Article: Online safety

Social media

The good, the bad and the ugly… Social media is always changing, there are new sites being added every day, however they all carry similar risks.

Try and use these positives and negatives below as a starting point for a conversation with your young person.

Positives

Connecting with other people
Sharing positive moments
Engaging with support
Finding out news and what’s going on in the world
It is now a career! (Influencers, social media co-ordinators, etc.)
An escape from a rubbish day
Inspiration (outfits, make up, career path, how to style your bedroom … you name it!)

Making other people’s lives seem ‘perfect’, leaving us to question our own
Bullying, harassment, stalking, grooming, child sexual exploitation
Fake news
Not always a productive use of time Hackers
It can lead us to question our own body image and focus on what we perceive to ‘not have’
Easy and accessible access to harmful content
Pressure to send nude images or videos
Lack of privacy

Toolkit Download

This toolkit provides insight into the issues affecting our 9 to 12 year old children and offers practical ways to support them.

Toolkit Download

This toolkit gives you valuable insights into teenage challenges and practical ways to help.