With the autumn term well underway, children in schools everywhere will be getting back into their routines. For some who have made the transition into secondary school or are in their final year of primary, they might also be getting used to their first mobile phones.
That’s a big milestone, and can bring with it some worries for parents and carers, as well as potential dangers for young people themselves.
The NSPCC has lots of advice for families around online safety on its website – www.nspcc.org.uk – but here are a few tips and topics which might be helpful to you.
Cyberbullying
Some children are bullied both online and offline at the same time, and with a phone in their pocket, bullying is no longer confined to the playground and can follow a child wherever they go.
Cyberbullying – any bullying that takes place online – could happen through social media, online games, group chats or messaging apps, and it can be incredibly distressing for young people.
It could include threatening messages, sharing embarrassing images or videos, trolling, excluding children from online groups, spreading rumours, or even encouraging someone to self-harm.
Because it takes place on screens, cyberbullying can be hidden from parents. While this makes it harder to spot, there are signs to watch out for.
A child who is being bullied may become withdrawn, anxious or upset after using their phone. They might suddenly stop using certain apps, struggle to sleep, avoid school, or become secretive about their online life.
Reassure them that they won’t be in trouble and that help is available, and while it might be tempting to take their device away to prevent bullying, this might make them less likely to speak up if anything happens in future.
Instead, try to remain calm and explore their options together. The NSPCC has a host of information on online safety, including tools to block or report abuse, of which most platforms provide. It’s important to remain calm and explore options together, and we would always suggest to not respond to bullying messages.
Sharing images
Something our Childline counsellors hear about often from young people contacting the NSPCC service is concerns about the sharing of intimate or nude images.
There are many reasons why a young person may share an image of themselves from a mobile phone or social app. They might be in a relationship with someone, or they may be doing it as a dare. It might even be because they may have been groomed or blackmailed into it.
Whatever the reason, once an image is sent, the sender loses all control of it. A picture or video can be circulated around the world in moments, and can be used to bully, blackmail or groom the child involved.
This kind of blackmail can harm a young person’s mental wellbeing and affect their ability to trust others or seek help, but they are often too scared to tell anyone what is happening.
To help children regain control of their images, Childline worked with the Internet Watch Foundation to develop a tool called Report Remove, which allows young people to report any sexual material of themselves online so the tool can work to have them taken down.
Hundreds of photos and videos have been removed thanks to the tool in recent years. It is totally free and completely confidential and offers young people both practical help to get material removed and emotional support from Childline during an incredibly difficult experience.
Advice
As a parent or carer, there is never a bad time to start talking about online safety and explore with them what young people share online.
Talk to your child regularly about their experiences online, as you would ask about their day at school or plans for the weekend. Show curiosity about how they use their phones, laptops or tablets and the kind of apps they use.
By having these conversations, even if you don’t think there’s a problem, you will help them to realise that they can come to you – or a safe adult they trust, like a relative or teacher – if something is upsetting them.
And of course, the NSPCC’s Childline service is available to any child over the phone or online, no matter their worries or concerns.
*Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk*For more information Report Remove, and how to have conversations with children about online and mobile phone safety, go to www.nspcc.org.uk