May 2008 - Posts
UK Online centres have launched a new website aimed at teaching parents online safety, myguide. You can find your nearest UK Online centre here. Currently there are no UK Online centres here in Kent, however that doesn't mean you can't register and you the material!
Myguide is a free taster course to give anyone worried about internet safety an introduction to some of the potential pitfalls and the best ways to avoid them. The course includes basic information on computer security, protecting personal data and helping children stay safe online. Each module lasts between 5 and 30 minutes and includes step-by-step guides, tutorials and even quizzes to test your knowledge. You do need to register for an account in order to login and complete all the modules but registration for Myguide is free.
Myguide is simple and intuitive to use - it doesn't matter if you've never even touched a computer before because with myguide you can start from the beginning and most basic steps - set up and email account, search for information and even learn how to use a keyboard and mouse. Each Module can be narrated and can be repeated if necessary.
Ofcom have undertaken an audit into childrens "Media Literacy" The report can be found here
Ofcom’s definition of media literacy, was developed after consultation with stakeholders was defined as ‘the ability to access, understand and create communications in a variety of contexts’. The report considered Media Literacy both at home and at school.
Some key findings:
Access:
Children’s bedrooms are increasingly becoming 'multi-media centres' children aged 12-15 have an average of six media devices in their bedrooms and children aged 8-11 have an average of four.
Around two-thirds of children tend to watch television, listen to the radio and use the internet in a room without an adult present. Solo users account for 16% of all children aged 8-15 watching television and 14% of all children aged 8-15 using the internet.
Understanding:
Children’s trust in television programmes differs by type of programme (43% of 8-11s and 47% of 12-15s). There are higher levels of trust for news and nature programmes (over 80% for all 8-15s) than for reality television programmes (under 50% for all 8-15s).
Children claim to trust online content (59% of 8-11s and 61% of 12-15s). Howeverless than one in ten children strongly agree that they believe most of what they see on the internet; this suggests that at some level children are evaluating the content they see online.
Nearly one in ten parents with children using more than one of the platforms have no rules for any of their child’s media use, just under a third of parents use a PIN or password control to restrict their child’s television viewing. More than half of all households with internet access have no blocking software or other controls over online access; households with 8-11 year olds is 50% and those with 12-15 year olds is 43%.
Create:
Social networking sites have significantly increased children’s desire and ability to create content online and over half of 12 – 15s who have the internet at home state that they have a social networking profile.
A recent news report from BBC News worldwide stated how a 49 year old woman, Lori Drew from Missouri USA, who set up a fake Myspace Profile to cyberbully a 13 year old girl who later committed suicide, is facing criminal charges. Drew has been indicted by a federal Grand Jury for Cyberbullying and faces 1 charge of conspiracy and 3 charges of accessing protected computers without authorisation to inflict emotional distress, each carrying a maximum 5-year prison term. Drew, her teenage daughter and a third woman who worked for the Drew family, reportedly created the profile of a 16 year old boy under the fictional name of "Josh Evans" in order to taunt Megan Meier. Ms Drew denies creating the profile on the social networking website and sending messages to Megan who hanged herself after “Josh” broke off the virtual relationship in October 2006. It is alleged that Megan killed herself after receiving several messages, including one purporting to be from “Josh” saying the world would be better off without her. "After approximately four weeks of flirtatious communications between Josh Evans and [Meier], Drew and her co-conspirators broke off the relationship," the U.S. Attorney for the District of California said. "Within an hour [Meier] hanged herself in her room. She died the next day." The Los Angeles federal prosecutor, Thomas O'Brien added that "Any adult who uses the internet or a social gathering website to bully or harass another person, particularly a young teenage girl, needs to realise that their actions can have serious consequences,"
Cyber-bullying is illegal in America in approximately 10 states, and others are now considering extending their laws to address this issue due to this incident.
This is a very sad and tragic case which goes to prove you really don’t know who you are talking to on the internet. If this is happening to you or someone you know please visit speak to someone, phone Childline (0800 1111) or visit Think U Know for more information.
An announcement by the Government (See here):
"Kevin Brennan and Vernon Coaker today announced the UK Council for Child Internet Safety will launch in September 2008, six months ahead of the recommended timescale set out by Dr Tanya Byron in her report ‘Safer Children in a Digital World’.
Stakeholders, including a mixture of children’s charities and industry will today be informed about how they can join the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, which will be responsible for developing and leading a Child Internet Safety Strategy and advising Government on e-safety.
On 27th March the Government accepted all of Dr Byron’s recommendations in full and today the Government is committing to a timescale outlining the next steps which are:
• Inviting stakeholders to join the Council – 14 May
• Cross Department Action Plan - end of June 2008
• Launch of the UK Council on Child Internet Safety – September 2008
• First Child Internet Safety Summit hosted by the Prime Minister - spring 2009.
Kevin Brennan Minister for Children and young people said:
“All children deserve to take advantage of opportunities new technologies bring but parents have told us that they want support from the Government to help make sure these opportunities are beneficial to their children’s development without causing harm.We are inviting experts within industry and children’s charities to come forward and provide their expertise and advice by joining the UK Council on Child Internet Safety. By developing an e-safety strategy together, we can help children to learn and play safe online whilst at the same time supporting parents to manage new pressures they face in a modern technological world. These next steps show our commitment to acting on Dr Byron’s recommendations with the same pace and strength that they were set out. By engaging across Government and industry we will provide a robust and coherent strategy within the outlined timeframe.”
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:
“The Home Secretary’s Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet has made fantastic progress in bringing together law enforcement agencies, children’s groups and the internet industry to ensure that the web is as safe as possible. The UK Council for Child Internet Safety will build on this progress and the recommendations made by Dr Tanya Bryon. The internet is a great tool which offers many opportunities and it’s up to all of us to work together to make sure young people get the most out of it and stay safe online.”
Culture Minister Margaret Hodge said:
“In a few short years the internet has become a huge part of our cultural lives, opening up a world of opportunity for young people to access culture, increase their knowledge or simply be entertained. The freedom the internet brings must be balanced by appropriate safeguards, and this key recommendation from Dr Byron's landmark report will help children and parents safely enjoy the wealth of benefits that the internet can offer.”
Do you think the Government's plan is sufficent? What do you think the Council should focus on with regards to internet and e-Safety?
Please post any views you have here!
Press Release from CEOP today:
"Hector's World is available at www.thinkuknow.co.uk/hectorsworld
Children as young as five years old are the focus of a new online safety programme being launched today, Thursday 8th May 2008, by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.
OFCOM research indicates that 59% of 5-7 year olds access the internet at home and that 21% do so unsupervised. Now building on the success of the organisation's Thinkuknow education initiative, which has already reached over 1.7 million children and young people between the ages of 8-16 years, the UK's Centre for tackling the sexual abuse of children is now reaching out to parents of much younger children with vital 'safety first' advice.
Hector's WorldTM comprises five state-of-the-art, animated episodes. It takes children on a journey with Hector and his friends as they explore issues such as personal information, trustworthiness, making positive choices online and how to be open with a trusted adult when they use the internet.
The animation has been adapted for a young UK audience following successful running of the programme in New Zealand and is backed up by a series of free resources available to parents and teachers via the dedicated CEOP education website - thinkuknow.co.uk. All materials have been developed in consultation with Becta and with teachers.
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the CEOP Centre and holds the ACPO lead for child protection in the UK made the following statement
"We know that children are now using the internet at an increasingly young age. Recent research, coupled with feedback from our own youth panel and our work with parents, show that children are exploring the online world from as young as five years old. Teachers have asked us for this material because it is never too early to start giving children 'safety first' messages: in the same way that we teach small children to cross the road safely, there is a need to ensure that young children learn good habits for a future life online. If we give them early lessons in a way that is engaging, relevant and fun, we can help to safeguard young children online not only now but well into the future. We are delighted that working in partnership with New Zealand’s internet safety group, NetSafe, has enabled us to bring the inspirational and engaging characters from Hector’s WorldTM to UK children. We hope that every primary school in the UK will open its doors to Hector’s World for the benefit of all 5-7 year old students.”
Liz Butterfield is Managing Director of Hectors WorldTM – a charitable subsidiary of NetSafe concured by stating:
“Learning how to protect your personal information online is a fundamental skill for children today, especially considering the downward trend in the age children first access the internet. Hectors World offers the ‘building blocks’ of the skills and values children will need online”.
Niel McLean, Executive Director of Institutional Workforce and Development at Becta said:
“We face a careful balancing act when it comes to young people online – no matter what their age. We should definitely encourage their enthusiasm to embrace the opportunities the internet offers but we must also ensure that they explore and develop their skills in a safe way. CEOP’s Hector’s World programme is a welcome addition to the support and guidance surrounding e-safety that is currently available to parents, carers and teachers. It’s vital that the work to educate children about the benefits of technology continues with innovative and engaging schemes such as this."
The resources include lesson plans for teachers, Songsheets, Colouring pages, Posters, Puzzles and a downloadable "Hector's World Safety Button" that can be installed on computers for children to click on that covers the screen whilst the ask an adult for help if they experience something on the internet that makes them feel scared or worried. To access lesson plans and resources register on the Think U Know Teachers area.