help

Need help?

Information about what to do if a child comes to you for help and advice about how to report online concerns such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content or illegal behaviour. www.saferinternet.org.uk/need-help

Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP):

A police agency tackling child abuse on the internet. This website includes a unique facility that enables parents and young people to make reports of actual or attempted abuse online: www.ceop.police.uk. CEOP’s Think U Know website contains information for children and parents, as well as a link for children to report abuse online. www.thinkuknow.co.uk

Internet Watch Foundation:

Part of the UK Safer Internet Centre, the IWF is the UK’s hotline for reporting illegal content found on the internet. It deals specifically with child abuse and criminally obscene images hosted in the UK and internationally. www.iwf.org.uk

NSPCC:

The NSPCC has partnered with O2 to provide an online safety helpline for parents and carers to answer questions and address concerns about a child’s online safety: 0808 800 5000.
They also provide the Childline helpline for children where they can talk to someone for advice and support at any time by contacting 0800 1111 or chatting to a counsellor online at www.childline.org.uk

Young Minds:

The UK’s leading charity committed to improving the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Information and advice for young people and parents/carers can be found at
www.youngminds.org.uk and they also offer a free confidential helpline for parents on 0808 802 5544.

ParentPort:

ParentPort is run by the UK’s media regulators and is a central hub of advice and reporting