E-Safety

E-safety or online safety is all about minimising risk. It’s about being aware of the possible threats that online activity can bring, and how to deal with them.

These risks are grouped into four categories:

• Conduct: children’s behaviour may put them at risk
• Content: access to inappropriate or unreliable content may put children at risk
• Contact: interaction with unsuitable, unpleasant or dangerous people may put children at risk
• Commercialism: children’s use of platforms with hidden costs may put them at risk

Ofcom’s Media Use and Attitudes Report 2019, released in February 2020, found that between the ages of nine and ten smartphone ownership doubles. This means it is more important than ever to keep young people safe online. With increased exposure to the internet and a surge in social media use, the following attachments can help parents and carers understand the importance of young people adhering to e-safety guidelines.

Keeping your child safe online while they are off school

How young people are managing reliability and misleading content online

Supporting children to be safe and savvy online: Online critical thinking guide