Online Safety
UNCRC Article 17 is about access to information from the media. It states that every child has the right to reliable information from a variety of sources, and governments should encourage the media to provide information that children can understand. Governments must help protect children from materials that could harm them.
Young people have told us that there are positives to the online world and that they can feel less isolated and more connected because of online ‘friends'.
"Gaming can give you life skills, taught me to think critically when I am modding [recoding a game]" and "Gaming takes my mind off everything".
They said it is positive to have information from across the globe in your hands, but that it's important to know it is honest information and to be aware of online safety. "We chat with strangers online as it is funny, we switch off our location for safety".
Information and Resources
The Headstart Kernow Online Resilience Tool provides a practical way for professionals to assess young people’s online behaviour and help them make decisions about whether that behaviour represents risk of harm.
The Internet Watch Foundation exist to end child sexual abuse imagery online. They provide a safe place to report and remove online child sexual abuse images and videos from the internet and give children and young people the ability to report and delete sexual imagery of themselves. There is a resource section and the Annual Report provides up to date statistics in terms of prevalence and the outcomes of their work.
Culture Reframed is an extensive library of peer reviewed resources in the USA about access to pornography and building children and young people's resilience and safety in a porn culture.
Online Abuse and Bullying Prevention Guide has been developed for professionals who work with young people to help them understand what constitutes abusive behaviour online, the consequences of that behaviour, and where they can get help.
Sexting in Schools and Colleges - The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) Education Group has published an overview for all staff in schools and colleges on responding to incidents of sexting. The full guidance (updated 2024) is available here.
This non-statutory guidance from the DfE outlines how schools can ensure their pupils understand how to stay safe and behave online as part of existing curriculum requirements.
- Information for parents is available here
- Information for children and young people is available here