e-Safety @ Tudor Grange ​
September 2015
The Internet
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The Internet has changed our lives in a short space of time. It can be a very powerful service allowing communication and a democratisation never before experienced. ●
The Internet contains a wealth of knowledge that is extremely useful for learning as well as entertainment and commerce.
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We feel that students and staff need to have access to this knowledge to help them in their studies.
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The Internet however exists in the real world and like the real world there are dangers. These dangers do not outweigh the benefits if you are aware of them and act accordingly.
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This document highlights some of the issues and gives some advice on how to deal with them.
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Creating a Conversation
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The purpose of this document is to start a conversation between you and your child about their online life. Much of this can be very positive, but the virtual world is a part of the real world and as such the same rules should apply.
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By asking yourself “Would I be happy if my child did this in the real world?” is a good place to start.
“Would I be happy if my child did this in the real world?”
Social Networks
Being in contact with friends is so much easier online. Conversations that started in the playground and continued on the way home can be continued without having to wait to the next day. Many children love being in contact with their friends. ●
It is easy and instant to communicate in the digital world. Some things however are different from the real world.
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Going online leaves a trace. This is often referred to as your digital footprint.
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When you upload an image, video, send a message or post on a web site, you have lost control over that content.
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You cannot prevent this. This is why we need to be careful when we post things online. The content left online may also leave behind more than you are aware of.
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Some people feel that being online allows them to have a voice where in the real world they struggle to be heard. However this can also give people the feeling they can say things online they would not have the courage to say in person. Some of these things may be hurtful and may even break the law.
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Once you post anything online you have lost control over it. That may be a tweet, a status update, a photo or a video. Other people who view it can copy it with ease and use it for themselves, even if you take down the original copy. If you understand this, then hopefully you will not post something that you will be ashamed of later.
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Many companies will look at a prospective employee’s digital footprint before hiring them. Someone who does not present an image which is appropriate for that company may find themselves unable to get a job.
Cyberbullying
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Cyber bullying can work in the same way as bullying in the playground; the victim feels frightened and alone, while the bully tries to hide from being caught. Comments, images and videos about a person can be posted online causing the victim to feel frightened and upset. It is even possible for cyber bullies to hack into the victim's personal accounts and harass them from within their own user profile. Often cyber bullies feel braver because they cannot be seen, but it can be the most traceable form of bullying because there is evidence that it has happened. But because bullies think they can cover up their identity online, sometimes people who would not normally bully might do so online.
Cyberbullying is bullying plain and simple and will be dealt with in school appropriately. Social media, while it may be appropriate for children of the correct age outside school, is a distraction in school and so it is banned.
Mobile Phones
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Almost everyone has a mobile phone and those who do not often pester to have one. They can be very useful. Many new phones are smart phones and have access to the Internet as well as Apps that connect directly to social network sites.
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Many young people use them to keep in touch using a variety of social media apps and messaging services.
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Again mobile phones can be a medium through which bullying can take place. It can often be worse for the victim as the bullying can be shared around.
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Children should be made aware that having a mobile phone is a privilege and not a right.
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Mobile phones are banned from school as we feel that the distraction they create outweighs any benefit.
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In the sixth form students are able to use mobile devices in an appropriate fashion. This is one of the privileges the sixth form enjoys as part of a greater responsibility.
This is the one we fear the most but is perhaps not the greatest risk the children face. Still children need to be aware that people who they may meet purely online may not be who they say they are. It can be a trend for some children to see gaining numerous friends through social media as a badge of honour, many whom they have never met in person. It is easy to pose as someone else online.
While rare, it is not unheard of to have a child groomed by a sexual predator. This may take place over a series of weeks, months and even years.
Some children do meet genuine new friends online, and if they live nearby it is inevitable they may wish to meet in real life. If an online friend wants to meet, it is important that a parent goes with them.
Your child must not do anything they are not comfortable with online. If they feel something is wrong then they need to report it.
CEOP is the national crime agency which deals with child exploitation and protection. If you, or your child, feel you have come across something which needs to be reported then this is the place to go.
https://www.ceop.police.uk
Think U Know is an information website for parents and children
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Sexual Predators
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Children love playing video games and a big part of that is playing online either against one another or collaboratively. The children can have headsets and chat to whoever they are playing with. This can be really fun and playing games can even have some positive benefits.
However there are some issues of which we need to be aware.
Firstly - who is your child playing with?
You can play online games with just friends but it is possible to play online against anyone in the world. Just like in the real world would you let your child play with a complete stranger, especially when you do not know even basic information such as their name and how old they are?
Secondly - are the games appropriate for your child?
Games have certificates similar to films and should be treated as such. If a child is under 18 they should not be watching 18 films nor playing 18 games.
If they play these games online, then you can expect the other online players to be 18 and over. You should expect the conversations they have online to be more adult.
Ask yourself if this what you want to expose your child to. Children do not have the emotional maturity to deal with some of the content in these games the same way as adults do and we should not expect them to.
Gaming
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In school students are given a school account which gives them access to the school computers, printers, learning platform and e-portfolio. It is important to keep this password secure and it needs to be changed if they feel that someone knows their password.
All activity students do on computers in school is monitored and linked to their accounts. We try and instil in the students the importance of security. If another student were to access the computers using someone else’s account, it would be difficult for us to prove any malicious activity.
It is important that your child keeps all their passwords secure and does not share them.
You should also encourage them not to have the same password for all their accounts. The longer the password the better.
Security
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Many students have grown up with digital downloads and buying CDs and DVDs is a thing of the past. It is very fast and easy to buy music, movies and apps over the Internet without the need to have a physical copy.
It can be tempting to download files for free from file sharing websites. This is illegal and Internet Service Providers have been instructed by the government to help track down offenders.
Ignorance is also not an adequate defence in these cases. If your children are downloading and sharing films, music and games then they could be traced and be liable to a very large fine.
It is worth remembering that while some artists may earn millions of pounds most of them do not. Creating music, films and software is a commercial business and if that business does not work then the people who create the music, films and games we love will simply cease to make it.
File sharing
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While students do not have access to credit cards it does not necessarily mean they cannot purchase things online.
A micro transaction through their mobile phone is one way students can easily spend money without realising it. It is often a good idea to switch off app purchasing on children’s phones. Having accounts in your control also means that you have the control to say yes or no to a purchase.
Buying from trusted sources is also important. Some malicious websites crop up selling goods at drop down prices but are really a front for credit card thieves looking to obtain your details. These can crop up frequently around Christmas. If in doubt do not buy from the website.
Phishing scams are usually emails or messages encouraging you to log in to one of your accounts. You follow a link to what looks like a legitimate website but in truth it is a way for criminals to collect your username and password or credit card details.
While most children do not bank online or have credit cards they still may become victims of scams to get access to their mobile phone numbers or online accounts such as their iTunes account. Mobile phone numbers can be used to subscribe to paid services which are difficult to then unsubscribe from.
eCommerce
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Students may come across people on the Internet with extreme views
Some people hold extreme views on all sorts of topics from religion, to far right wing political groups, animal rights activists and extreme environmentalists.
It can be easy for these groups of people to target young vulnerable people and to pass on their extreme views.
What are the signs I should look out for?
There are a number of signs to be aware of (although a lot of them are quite common among teens). Generally parents should look out for increased instances of:
Radicalisation
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• A conviction that their religion, culture or beliefs are under threat and treated unjustly • A tendency to look for conspiracy theories and distrust of mainstream media • The need for identity and belonging • Being secretive about who they have been talking to online and what sites they visit • Switching screens when you come near the phone, tablet or computer • Possessing items – electronic devices or phones – you have not given them • Becoming emotionally volatile.
Anyone can create a website. Legitimate companies as well as scam artists and crooks. How do you know if a website is legitimate?
One way to tell is to use whois.com. They have a register of all the domain names and who bought them. It can give some indication as to the company who bought the domain.
If you think a website looks suspect then copy the URL and search for it in www.whois.com. This will tell you who owns the domain, when it was registered and the company address. If anything looks suspect then do not use that website.
Legitimate websites
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There is content on the Internet which is not appropriate for children. This is not just about pornography but also concerns images of a violent nature or the promotion of a view on the world for which your child is not ready.
There are filters that can block some of these websites but they cannot block everything.
The most effective way to deal with it is to have the computer in a family space such as the living room. Have a conversation with your child about what is appropriate and what is not. There is much on the Internet that is not appropriate for children but generally you need to go looking for it to come across such content.
Occasionally content that is not appropriate will get posted on social media or on places like You Tube. These websites have ways in which to report such content. If you find content in an inappropriate place, then report it. Do not wait for someone else to do it.
Inappropriate Content
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Keeping your child safe in school is the number one priority and e-safety is a part of that.
We have a policy which governs how we deal with safety in school.
Students have access to computer systems to assist them in their studies in school.
We have put in place filters to keep students as safe as we can. Inappropriate content found is blocked.
We monitor what students do on the computer systems and deal with inappropriate use.
We have a ban on mobile phones in school.
Our e-safety policy can be viewed online at
What we do in school
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http://itservices.tgacademy.org.uk