The digital world is one of rapid change and is a core part of pupils’ lives. This page includes tips and advice to help support you as parents in helping to keep your son safe whilst making the most of the opportunities that digital technologies offer.
If you would like guidance on any additional areas of digital technology added to this page, please contact our Director of Digital Learning, Mr Scullion. We would also encourage you to engage with the Parent Partnership Programme, if you have not already done so. There is high demand for guidance on supporting teenagers with digital technologies, and many of the Parent Partnership talks and events address this. Details of the next talk will be advertised in the weekly bulletin.
KEY ADVICE
- Through our experience and guidance from keynote speakers at Parent Partnership events, our key advice would be to engage with your son about his digital behaviour and discuss it in a non-judgmental and open way. You do not have to be an expert but understanding what your son is gaining from the choices he makes will help you find a supportive tone. Many of the decisions that young people make are down to trying to do what their friends are doing, and they are often not as well informed as they might think they are and value parents’ engagement.
- Appreciate that the world young people today are growing up in is vastly different to the one that we did as adults. Their experiences of relationships online and the shared experiences they have there are as real and meaningful as any that we had ‘in person’, and it is a common mistake and barrier to understanding if we assume they are not.
- Follow the law as a starting point in deciding if your son is ready for certain applications. The law is there for a reason, and social media apps and games have age guidelines for a reason. As a school, we do not condone underage use of digital technologies, and we advise that age restrictions should be followed. We will still support and help any pupils in a non-judgemental way, regardless of age, though, when there are concerns about their welfare or safety.
Please find below some guidance on places where you can find information to help you have informed conversations and get tips on how to have them if you feel unsure.
ONLINE SAFETY
If you or your son ever have any concerns about unsafe behaviour online, please report it to CEOP – this is the police front door for reporting online criminal activity. They have age-appropriate guidance for young people and parents and advice on what should be reported as well.
Their education arm has important information for parents and carers about online safety issues here:
If you ever find your son receiving inappropriate content or abuse, here are our top tips:
- Do not hesitate to report the account to the platform it is on
- Check the CEOP guide above for reporting to the police
- Any online abuse and bullying, especially if it might be a hate crime, can be reported here: www.report-it.org.uk
GUIDANCE ON DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
The three websites listed below hold wide-ranging guidance on young people’s engagement with digital technology, including advice on having conversations and how to support your son (whatever his age) with a whole range of issues. All three help to guide the school’s PSHE and pastoral provision.
Social Media
Please find below headline information about social media apps that we know are commonly used by Bedford School pupils. There is also a link to specific parent guidance for each.
Snapchat
Main use: Messaging friends and sharing images.
Common issues: it is a common misconception that images cannot be captured by other people, and users do not make friends with people they do not know. There are also enhanced risks from location sharing and the use of avatars to hide identities. Unwanted material can be sent to someone by their contacts.
Minimum age: 13
Main use: Sharing images and videos.
Common issues: sharing images or comments that may cause offence or upset, for example, images without consent that put someone else at risk or embarrassing situations. Fake profile pictures can be used.
Minimum age: 13
TikTok
Main use: looking at videos shared by others and creating videos (for older users).
Common issues: being connected to unwanted, unhelpful or risky content through the algorithm for sharing.
Minimum age: 12+
Main use: messaging and sharing photos, videos and information.
Common issues: inappropriate behaviour, especially in group chats, as WhatApp feels more ‘private’.
Minimum age: 16
BeReal
Main use: taking a photo to share ‘real life’.
Common issues are created by the fact users have to share an image to access others, so there is pressure to capture life. The camera also takes images of the user and their surroundings so other people can be included in the images without their consent.
Minimum age: 13
YouTube
Main use: for sharing and watching videos.
Common issues: young people might stream content that is too personal or be encouraged towards inappropriate content by algorithms.
Minimum age: 13 (unless on YouTube kids or with parent enabling)
Discord
Main use: used for live chat in text and over headsets on a theme, often used alongside gaming.
Common issues: young people may join chats with strangers who could be any age and who they do not know.
Minimum age: 13
Main use: connecting with friends and sharing photos and videos. Also, consuming news and information.
Common issues: there are risks associated with connecting with users that young people do not know and being targeted with inappropriate or misinformation shared through algorithms.
Minimum age: 13
Main use: sharing short messages and photos/videos/links.
Common issues: what young people share is publicly viewable, and they may also be exposed to content that is inappropriate and fake information.
Minimum age: 13
Gaming
Gaming in itself is not a bad thing; it may provide chances for challenge, problem-solving and collaboration, as well as just plain fun! The discussions you might have with your son are likely to be about the type of game and the appropriateness of its content and managing his use of it. Some games may also encourage purchasing of in-game features, and you will probably want to check that he cannot accidentally access this and accidentally spend money he does not want to. Some young people find it difficult to self-regulate time spent on games and might need support with this.
The range of games and the means of playing them (phone/console/PC) mean that it is all about good conversations – it is not possible to have a guide for them all. The guide below about consoles could be applied well to conversations for all of these though. Most games will carry an age rating, so it is important to check those. The VSC board that set these ratings have a comprehensive page for supporting parents and families below:
Their ‘Get Smart about P.L.A.Y’ campaign provides a useful overview of things to consider about gaming:
www.askaboutgames.com/get-smart-about-play
UNSAFE IMAGE SHARING
Our PSHE program covers the law and how to stay safe online with advice and links to support. Our approach aims to stay in line with the Government guidance on sharing inappropriate images, which details the police approach and guidance about types of behaviour, which can be found in the link below: