At Unique Academy, online safety (e-safety) is a top priority. We teach e-safety to all students to equip them with the knowledge and awareness to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

Open communication is key. Here are some points to discuss with your child:

• Reporting and Blocking: How to block and report inappropriate users or content they encounter online.
• Seeking Help: The importance of talking to a trusted adult, like you or a teacher, if they ever feel worried, upset, or uncomfortable online.

Understanding Apps Before They Do

Before your child uses an app, take some time to understand how it works. Here are some key questions to consider:

• Does the app allow video chat or image sharing?
• Can users communicate with strangers?
• Does it allow anonymous chat?
• Are in-app purchases possible?
• Can you restrict your child’s shared content?
• How does the app handle personal data?

Age Limits and App Suitability

• Age restrictions within app stores are not always a guarantee of appropriate content.
• The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) applies to any website, app, or online service that collects, stores, or uses children’s personal information. This often leads to a 13+ age limit.
• Some apps are designed for adults (18+) and may contain unsuitable content or expose children to strangers.

If children use apps that are aimed at an older age group, then this may leave them vulnerable to being exposed to unsuitable content (including advertising), as well as being contacted by strangers.

Setting Ground Rules and Using Parental Controls

• Consider creating a family agreement that outlines internet usage guidelines, including supervision and screen time limits.
• Resources like Childnet and NSPCC can help you draft this agreement.
• Implement appropriate parental controls on all devices your child uses.
• For more information on parental controls, visit Safer Internet Centre and Internet Matters.

Unique Academy is here to help. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s online safety, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Additional Resources

Here are some helpful websites for further information on e-safety:

https://parentzone.org.uk/library

https://parentzone.org.uk/our-products

https://parentzone.org.uk/newsletters

www.internetmatters.org

www.nationalonlinesafety.com

www.thinkuknow.co.uk

www.net-aware.org.uk

https://masteroflegalstudies.com/resources/ensuring-childrens-digital-privacy/