With technology playing such a big part in our children’s lives, it is vital for us to teach children to stay safe online.
We have conducted a questionnaire in our school, with some interesting results!
How many use the Internet at home?
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 | Rec |
| 100% | 100% | 100% | 96% | 100% | 93% | 61% |
How many children use…
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 | Rec | |
| Xbox/ | 21% | 48% | 42% | 26% | 32% | 14% | 46% |
| Play station | 54% | 17% | 47% | 48% | 48% | 21% | 54% |
| PC/ Laptop/Tablet | 96% | 100% | 74% | 100% | 100% | 82% | 73% |
How many have a mobile phone that can access the Internet?
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 | Rec |
| 75% | 70% | 58% | 43% | 60% | 0 | 19% |
During the week, how many hours each day do they spend on the Internet? (as an average – if it varies a lot, write down the range)
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 | |
| More than 4 | 64% | 66% | 39% |
During the weekend, how long do you spend on the Internet (in hours) each day?
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 | |
| 4 hours or more | 90% | 71% | 79% | 65% | 60% | ü |
How many have parent or carers discuss online safety with them?
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 | Rec |
| 64% | 68% | 69% | 26% | 24% | 14% | 46% |
How many of them have parents or carers set online rules?
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 | Rec |
| 46% | 43% | 43% | 47% | 28% | 39% | 35% |
How many use these social networking sites…
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 | |
| 7% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20% | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 5% | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 25% | 17% | 5% | 4% | 52% | 0 | |
| Snapchat | 64% | 60% | 47% | 48% | 56% | 12% |
| Youtube | 100% | 54% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Xbox or PS4 chat | 36% | 34% | 16% | 61% | 32% | 0 |
| Facetime | 90% | 60% | 90% | 61% | 56% | 38% |
When they are at home, how many know what to do or who to talk to if somebody says something hurtful to them online, or if something made them feel uncomfortable?
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 | Rec |
| 75% | 89% | 100% | 78% | 56% | 62% | 62% |
How many have spoken to someone they have never met (in person) online?
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 |
| 68% | 46% | 37% | 43% | 8% (2) | 0 |
How many have had someone from online, try to meet up with them?
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 |
| 25% | 30% | 37% | 35% | 0 | 0 |
How many have said something unkind to someone online or on their phone?
| Y6 | Y5 | Y4 | Y3 | Y2 | Y1 |
| 71% | 46% | 26% | 26% | 8% | 0 |
The message is that in today’s world our children are growing up with access to the internet. As much as there are so many advantages with technology (hence the reason for it growing at fast rate), there are also dangers involved. We as parents/ carers and educators need to ensure that children are taught how to be safe online.
8 tips to teach children how to stay safe online:
1. Don’t post any personal information online – like your address, email address or mobile number.
2. Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself. Once you’ve put a picture of yourself online most people can see it and may be able to download it, it’s not just yours anymore.
3. Keep your privacy settings as high as possible.
4. Never give out your passwords.
5. Don’t befriend people you don’t know – or if you do speak to them when you are playing a game, don’t consider them a friend if you have never met them! Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are.
6. Don’t meet up with people you’ve met online. Speak to your parent or carer about people suggesting you do.
7. Respect other people’s views, even if you don’t agree with someone else’s views doesn’t mean you need to be rude. Think carefully about what you say before you post something online.
8. If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried: leave the website, turn off your computer if you want to and tell a trusted adult immediately.
The NSPCC has a wealth of information to support parents to keep their children safe online:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
As adults, it is also important to reflect our own practice and responsibility when it comes to time spent on devices…
‘Look Up’ is a lesson taught to us through a love story, in a world where we continue to find ways to make it easier for us to connect with one another, but always results in us spending more time alone.