Edition 1
PARENTING
Capricornus Quarterly
Communications Closing the Digital Divide
Bullying The Anti-Social Side to Social Media
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In this issue Pg 04
5 Reasons to Love Computing Curriculum
Pg 06
The Anti-Social Side to Social Networking
Pg 08
Create your Own Family IT Policy
Pg 10
Closing the Digital Divide
Pg 12
12 Educational Children’s Apps
Pg 14
Let’s Talk: Sexting
Pg 17
Just One Thing
Pg 18
A Safe Game is a Good Game
Pg 20
10 Family Gaming Tips
Pg 22
You’re in Control
Pg 26 Closing Remarks from The Headmaster
Page 4 Computing Curriculum
Page 6 The Anti-Social Side to Social Networking
Page 8 IT Policy
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We live in a technical world Maintaining contact, accessing information and purchasing goods and services are just some of the necessary tasks we complete in day-to-day life. Increasingly, these tasks are being performed online rather than in person or in a bricks-and-mortar store. Information and technology skills will allow our students to survive and thrive in the technical world that now surrounds us.
21st century skills Living in the 21st century requires a range of skills that did not exist 30 years ago. Advancements in technology and the internet have opened up a world of new opportunities and computing curriculum exposes students to the skills and knowledge required to harness these opportunities and excel in the new digital world.
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5 Awareness = safety An awareness of technology, its reach and limitations, will ensure that adolescents remain safe when navigating online. Education is the key to online safety. Making students aware of the risks lurking online and teaching them to be mindful of their online profile, their responsibilities and the ramifications of their actions will help them to protect themselves online.
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5 REASONS 1 2
to love
COMPUTING CURRICULUM All professions use technology From farming to the defence forces and everything in between, all professions require some form of digital knowledge and skill. Whatever your ambition, technology and information literacy will be important in your career. Employers will demand competency in technology use and understanding. Information and technology skills are fundamental to employability now and in the future.
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Understanding computing builds confidence So often today, we are faced with unknowns. Different forms of technology, different uses of technology, new applications and new platforms are all challenges that adolescents will face in the near future. Understanding the ins and outs of computing will build confidence that adolescents can rely on when faced with new technologies.
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The Anti-Social Side to Social Networking
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Social media is a fast-growing take users around the globe w and clicks to catch up with lon keeping up to date with globa
We know, however, that there technological tool. Friendship confidence and romantic rela family ties can quickly be unt
Staying connected can sometimes end in isolation. Cyber safety sources weigh in on the severity of cyberbullying and the impact it can have on individuals.
Bullying is no longer restricted to the schoolyard; the online world seems to be the biggest portal for predatory people to verbally (and visually) attack their victims. Some social media sites have become arenas for abhorrent, anti-social behaviour. “Bullying is antisocial behaviour and there is a clear requirement to criminalise that behaviour,” says child psychologist, Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg. Beyond Blue states that being bullied online can inflict overwhelming feelings of vulnerability, victims can lose most of their self-confidence (if not all), making them feel like something is wrong with them - like they are an outcast. The independent non-profit organisation which addresses mental health, offers support services, such as an online chatroom that is open from 3PM to 12AM each day, a number to actively talk to someone (1300 22 4636), email and online forums all day, seven days a week.
g suburb within cyberspace. It can within the space of a few seconds ng-lost friends or beloved family, al events.
are sinister sides to this ps, careers, reputations, selfationships can all be tarnished and tied by cyberbullying.
Many monsters, according to security experts, are masked by a screen, the digital divider that separates cyberspace from reality. The Child Safety Handbook, produced by Queensland Police Legacy, examines the idea that once upon a time, mobile phones were given to children as a safety device to ensure parents were contactable the second the child felt in danger or any distress. Flash forward to now where it may be that mobile phones are the main source of concern. A split second is all it can take for an individual’s world to be torn apart from a twisted text message and their happiness could be left hanging by a thread if they are being harassed. Their confidence can crumble very quickly if private pictures, personal details or ruthless rumours are sent circulating around social media by a conniving online identity (anonymous or not). If a situation online intensifies, it is strongly recommended that the police are contacted on 000 and made aware of the traumatising turn of events. It is crucial for every child to have a support system, says Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, while navigating an online world that is continuously evolving.
The Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner offers the following tips on what to look out for if a child becomes a victim of cyberbullying:
•D oes your child seem upset or distressed after using their devices? •A re grades beginning to suffer?
To immediately act online when cyberbullying occurs The Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner recommends to get in contact with the social media site team (1800 880 176), retain or record any messages from the online offender (ensure the targeted child does not make any response) and block the bully. If there has been no call to action after 48 hours, the malicious material can be submitted online to https:// esafety.gov.au/reportcyberbullying.
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•H as sleeping become a problem? •D oes your child fear social situations? Being abused, mimicked, harassed or threatened online will have a major impact on children’s behaviours, attitudes and activities offline. In this case, communication is the best way to cure cruel cyber situations, according to the Commissioner. Reaching out can be the remedy needed to resolve a risky or rattling situation, whether it be to trusted school staff, social media site teams, counsellors and/or family members and friends.
Kids Helpline has been another great support service for young individuals to turn to if they are feeling overwhelmed with any situation that occurs online (or offline). They can be reached on
1800 55 1800 or their website is kidshelpline.com.au
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Create Your Own Family IT Policy
Under 5
8
Some ageappropriate action plans to keep children safe online
6 –9
10 –12
13+
The Big Issues
Create boundaries and rules for the amount of time your son or daughter can spend online. It’s never too early to start putting limits in place.
Compile a list of websites they’re allowed to visit, and make sure they know why some websites are safer than others.
The Bas
Choose an appr homepage on y family compute tablet.
Set parental cont on internet brows creating a user ac for your child with appropriate settin Check out Google safesearchkids.or stress-free brows
Discuss online privacy and the information they shouldn’t share as they use the internet increasingly for homework and socialising.
Make rules for the length of time the can spend on gam consoles, tablets smartphones, as the computer.
Explain the pros and cons of Facebook now they have reached the age at which they can sign up for an account.
Agree a budget f like apps and mu Giving them cont of their own spen money can be us but make sure yo know how to man their money resp
sics
ropriate your er or
trols sers by ccount h ngs. e’s rg for sing.
e ey mes and well as
for things usic. trol nding seful, our kids nage ponsibly.
Worth Checking
Talk it Through
The educational apps, games and TV shows on offer for preschool children, and the age ratings and descriptions for them.
Share your technology rules with grandparents, babysitters and older siblings, so that they stick to them when they look after your child or use the family computer.
Online virtual worlds for children of this age, such as Disney’s clubpenguinisland.com and moshimonsters.com
The kind of language and acronyms use by children in chat rooms. Make sure you know what to look out for. Head to netlingo.com for help demystifying cryptic teen speak.
Facebook’s online privacy settings and how commenting and photo sharing works. Set up your own account to get a feel for it or go to facebook.com/safety.
Discuss the benefits and limitations of using the web to help with homework and other school work.
A nd Finally...
The rules and conversations you have now will set the tone for your child’s internet use as they get older.
Other parents at school are a source of information. Chat to them about how they help their children manage the digital world, and make sure you’re all on the same page.
Give the reasons behind boundaries, time limits and parental controls, and be prepared to start re-evaluating the restrictions in line with your child’s maturity.
Tablets and games consoles shouldn’t become a regular ‘babysitter’.
Explain the dangers of sharing pictures and personal details online. And don’t shy away from difficult subjects such as pornography, bullying and sexting.
Technology will be second nature to your child by now. Try to stay up to date with new technology, social networks and websites.
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Australia has the Great Dividing Range, our most substantial mountain range that mostly parallels the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria and stretches more than 3700 kilometres. But there may be a greater divide -- the huge digital chasm between rural and urban areas across Australia.
closing the digital divide
The Australian Digital Inclusion Index 2017 (ADII) Report was established through the collaborative efforts of RMIT University, Roy Morgan Research, Swinburne University of Technology, Telstra and Centre for Social Impact. It notes that there are digitally disadvantaged communities within rural and remote regions compared to urban areas. This report outlines that the national average digital inclusion reading sits at 56.5, rural areas have scored 50.7 while urban areas hold a score of 58.6 which is a 7.9 difference in terms of connectivity and accessibility to digital devices and services. With this in mind, the introduction of the NBN (National Broadband Network) to Australian communities is a call to action to provide more sustainable services to people who reside in rural areas and allow for more consistent connectivity.
10 The official NBN website highlights that the objective behind the establishment of the NBN Sky Muster (satellite service) is to extend the broadband boundaries to the bush. The goal is to balance out the distribution of digital access across the nation and minimise the gap that divides rural and urban areas on the Australian Digital Inclusion Index. This satellite service empowers people in rural, remote and regional communities by enhancing communication services for social, medical and economic factors. Additionally, it introduces a reliable consistency of internet to isolated areas and implements improved education capabilities for the children who don’t have immediate access to a school or academic resources.
Kylie Lindsay, (in her role as Senior Corporate Affairs Manager) published a blog on the NBN website in early September of 2016. She recorded how the School of the Air services have benefited school-aged children in remote locations since 1960. Radios were once used by students to communicate with a tutor up until the 1990s when phones started to replace radios, audio interaction still being the main means of gaining academic content. Ms Lindsay states that Sky Muster and School of the Air can work effectively together to bring higher quality learning opportunities to students who do not live in the hustle and bustle of urban areas or attend boarding school, adding that lessons now have the ability to shift from over the phone to over the internet. This opens up a whole world of possibilities for students who were once academically restricted. It is important to recognise, however, that every family’s situation is different and while Sky Muster may work wonders for some, it doesn’t work so effectively for others.
A highly influential group was formed on Facebook in late 2014, which goes by the name of Better Internet for Rural, Regional & Remote Australia (BIRRR). Rockhampton Grammar School parent Kristy Sparrow and Kylie Stretton created BIRRR, inspired by increased abnormalities that existed within their mobile broadband data usage. Kristen Coggan, Amanda Salisbury and Julie Stott are also members of the BIRRR administrative team, who lobby to improve broadband services, customer service and data allowances for all who live beyond city limits. Each administrator has a special area of interest and expertise within BIRRR’s lobbying and advisory roles, as they seek to ensure people in rural, regional and remote Australia can access affordable and reliable digital connections.
It is noted on the BIRRR website that both Kristy and Kylie endured serious internet issues which made education for their children and running businesses increasingly difficult. So their call to action was forming a group that would support and assist people experiencing similar limitations. The group has now grown to over 10,000 members and the team assist people from all over Australia. As a result of BIRRR lobbying and support work via their Facebook page, members from the NBN team, a range of service providers and groups within government now work with BIRRR to help close the gap of the digital divide, and ensure better and more reliable broadband is available to a wider population of people in the bush. The volunteer work of BIRRR has been significant in strengthening rural connections, ensuring academic opportunities still reach students in isolated areas and offering business people in the bush the broadband options and data allowances required to suit their business needs. BIRRR’s influence is not only evident in their online support and troubleshooting, but also in their contribution to government and policy decision-making via lobbying and official submissions, working to close the digital divide between urban and rural areas illustrated in the Australian Digital Inclusion Index. Telecommunications can be a minefield of providers, plans, equipment and contracts, the BIRRR team help people navigate through the terminology and red tape to find a connection that best meets their needs.
BIRRR can be contacted via email at birrraus@gmail.com, or for more information and stories they can be found on Facebook and Twitter, the links are available on their website https://birrraus.com
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Ages 5 & Under ENDLESS READER free (with in-app purchases) From the team who came up with Endless Alphabet and Endless Numbers, Endless Reader helps develop literacy by introducing “sight words”, the most commonly used words in children’s books. Available on iPhone and iPad.
LITTLE DIGITS $4.49
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Using the iPad multi-touch screen, this app is able to detect how many fingers a child puts down and displays fun number characters accordingly. A useful app for those interested in learning how to count. Available on iPad.
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR $4.49 Inspired by Eric Carle’s beloved artwork and featuring the very popular Very Hungry Caterpillar, this app encourages budding artists to draw, paint, colour, design and create in unique ways.
ABC KIDS IVIEW free Surely a must-own for any parent, this ad-free, on-demand app features a number of ABC’s trusted and loved programs. Tailored for preschoolers, it is available on iPhone and iPad.
TINY ROBOT MAKER $2.99 This app lets kids create colourful robots from funky pieces of scrap metal, cogs and pipes. You can even print your favourite creations out later to turn into birthday cards, party invitations and colouring pages. Not into robots? Tiny Owl Maker and Tiny Fairy Maker options are also available. Available on iPhone and iPad.
App prices were correct at time of printing
12 EDUCATIONAL CHILDREN’S APPS
your kids WILL LOVE
Ages 6–8 THE HUMAN BODY $5.99 An interactive app which lets kids explore a working model of the body, designed for kids to discover what we’re made of and how we work. Available on iPhone and iPad.
WIZARD SCHOOL free Wizard School inspires curiosity and creative thinking across a number of subjects such as science, design, languages, geography and sports. Available on iPhone and iPad.
MONSTER CHORDS free (with in-app purchases) Aimed at budding musicians, this app makes learning guitar chords a fun challenge. Note: a guitar or ukulele is necessary. Available on iPhone and iPad.
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Ages 9–11
STAR WALK 2 $4.49
DRAGONBOX ELEMENTS $7.99
This is an app for would-be star gazers, designed to teach users the exact position of stars, planets, constellations, comets, ISS, satellites, star clusters, nebulae and meteor showers in the night sky. Available on iPhone and iPad.
With over 100 puzzles to choose from, DragonBox elements is designed to teach children (and adults) about the logic of geometry, without them even realising they’re learning! This app is designed for both iPhone and iPad.
SWIFT PLAYGROUNDS free It’s crazy to think that something as difficult as coding could appeal to 9-11 year olds. However this is what Swift Playgrounds aims to do. No prior coding knowledge is necessary. Available on iPad.
QUICK MATHS free (with in-app purchases) Quick Maths is aimed at developing the general math skills of students in grades 2 to 6. With a focus on self improvement, Quick Maths increases the difficulty of challenges as your skills develop. Available on iPhone and iPad.
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Selfies: Five Conversation Starters
Let’s Ta Sexti
Start with the facts
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Help them consider the consequences
Focus on issues rather than technology
Make it relevant
Think about your ‘worst case scenario’ plan
1 2 3 4 5
Explain that, if a teen has an indecent image of another minor, they are committing an offence.
What parents and children worry about is vastly different. Young people worry more about their friendships today than any future implications such as job opportunities.
It’s important to understand the link between off and online vulnerability. Cyberbullying, for example, is often a continuation of bullying in the classroom, so making a bullied child close their social network accounts is unlikely to resolve the problem.
Experts no longer label content ‘inappropriate’ and encourage parents to consider what is ‘stage appropriate’. Be realistic and avoid shame or being dismissive of any sexual content outright.
If the worst does happen, it’s important to know what to do and who to turn to for support. There are a number of charities and government organisations to help parents and young people who have fallen victim to abuse or exploitation online or through mobile devices.
alk: ing
What is sexting? Sending or sharing provocative or sexually explicit messages, images, photos or videos. Most sexting is done with a mobile phone but it also occurs through social media or other online activities. Sexting can include a range of behaviours and content, from sending flirtatious text messages to more intimate material, like taking and sharing nude photos or videos capturing sexual acts. The term ‘sexting’ is not often used by young people or in popular culture. Most often, it’s called ‘nudes’, ‘naked selfies’, ‘rudie nudies’ or they might use other terms like ‘pic for pic’.
How common is it? There’s a growing sense that sexting is becoming a normalised courtship ritual among young people. A recent Australian study, Sexting and Young People, found that almost half of a total sample of 2, 243 respondents reported having sent a sexual picture or video of themselves to another person. Two-thirds had received a sexual image, with 13 to 15 year olds ‘particularly likely to receive sexual images’. It also found that most sexting occurred in committed relationships.
Why do young people sext? The combination of natural sexual curiosity and growing up in a digital world means that children are likely to experience sexting at some stage of their lives. Research and anecdotal evidence suggest that young people sext for a range of reasons, including: being in a romantic relationship where images are shared willingly between partners seeking attention – to increase popularity within a friendship group or among peers flirting and exploring their sexuality
believing it’s a normal thing and that everyone else is doing it believing that it’s a form of ‘safe sex’ when they are not ready to have sex circulating images after a relationship breakdown with the intent to embarrass an ex-partner feeling pressured to send images unwillingly being in an extreme situation where they may be under duress or blackmailed by someone threatening to distribute sexual images of them.
What are the risks of sexting? Sexting may initially seem like a bit of fun or innocent flirting for young people, particularly those in a relationship. Unfortunately, if naked or sexually explicit images are involved, there can be serious and unwanted consequences. This can potentially expose them to a range of emotional, social and legal issues. Even if a young person has received an unsolicited sext, there can be psychological and legal consequences.
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Some of the consequences for young people can include: humiliation, guilt, shame, anger and self-blame – which can lead to ongoing emotional distress, withdrawal from school and family life and in severe cases, self-harm and suicidal thoughts bullying, teasing and harassment from peers – they may experience bullying, including cyberbullying, if photos are shared around their school community or friendship group damage to reputation – it may impact on their reputation and performance at school, as well as employment opportunities in the future criminal charges and penalties – it can be a crime when it involves creating, possessing and/ or sharing sexualised images of people under 18 years. Once an image is shared, the sender loses control on how that image is potentially used. Continues on page 14>
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Continued from page 13
Images can be copied and saved by others, shared with people the sender doesn’t know and posted on social media and public websites. These images can be extremely difficult to remove and the consequences from having these images posted online can follow a young person into adulthood.
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Things can go wrong even if sharing takes place in a trusted relationship or friendship. A friend may, on impulse and without thinking, share an image more broadly than the sender intended. Sometimes when a relationship breaks down there may be an intent to embarrass and take revenge on an ex-partner. We refer to this as image-based abuse. A recent study by RMIT University, Not Just ‘Revenge Pornography’: Australians’ Experiences of ImageBased Abuse, suggests that the risk for image-based abuse is higher for those who share sexual selfies. The study found that participants who reported engaging in sexual self-image behaviours (37%) were more likely to have been victimised than those who had not ever sent a sexual selfie (10%).
Sexting may not always be voluntary. Young people may be forced or pressured into sending explicit content. This is particularly a risk when communicating on a dating site or with strangers whose real motives might not be known or understood. Even teens who know each other may experience coercion or badgering to send a nude. Sometimes sexting can lead to sextortion, which is extortion with a sexual component. This is when a person threatens to distribute sexual or intimate images or text messages they have already received unless the victim pays money, provides sexual favours, sends the person more sexual images or videos of themselves or complies with some other demand. Educating yourself about the risks and talking to your child is one of the best ways to help protect them from any life-changing behaviours and consequences. Susan MacLean, cyber safety expert, says it is not uncommon for children in primary school to be involved in sexting behaviours. Here are some of her tips: talk early, talk often promote self-confidence and respect for self and others teach your children about consent & that it’s OK to say no
just because others send nudes doesn’t mean you have to ensure your children know about the law & possible criminal charges let your children know that they must speak up if feeling uncomfortable & they can come to you regardless.
What about the law? Sexting may be a crime if it involves possessing, creating or sharing sexualised images of people under 18 or if it involves harassing people of any age. A young person who possesses, creates or shares sexualised images of someone under 18 can be charged with a criminal offence and may even risk being forced to register as a sex offender. This would prohibit them from working or volunteering in places involving children and may require them to regularly report to police and have restrictions placed on their freedom of movement. State laws differ around Australia and the action taken by police may also differ. For example, in some jurisdictions, a 16-year-old who takes a sexualised photo of themselves on their mobile phone and sends it to someone is committing a crime. In another example, a 19-year-old who is sent a sexually explicit image of a 17-year-old may be liable of being charged with a criminal offence for possessing a sexualised image of a minor. However, be aware that Commonwealth Law is applicable in every State and Territory and State Police can charge under Commonwealth Law.
For more information about relevant laws in Australia, visit Lawstuff.org.au
JUST
1 thing
We asked RGS senior staff what their one piece of advice for parents would be for keeping children safe online.
Stewart Norford, Director of Boarding
Your child’s
FRIENDSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS – IN PERSON OR ON-LINE - SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE BY YOU, THE PARENT. THE TRANSPARENCY DOESN’T NEED TO BE INVASIVE, BUT ENOUGH TO BE AWARE AND OFFER GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT. IF YOUR CHILD IS COVERT ABOUT ANY COMMUNICATIONS, THEN IT’S QUITE LIKELY THAT SOMETHING ISN’T RIGHT.
Alison Wright, Head of Year 11
The old saying is
“STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES BUT WORDS CAN NEVER HURT ME.” THIS IS NOT TRUE; WORDS HURT. BE AWARE OF WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE READING AND POSTING. REMEMBER, NOTHING GOES AWAY ONCE IT IS POSTED ONLINE.
Geoff Hadwen, Head of Primary
The legal age
FOR ‘SNAPCHAT’, ‘FACEBOOK’ AND ‘INSTAGRAM’ IS 13. NO PRIMARY AGED STUDENT SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THESE, OR SIMILAR, PROGRAMS.”
Computers,
MOBILE PHONES, IPADS AND ALL THAT COMES WITH THESE DEVICES BRING THE WHOLE WORLD TO YOUR FAMILY – THE GOOD AND THE BAD. PLEASE TALK OPENLY WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND SET BOUNDARIES THAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH. REMEMBER, IT IS OKAY TO SAY ‘NO’ TO YOUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY ASK TO HAVE ACCESS TO THINGS LIKE SNAPCHAT AND INSTAGRAM. THE RIGHT TO HAVE THIS ACCESS BRINGS GREAT RESPONSIBILITY WITH IT AND THEY NEED TO BE READY FOR THAT AND AT 12, I DON’T THINK THEY ARE.
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Michelle Rundle, Head of Year 7
Parents can help
THEIR CHILDREN TO USE THE INTERNET SAFELY BY MONITORING, PROTECTING AND TEACHING THEM, AND BY LEARNING ABOUT THE INTERNET THEMSELVES. LEARNING TO USE THE INTERNET SAFELY IS LIKE LEARNING TO CROSS THE STREET. IT TAKES TIME AND CAREFUL GUIDANCE FROM TRUSTED PEOPLE SUCH AS TEACHERS AND PARENTS. Arthur Kelly, Deputy Headmaster
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Safety equipment and measures are required to play many games offline, so why should it be any different online?
A SAFE G IS A GOOD G A M E “Checking in on what our kids are doing online isn’t ‘helicoptering,’ it’s ‘parenting’”. This observation is from blogger Galit Breen, author of Kindness Wins. Her quote emphasises that adult presence, along with continuous communication with children, are necessary steps parents should take for protective purposes and to educate young ones on the evils that exist online.
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Our world—schools, homes, workplaces, shopping centres, sports complexes—is a digital world with risks and dangers in corners and behind screens. One
and the average daily total time spent playing video games is 89 minutes. In 2016, the Raising Children Network published an online article illustrating that
The big issue with your child playing with strangers online is that you may never know if another player is an adult or a child medium that is often overlooked by parents when teaching their children about cyber-safety is online gaming according to Breen.
children of an extensive age range engage in video gaming: 39% of 1-4 year olds, 91% of 5-14 year olds and 84% of 15-24 year olds.
In 2017, Bond University collaborated with Interactive Games & Entertainment Association to produce a ‘Digital Australia Data Report Snapshot 2018’. This report established that 97% of residences with children have computer games
This article also established that children from each age bracket hold different purposes and gain various benefits from gaming. The younger children in the 1-4 year old bracket get the chance to develop skills in the fine motor and time management areas.
M E
Ages 5-14 can benefit from slightly more challenging games that enhance problem-solving skills, memory and practising teamwork while the 15-24 age group tend to experience more emotional and social benefits like self-satisfaction and boosting social confidence. Yet, the Google Safety Centre warns that while video games can benefit a child’s development, it is vital to be mindful of the hazards that can loiter within the shadows of cyberspace. Without careful monitoring from parents, it can be easy for children to fall into frightening situations. Online games can be the perfect portal for predators, as it provides
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, urged parents to deactivate webcams for their child’s security
opportunities for strangers to make contact with children and build a relationship with them, regardless of location. Leonie Smith, an online safety educator who goes by the name of The Cyber Safety Lady online, confirms that multiplayer games are risky due to the participation of strangers. “The big issue with your child playing with strangers online is that you may never know if another player is an adult or a child,” Smith states.
The Google Safety Centre is another useful portal which helps families build good online safety practices and habits. They encourage parents to make online safety a significant part of family discussions. Other useful tips include utilising privacy settings and parental controls to filter out explicit and inappropriate content, keeping passwords private and limiting online access to allow only age-appropriate sites and apps for children to interact with.
The Cyber Safety Lady is a helpful site to visit for guidance in ensuring online experiences and encounters with other users are safe. Leonie Smith is certified by the Australian Government’s Office of the eSafety Commissioner, so the information she produces is a reliable and valid source for parents to refer to for guidance and tips regarding staying safe in cyberspace. Through her work, Leonie promotes the importance of privacy settings, parental controls, close monitoring and continuous communication between child and parent or guardian.
Late last year, the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, urged parents to deactivate webcams for their child’s security, or the villains on the video games could become a very real nightmare if users are not careful. Webcams are like peepholes for predators to peer through, which can lead to unwanted audiences whilst engaging in gaming.
Useful links www.theselittlewaves.net www.thecybersafetylady.com.au www.esafety.gov.au
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Digital parenting requires constant learning to stay current. Digital parents are constant learners, according to the experts, who need to stay current with technology and observe how children are accessing and exploiting new apps, devices and services. “Your child needs to think twice before entering their email address, clicking on random links, and sharing their personal information,” writes Galit Breen
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KEEP IT TO FRIENDS ONLY If in doubt, keep your child’s online multiplayer experience to real-life friends only. You can oversee their friends list, restrict their contacts through the console’s parental controls, and even disable multiplayer entirely.
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KNOW THE REPORTING PROCESS If someone says or does something online that makes your child uncomfortable, make sure they know they can report this.
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WATCH WHAT YOU SAY If you allow your youngster to use the voice chat function on their console, remind them that the people they talk to are still strangers, and to be cautious.
7
DON’T OVERSHARE Make sure they know not to share personal information that could identify them, like their school, address or phone number.
6 10 Family
USE AN ALIAS Encourage your child to use a nickname and not their real name when playing online.
Gaming Tips
5 4 3 2 1
CHECK PLAY HISTORY See what your child plays, and for how long, by checking the user history on their profile.
REGULAR BREAKS Screen time studies vary but all agree that regular breaks are essential. Take one every 45-60 minutes.
SET UP PARENTAL CONTROLS Ensure you have specified what content children can access with secure passwords and user settings.
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CHECK CLASSIFICATIONS The Classification Board in Australia classifies all films, DVDs, video games and publications that are shown, sold or hired. These ratings help parents identify appropriate games based on their content.
PLAY TOGETHER Keep games consoles in communal rooms and play games together. There are a number of active and sports titles available for consoles that the whole family can join in with.
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Parental controls on your computer’s operating system
You’re in
Control
Mac OS and Windows both include parental controls that enable you to set time limits for your child’s use and restrict access to certain types of content. In both operating systems, parents can set up user accounts for each member of the family with their own unique passwords and then tailor the controls and restrictions to the age and maturity of their child.
WINDOWS Windows 10 offers access controls, time limits and activity reports, including reports on the websites, apps and games your child uses. You can set up individual accounts with different age-appropriate controls. Earlier versions of Windows also offer controls but the set-up process differs.
MAC OS Parental controls in macOS Sierra let you add a managed user so you can limit your child’s access to ageappropriate websites and apps, decide who they can contact via Mail and Messages, prevent access to iTunes, set time limits and block use of the computer’s built-in camera and multi-player games in Game Centre. Earlier versions, such as Mac OS X, also offer parental controls.
Parental controls in your web browser You can change the settings on the browser you use to access the internet. If you use more than one, don’t forget to change the settings on each one.
CHROME Supervised user accounts on Google Chrome allow you to block certain websites, see which ones your child has visited, turn on SafeSearch and prevent apps being installed.
INTERNET EXPLORER Microsoft’s Content Advisor enables you to prevent your child from seeing websites containing nudity, violence and inappropriate content.
FIREFOX The parental controls in Firefox filter web content that may be inappropriate or offensive for children.
Safety controls on search engines Setting SafeSearch on search engines means that the majority of sexually explicit videos and images will be filtered from search results, along with results that may link to explicit content. It isn’t 100% reliable, but it’s useful if you have a young child. Google’s SafeSearch setting enables you to filter out most adult content and get familyfriendly results when searching the web. If an inappropriate search result gets through, you can report it to Google. Restricted mode on YouTube performs a similar function to SafeSearch – both can be locked if you have a google+ account. Remember that these are devicelevel settings, meaning you have to set them on each tablet, phone or computer you child uses.
You can find information about safety features on the Google search engine, YouTube, Google Play, Chrome, and other Google services in the Google Safety Centre.
Parental controls on your child’s smartphone and tablet Parental controls on smartphones and tablets can block access to websites containing adult content. Your mobile’s operating system may also include safety features and you can set restrictions on the App Store and Google Play.
ANDROID (e.g. LG, Sony, Samsung, HTC, Motorola) The restricted user feature lets you manage which apps, games and other content your child can access and gives you the choice of disabling certain features, such as location and camera.
IOS (e.g. iPhone and iPad) You can enable restrictions on your child’s iPhone or iPad and select on or off for features such as FaceTime, in –app purchases and Safari.
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WINDOWS PHONE The My Family option helps you to manage the apps and games your child is able to download to their phone. You can also set up Kid’s Corner on your own Windows Phone so that if your child borrows it they can only access age-appropriate content and not get to the rest of your stuff that you want to keep private.
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Safety and privacy controls on social networks and apps Many social networks and apps have a minimum age of 13. Young people can have a positive experience by making the most of built-in tools to protect their privacy and safety.
FACEBOOK Minimum age: 13 What can you set? Decide who sees your posts and Timeline, unfollow, unfriend and block people.
INSTAGRAM Minimum age: 13 What can you set? Make photos and videos private and block people.
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WHATSAPP Minimum age: 13 What can you set? Control who sees your information, who you interact with, what you see and what you share.
SNAPCHAT Minimum age: 13 What can you set? Choose who can send you Snaps, decide who can view your Stories and block people
Minimum age: 13 What can you set? Protect your tweets so that only approved followers see them, choose whether to share your location, unfollow, mute and block people.
App store restrictions
You can set up parental controls on the App Store and Google Play to prevent your child downloading apps that are age inappropriate.
Online Gaming restrictions While many games have educational value, not all are suitable for children, so find out what games your children are playing and try playing them yourself. This way you can discover if the game has inappropriate content, offers reporting tools and has privacy features. You should also check the classification on the cover for age compatibility and use parental controls to set limits, restrict internet access, and block in-game purchases. You can also disable chat features that allow interaction with other players and check reviews to learn if a game has unsuitable content.
Safe mode on video-sharing, TV and film services Lots of online services offer video, TV and movie content. Some use password and PIN combinations to restrict viewing, based on age ratings. Some allow separate profiles for younger users so they can only view child-friendly content. Some platforms have dedicated children’s versions, which only carry age-appropriate content.
YOUTUBE YouTube’s Restricted mode helps to screen content you wouldn’t want your child to see. YouTube also offers YouTube Kids, specifically for children. It contains only age-appropriate videos and includes parental controls and a timer.
NETFLIX There are four maturity levels in Netflix parental controls (Little Kids, Older Kids, Teens and Adults/All Maturity) to help you control what your child watches.
PRESTO Presto’s parental controls allow you to select which level of content classification is appropriate for everyone in your home to watch. If anyone wants to watch content with a higher classification, they will need to enter a PIN.
STAN Stan’s parental controls allow you to set up customised profiles which can be restricted for different members of the family. A profile can be restricted to content Stan thinks is appropriate for children, or restricted to certain classifications. Different profiles can also be protected with a PIN to make sure someone doesn’t log in as the wrong user.
AMAZON VIDEO AND AMAZON PRIME Amazon’s PIN feature lets you set purchase and viewing restrictions on each of your registered devices.
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APPLE TV Turn on Restrictions to manage access to app purchases, movies, multiplayer games and other content on your Apple TV.
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Closing Remarks from The Headmaster We hope you enjoyed reading the first edition of RGS Digital Parenting.
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The purpose of this publication is to increase parent confidence and engagement with technology so that our children get the very best out of this increasingly complex, sometimes-overwhelming digital world. Our role as parents can be challenging as we try to understand the pressures our children face during each stage of their development and as we assist with navigating their online world and support them to make sensible and beneficial decisions for themselves and in their relationships with others. Youth are increasingly immersed in this new world, with their digital footprint beginning during childhood, and their online activities closely linked to their identity, wellbeing and development. The Rockhampton Grammar School is also proud and excited to trial Rockhampton Grammar SchoolTV in Term 2. SchoolTV is a unique online resource delivering powerful and credible information to empower
The Rockhampton Grammar School takes seriously the challenge of preparing students for today’s world. We treat each student as a whole person through a balance of academic, sporting, co-curricular and social activities. Our School motto is Macte Virtute et Litteris or Grow in Character and Scholarship.
Capricornus Quarterly Digital Parenting is published by:
parents with the skills to address common issues facing young people today. SchoolTV delivers reputable information from leading specialists about a range of topics. Many of these topics cover digital matters, including screen addiction, cyberbullying, digital reputation and social networking. This fantastic resource will complement RGS Digital Parenting and when utilised together parents will be well equipped to tackle the tough issues and raise happy, healthy and resilient boys and girls. Rockhampton Grammar SchoolTV will be accessible through our School website, under Positive Education. A monthly SchoolTV enewsletter will also be emailed to all parents. While digital and parenting experts have a wealth of knowledge to impart on parents, sometimes the best advice comes from those who are walking in our shoes – other parents. In the next edition of RGS Digital Parenting we will introduce a parent forum where RGS parents can share advice on what has worked for them (and perhaps what has not) when raising children in a digital world. We therefore encourage you to please send any advice and tips to digitalparenting@rgs.qld.edu.au. Together, we can support each other to raise successful and responsible digital citizens. Phillip Moulds Headmaster
The Rockhampton Grammar School
Dr Phillip Moulds, Headmaster 07 4936 0615 headmaster@rgs.qld.edu.au
Communications and Development 07 4936 0654 mdonahue@rgs.qld.edu.au
Archer Street, Rockhampton QLD 4700, Australia
Enrolment enquiries 1300 GRAMMAR
Mrs Rachael McDonald 07 4936 0776 rmcdonald@rgs.qld.edu.au
www.rgs.qld.edu.au (+61) 07 4936 0600 ISSN 1839-4663 ©2018 The Rockhampton Grammar School
The Registrar, Mrs Marissa Hollaway 1300 GRAMMAR or 07 4936 0700 Fax 07 4936 0701 registrar@rgs.qld.edu.au Editorial & Advertising Mr Mike Donahue, Manager
Mrs Ashleigh Harvey 07 4936 0667 aharvey@rgs.qld.edu.au Contributor: Jordie Lynch
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