Digital ISSUE 5 Parenting A parent’s guide to gaming

Coping with online peer pressure

PLUS Advice on cyber crime, bullying, social media, and more What is digital resilience? And why is it so important to your child’s future? Vodafone Power to you Online magazine An online version of this issue of Welcome Digital Parenting is available on our website. It’s perfect if you want to pass on the information Welcome to the ifth edition inside to family and friends but of Digital Parenting magazine. don’t want to part with your own Today, families use a whole copy. It also includes live web range of different devices that links to the other sites mentioned in the magazine. You can read it allow us to get online almost online, print individual articles anywhere, at any time, and communicate with and download it as a PDF. almost anyone using social media. vodafone.com/digitalparenting As parents, we have always had a key role in helping our children build resilience as they grow – and this is as true in the online world as in the ofline. Digital resilience allows children and young people to beneit from the exciting opportunities the internet has to offer while also being aware of how to stay safe when using it, and what to do if something goes wrong. How to teach your child digital resilience Please use this new edition of Digital Parenting 14 to begin a conversation and share knowledge In this issue with your family as you explore the digital world together. 04 How to talk to your kids; Just 24 Protect your family from cyber crime It’s an exciting place to be and we can all do say PANTS! our bit to help the next generation navigate it 26 Online peer pressure: how to help 06 How NOT to embarrass your child your child cope Published by Vodafone UK safely and make the most of all it has to give. on social media ©Vodafone 2016 28 Why I love… Instagram, Snapchat Paul Morris, Head of Government Affairs & 08 Who are the Stemettes? and YouTube For Parent Zone Sustainability, Vodafone UK Editor Eleanor Levy 10 Discover the Scouts’ Digital 30 Digital health & safety tips Commissioning Editors Manifesto Rachel Rosen, Gary Crossing For more parenting advice and inspiration visit 32 How to be a digital role model vodafone.com/parents Parenting Advisor Vicki Shotbolt 12 Minister of State for Vulnerable parentzone.org.uk Children and Families, Ed Timpson MP, 34 Digital kids: advice on managing on the internet and children in care screen time For Vodafone Editor Paul Morris 14 Promoting digital resilience 36 A parent’s guide to gaming Corporate Sustainability Manager Isobel Kenyon 16 Selies vs sexting: when do teens 38 Meet the parent bloggers Supported by the Vodafone break the law? Foundation (charity no. 1089625) 39 Tools and settings vodafone.co.uk 18 Managing your family’s tech Thanks to our many contributors who 46 PEGI game ratings For Sunday have provided expert advice and help for 20 Meet Vodafone’s Helen Lamprell Editor James Doorne this issue of Digital Parenting, including: 47 How conident are you online? Account Director Gill Tait NSPCC; The Diana Award; The Internet 22 Apps for under 10s Take the quiz Creative Director Matt Beaven Watch Foundation; Place2Be; Childnet; Managing Director Toby Smeeton and Parent Info. For a full list of experts We do our best to make sure that the information in your magazine is correct, but sometimes things change after it’s printed. Vodafone Limited. Registered off ice: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN.

wearesunday.com Cover image: Rex Features. This page and opposite: Getty Images and contributors, turn to page 47. Registered no. 1471587. Published by Sunday Publishing Limited. wearesunday.com

vodafone.com/parents 3 Need to know

and Year 9 in secondary school Apps that – things can become more can help complicated. There are big Join thousands of differences between individuals Vodafone at this time, with some maturing Broadband faster than others. Some will parents talking PANTS Android/iOS take more risks than others, (Free). Vodafone Home so it is important to be alert to Broadband customers what your child does online. Understandably, some parents ind it hard to talk to their children about online sexual can set up a family As the child moves into abuse. The key to dificult conversations like this is to take your ofline parenting skills network to control who adolescence, the degree and online and adapt the advice you would feel most comfortable giving about the ‘real’ uses broadband and type of monitoring will have to world to the virtual one. Having a conversation about sexual abuse will never be easy, when. It can be used to evolve again as there will come but we at Digital Parenting think the NSPCC’s PANTS rule is a great way to start. tailor access for each a point when your child can ind Whether the person making them feel uncomfortable is in the real world, family member, a way around any restrictions or on the end of a webcam, these tips can help. including when children imposed by their parents. At this can go online. Find out stage, negotiations and shared more on page 40 decision-making become more effective than rigid rules. Flipd Keeping your child safe is much Android/ more about the relationship iOS (Free). you have than using technology This hides distracting to put on blocks and ilters. social media apps and It’s also worth remembering games on your child’s ou often read that it’s that your digital use is a model device for a period of good to talk to your child for your child’s. If you check for time of your choice so Yabout what they do in the emails or social media posts all Privates No means no Speak up, they can stay focused “There’s no online world, but what does that the time, your child is likely to are private Always remember Your child has Talk about secrets someone and uninterrupted, but mean? How do you talk to a do the same. It’s also a good Be clear with your body the right to say that upset you can help are still able to look up child who seems to know more idea to ensure that your family your child that belongs to you ‘no’ – even to a Help your child feel If your child is information online than you do – and who probably has a time when screens are not anything covered Explain to your family member or conident enough sad, anxious for homework. substitute doesn’t want to talk to you? in use. The more parents do by underwear is child that their body someone they love. to speak up about or frightened, It’s important to remember things with their child that don’t private, and no one belongs to them, This shows that secrets that they’re they should talk Glued that any conversation has to be involve the digital world, the should ask to see and no one has the they’re in control worried about. to an adult they Coming soon appropriate for your child’s age. easier it will be to communicate or touch these parts right to do anything of their body and Reassure them trust. That person on Android/ for talking” You need to adapt your with them about their life online. of the body. Explain that makes them their feelings that they won’t doesn’t have to be iOS (Free). Designed by strategy as they grow older and that sometimes feel uncomfortable. are respected. get into trouble. a parent or family parents frustrated at the become more independent. Parents and Digital people – such as If anyone tries, Secrets shouldn’t member – it can amount of time their son Parents are frequently told how important Younger children need more Technology: How to Raise family members they should tell be kept in exchange be a teacher or spent online, Glued helps it is to talk to their children. But how? structure and guidance as to The Connected Generation at bath-time or a trusted adult. for something, and a friend’s parent, families reduce screen Psychologist Dr John Coleman explains what is safe. But with older by Suzie Hayman and John doctors or nurses should never make or it can even be time by rewarding those children – say between the last Coleman is available now, – may need to your child uneasy. Childline. Their who abstain with points, year or two of primary school published by Routledge touch their private phone number like a digital version of parts. But let your is 0800 1111. a real world star chart. child know that Three main rules to keep in mind when talking to your child about staying safe online these people (Both Flipd and Glued should always ask are free but offer in-app 1) Listening is as want to hear what they have words. The better the example just about the things if it’s OK irst. purchases ranging from important as talking to say, you’ll be surprised by you set and the more you let that have gone wrong £0.79 to £4.99. To ind Many adults believe that how much they will tell you. your child know that you value Focus as much on the good out more about in-app communication involves telling them and will support them, the things that are happening as What is PANTS? purchases see page 23.) the child something, or seeking 2) Actions can speak better communication will be. on nagging about the bad. It will Talking PANTS is a simple way to help keep children safe from abuse. The PANTS acronym teaches information. However, it should louder than words make it easier to keep in touch children that they have a right to say no, and that they should tell an adult if something upsets or be a two-way street. If you let This has to do with wider aspects 3) Communication should with what’s really happening to concerns them. If your child says something that worries you, talk to a teacher or contact the

your child know that you really of communication, not just be about positive things, not your child when they go online. Getty Images NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.

4 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 5 Need to know

How NOT to #4 Chatting with Want to know more your child’s friends about social media? embarrass on social media You’ll ind useful guides on how to keep your child safe on social media sites on Parent Info, a free service for parents your child on Parent Info has produced up-to-date #5 Posting a selie guides for parents that explain the from your child’s messy social media sites and apps that bedroom to shame them children and young people love. social media into tidying their room The free guides cover familiar names such as Snapchat and #1 Boasting about your Parents used to make their children cringe by Instagram, as well as apps that family on social media getting out the baby photos. But now there’s parents might not yet know about, where your children (and a whole new world of ways to mortify your #6 Using such as ooVoo, Musical.ly and kids. Here are some pitfalls you need to avoid YouNow. You’ll also ind expert their friends) can see it online slang information on popular games such Words: Gary Crossing as Minecraft and Pokémon Go. incorrectly The guides include information #2 Communicating #3 Posting embarrassing about how old your child should be with your child via their photos online – and sharing to use the services, how to help Facebook wall. Writing, cringeworthy photos of them set safety and privacy settings, “Would you like Angel yourselves on your child’s #7 Looking up your and how to report issues if Delight for tea, Chuckle Facebook timeline something goes wrong. Cheeks?” for all their online child’s girlfriend Parent Info is a collaboration friends to see will not go or boyfriend on between Parent Zone and CEOP, the down well. And neither child protection branch of the will liking everything Facebook and liking National Crime Agency. Schools can they post and making one of their posts sign up to run its expert content free inappropriate or ‘funny’ on their own website, and parents comments on their status. before you’ve can view the content for free at even met them parentinfo.org. Illustration: Parko Polo Parko Illustration:

Digital Parenting’sguide to social media dos and deinitely, deinitely don’ts This guide is sourced from the community rules and guidelines of the following platforms: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Always use Always Be thoughtful Behave Keep your Respect No abusive No graphically Don’t offer Don’t break No spamming, Don’t post Don’t post Don’t invade Don’t pretend No trolling – privacy think before whenever respectfully account and intellectual behaviour, nude or sexual the law – don’t and no videos that content that the privacy of to be someone deliberately settings you post posting towards personal property violent pornographic services, support deceptive or encourage promotes others by you’re not goading content that others online information rights – threats, pictures irearms or terrorism, fraudulent others to do or gloriies taking and someone involves – respect their secure copyrights, bullying, illegal or organised links things that self-harm posting into a strong a minor rights to have trademarks harassment prescription crime, or might cause photos reaction views and and other or hate speech drugs hate groups them to get without their opinions legal rights badly hurt knowledge

6 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 7 Need to know

“If your child struggles with communication, they might ind it easier to socialise online” Life online presents different challenges for children with special needs. By Cerebra, the UK charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with neurological conditions

connected longer than you would other children. As a parent you should judge what’s best for your child and adapt the rules accordingly. Encourage your child 2 to question what they read online. This is even more important for children who know that they’ve been diagnosed with a medical The Stemettes hard at “The condition. At some point, work at a recent session residential they will probably want to go

programme is Getty Images online to ind out more, and like Big Brother could discover information meets Dragons’ he internet can But going online does that is either upsetting, just Den meets The be fantastic for have its risks. Access to plain wrong, or both. Apprentice” T children with technology means potential Remind your child not Jobs for the girls learning disabilities and exposure to online bullying, 3 to share anything too autism. Safety is the main grooming and inappropriate personal. Children with concern for all parents, but content. These are risks for learning dificulties can The Stemettes of encouraging more girls to “For many of them, it’s getting • Vodafone has joined meets The Apprentice” – for girls it’s just as important to help all children who go online, sometimes be more trusting are inspiring young consider studying STEM subjects. the feeling that this really could with BT, Ericsson and O2 to develop ideas for start-ups. your child get the most from but sometimes those with of strangers than other “The way that science and be for them and they don’t have to promote STEM subjects One of the ideas, an app that can the digital world. learning disabilities need children are. Encourage women to break into maths are taught is all about to think of STEM subjects as just to girls. The Step Into be used to record harassment in For example, if your child a bit of extra help, support them to use a nickname the tech industry the facts,” says Anne-Marie. for boys,” Anne-Marie says. STEM mentoring scheme the streets, has been featured in has dificulty communicating and guidance to enjoy the online and to come to Words: Geraldine Bedell “There’s not much emphasis on Anne-Marie already had two was launched in schools women’s magazine Grazia. in the ofline world, they may internet safely. So it’s best to you if anyone asks for how incredibly creative STEM GCSEs, in maths and information in early 2016. Girls aged 15 and over can ind it easier to socialise discuss some strategies for information, like their any of the best-paying subjects can be.” technology, by the age of 10. • For a full list of STEM apply for Stemettes’ intensive online, where instantly staying safe before your child phone number or where jobs of the future will be Stemettes run a range of She was the youngest girl ever events nationally, see mentoring programme, which recognisable emoticons starts going online regularly. they go to school. M in STEM professions – events, talks, visits and mentoring to pass A-level computing, at the stemettes.org/events offers introductions, work like ‘happy’ and ‘sad’ can Cerebra’s website can science, technology, engineering programmes, with activities for age of 11, and had a graduate experience and help creating replace the need to decode Parents might want to: give you more information and maths. Yet fewer girls than girls aged from ive to 21. degree from Oxford at the age a CV. There are also activities body language and facial Set ground rules about about online communities boys choose STEM subjects at “Everything we do is built of 20. But her argument is that for younger girls. The overall expressions. The internet can 1when and for how long and technology that works school – even though those who around three things: it’s free, you don’t have to be – and aim is to improve awareness, also be a valuable educational your child can be online. for children with autism do could go on to earn up to 30 it’s fun, and there’s food,” shouldn’t have to be – a child perception, knowledge, resource, especially for If the internet is their main and learning disabilities. per cent more than if they only Anne-Marie explains. prodigy to be a woman who conidence and networks. children who take longer form of communication, For more information visit had GCSE-level qualiications*. At one recent ‘hackathon’ works in a prestigious STEM- “Even if girls have been put to learn new things. you may allow them to stay w3.cerebra.org.uk. Maths and computer science- (where girls get together to solve related profession. off STEM subjects at school, it’s graduate Anne-Marie Imaidon problems using tech), 40 per cent During the summer, Stemettes not too late to get interested,”

(inset, above) wants that to of the girls had never done any run a residential programme – /government/news/science-and-maths-send-girls-future-wages-soaring says Anne-Marie. “There are Check out our tools section on page 39, to ind information on the parental controls and safety change. And so, in 2013, she coding before, but left with a new which Anne-Marie describes as many ways into STEM careers – settings you can set up to help protect your child. gov.uk

founded Stemettes, with the aim understanding and conidence. “Big Brother meets Dragons’ Den * and it really can be fun.”

8 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 9 Need to know

The Scouts’ Digital Manifesto Using tech to enjoy proudly supported by Vodafone “It’s important to stay grounded in Use digital to learn and the great outdoors the real world” 1embrace new skills Learn about constellations and how they can be used YouTube star in navigation alongside GPS Do you worry that your child spends too much time on social media Alie Deyes or watching YouTube videos? A new initiative from the Scouts helps switched-on youngsters use digital to get more from their ofline life Share Words: Gary Crossing Know 2your 3 when to he Scouts’ Digital Alex Peace-Gadsby, Senior Chief Scout and TV adventures switch off Manifesto consists Scout Volunteer, says, “As a survival expert Bear Grylls digitally and Balance your of six clear, concise parent of two girls, both of is also a fan of the Digital inspire others screen time with rules (see right) to whom are members of the Manifesto: “This will Create a video of outdoor activities T your outdoor encourage young people to Scout Movement, and as a encourage hundreds of use digital technology to volunteer myself, I know the thousands of young people adventures and share on YouTube complement their ofline life importance of preparing to develop a range of key Use in a safe, creative, responsible young people for life. digital skills, empowering digital to way – for example, videoing “The Digital Manifesto them to have even greater 5 an outdoor adventure and outlines the importance of adventures as well as helping be creative Use digital Make an animation uploading it to YouTube. embracing new skills and them to stay safe online. skills to to promote As part of the Scouts’ using digital in a balanced “Scouting is a worldwide 4 Scouting long-term partnership and positive way. force for good and, with support your with Vodafone, the Digital “Our ‘Digital Maker’ and Vodafone’s help, our young family and Manifesto sits alongside the ‘Digital Citizen’ badges are people will have the chance Alife’s at community Scouts’ new ‘Digital Maker’ hugely popular and have to use technology to make home in Teach someone Stay safe and ‘Digital Citizen’ staged- already been completed even more of a difference in the online how to make and and ofline receive a video call 6 online activity badges, launched by over 30,000 members their communities while also worlds and know in January 2016. across the UK.” getting outdoors and active.” the risks Never share Big Deyes Out Apps that can help young people enjoy their ofline life personal details with strangers YouTube star Alie Deyes might have made his name online but Reach for the stars means of pinpointing simple advice, it’s never he was happy to support the SkyView Free Point your your exact location on been easier to learn irst Vodafone’s Scouts’ Digital Manifesto at device at the sky to the map, anywhere in aid. (Free. Age 4+ on iOS; Jeroen a camp at Gilwell Park, in the identify stars, satellites, Great Britain. Comes with and PEGI 3 on Android.) Hoencamp Essex countryside. constellations and more. a built-in GPS system. with Chief Scout Bear More than 5 million young (Free. Age 4+ on iOS; and (Free. Age 4+ on iOS; and Treasure hunt Grylls people subscribe to Alie’s PEGI 3 on Android.) unrated on Android.) Geocaching is the PointlessBlog channel on world’s largest treasure YouTube and he has a huge and Map reading Safe and sound hunt. Download the app enthusiastic following on social OS Locate Make the First Aid by British and begin thousands of media. But he understands the most of your adventures Red Cross Know what to great treasure hunts importance of balance. in the great outdoors. do in an emergency with across the UK. (Free. Age After an energetic day, he told Used with an Ordnance the British Red Cross’ 4+ on iOS; and parental Time for his fellow adventurers: “I really Survey map, OS Locate is oficial irst aid app. With guidance recommended a selie enjoyed taking a break from a fast and highly accurate videos, quizzes and on Android.) with some very happy everything. It’s deinitely Scouts important to stay grounded App age ratings explained in the real world.” For information on app age ratings, turn to page 46.

10 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 11 Need to know

You are a father to Sam, Elizabeth and Lydia. What tech rules do you follow at home? I try to practise what I preach but, as parents know, it is often a war of attrition in which your children ind boundless energy to try to make you cave in. Rather than taking a negative approach, I ind that offering alternatives, like creative activities and games, can move the children’s attention away from staring at a screen. Ultimately, it’s like everything else in life – you need moderation and perspective, although I appreciate and know from experience that’s easier said than done. However, the rewards are deinitely worth it.

While you were growing up, your Keeping pupils safe online: parents fostered nearly 90 children. What do you think you the teacher’s view gained as a parent from being We asked Catherine Goodwin, assistant head teacher and raised in that environment? safeguarding lead at St Ignatius College, Enield, how parents “I wouldn’t be children’s minister I wouldn’t be children’s minister today can help children deal with problems created by the internet if my parents hadn’t fostered. Although at the start it felt more like It’s illogical, but parents who Show an interest in their digital today if my parents hadn’t fostered” I was in a competition with the foster 1quite often won’t let their children 4 habits and encourage them to children for my parents’ affection, out on their own will buy them a tell you what apps they use or groups as I grew older and the age gap phone or a tablet and have no idea they belong to. If a child is very Edward Timpson, Minister of State for Vulnerable Children protect children from accessing widened, I started to take on more what they are looking at on them. reluctant to show a parent what’s and Families, grew up alongside 90 children his parents harmful material online. However, no of a caring role, learning to change The apps young people use are on their phone, trust your instinct. iltering and monitoring system can nappies, do the late-night feed and 2 always changing, and it’s You need to talk to them about fostered. He tells Digital Parenting about the challenges be 100 per cent effective and children look after them at school. In many dificult to keep up with them. Take 5 what they are looking at. That’s the internet creates for children in care, plus what the will be accessing social media from ways I was a grandparent before WhatsApp, for example. Children the most important thing you can do. government is doing to help keep children safe online their own mobile phones, tablets and becoming a parent. can add people they’ve never met to Be honest and direct with them. laptops, and at home. In the same way that the internet their WhatsApp group – hundreds And emphasise that it’s for their Words: Eleanor Levy 6 Therefore, education about how can be a threat as well as a fantastic of children they don’t necessarily safety and their beneit that you’re to stay safe, particularly online, is resource for other children, it’s no know – and have no idea what these taking an interest. n your role as minister of state and beneit from new technology, very important and we have changed different for those who ind people will do with a message or Make sure that they know what for children and families, what unrestricted and unmonitored use the emphasis in the revised KCSIE themselves in care. Where it can cause picture after they’ve sent it. Parents 7 to do if they get themselves are you and the government can be unsafe. It leaves them guidance so that schools should additional challenges is around should try to monitor the WhatsApp into trouble online. doing to help keep children vulnerable to activities such as ensure that children are taught about cyberbullying, exploitation and the conversations that their child is Sometimes, young people get safe online? grooming and sexual exploitation and this in an age-appropriate way. undermining of their placement. having and who they are speaking to. 8 into situations they think no one IMy department produces statutory increases the chances of them viewing I know many foster carers ind this Ask if you can look at your else has ever been in, and they’re guidance called Keeping Children unsuitable and harmful material. tough to deal with. It’s why the work 3 child’s phone occasionally so too embarrassed to tell anyone. Safe in Education (KCSIE). Schools We recently consulted on changes we are doing in government to you can check messages, WhatsApp So let them know they can tell you and colleges must have regard to to ensure that KCSIE remains relevant “I try to practise what I improve the educational support for conversations, photos and videos anything. And, however shocked this guidance when carrying out and effective, and it now includes an preach but, as parents know, children in care – to strengthen their taken. This should be part of a you are, you can’t show it. their duties to safeguard and online-safety section for the irst time. it is often a war of attrition resilience and self-esteem, as well as contract between you and them For advice on where to report any promote the welfare of children. This includes a requirement for in which your children ind their academic attainment – is so when you buy them a phone or problems your child encounters While we want children and schools and colleges to have iltering boundless energy to try to important. When you put children irst, credit for their phone. online, go to page 44.

young people to be able to enjoy and monitoring systems in place to make you cave in” Features Rex you can’t go far wrong.

12 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 13 Digital resilience

The importance of teaching young people What is digital how to Be Strong Online By Katie Collett, The Diana resilience, Award Anti-Bullying Campaign he Diana Award is a charity Twhose mission is to inspire and recognise social action in young and why is it people, and our programmes encourage resilience among young people online and ofline. From The Diana Award Anti-Bullying Ambassador Programme – which so important builds young people’s conidence and resilience by giving them practical skills to tackle bullying – to our Mentoring Programme – which to your child’s helps to build resilience in the most hard-to-reach young people across the UK and Ireland – we aim to empower young people to fulil their potential. future? Our Be Strong Online Ambassador Programme, created in partnership with Vodafone and in conjunction with The internet is here to stay – so, as parents, we need Parent Zone, takes a student-led to teach our children how to navigate it safely. Vicki approach to building digital resilience. Shotbolt, CEO of Parent Zone and executive board These free resources give young member of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, people tools to deliver digital skills sessions to their peers on topics such explains how to teach your child digital resilience as digital footprint, social media, peer pressure and critical thinking online. These sessions empower students t’s not a great word: resilience. Thankfully, digital resilience is easier What is ‘good-enough parenting’? the online world and that they can to help each other navigate the online You’ll probably never overhear to acquire than you may think. Put simply, a ‘good-enough’ parent “When we talk about a come to you if they have a problem. world safely, and develop their public a parent at the school gates is consistent and responsive. They child’s ‘digital resilience’, When they were younger, you speaking, conidence, leadership and saying how pleased they are Resilient children are less likely always aim to do their best for their we’re talking about their taught your child how to cross roads teamwork skills. with their child’s resilience. to experience harm child, while recognising that perfect ability to cope with setbacks safely – you didn’t wait until someone To ind out more about Be Strong And your teenager is unlikely to How can you ensure your child has the parenting isn’t realistic or achievable. and to bounce back from made the roads 100 per cent safe, Online, and how your child’s school Itweet about how resilient they feel resilience to enjoy life online and avoid In terms of digital resilience, because that was never going to can get involved, please visit vodafone. today. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t the pitfalls? A couple of years ago, a ‘good-enough parent’ equips their something dificult” happen. Likewise, the internet will com/bestrong. hugely important, and something Parent Zone worked with the Oxford child with the skills needed to be able never be completely risk-free. This year the Vodafone Foundation that all of us should want to develop. Internet Institute (OII) to ind out if to take care of themselves. It’s about But the answer isn’t to keep your supported and sponsored The Diana Because when we talk about a child’s digital resilience really mattered, and adapting what you already do to keep children need us to tell them when child away from it. If you rely on ilters Award’s Stand Up To Bullying campaign ‘digital resilience’, we’re really talking how children were able to acquire it. them safe and lourishing ofline to it’s been too long or too much. Of and parental controls, there is a because it is committed to about their ability to cope with First, we found that resilience was work in the online world. course, you’ll relax some rules as chance you may make your child less encouraging and empowering young setbacks and bounce back when they very important: resilient children are your child grows older, and there safe. The irst time they go online people to build resilience to give them experience something dificult online. more likely to enjoy the beneits of The beneit of boundaries will be days when you bend them a outside of your walled environment, the skills they will need to lead a A resilient child is able to navigate the internet and less likely to Setting boundaries is important in little – but rules are critical in a digital they could ind they don’t have the healthy digital life. successfully the online world’s experience harm. And second, we the digital world. Children need them world because managing technology skills to navigate potential problems To ind out more about Stand Up potential risks. They have developed found that digital resilience is built by because they feel more secure if they use can be tough. and to make positive decisions. So to Bullying Day, and next year’s their own sense of right and wrong, ‘good-enough parenting’ and by know what they can and can’t do. Finally, digital resilience is about it’s important to teach them how to campaign, please visit and have the skills to make positive children having digital skills and a We’ve all had trouble putting down letting children explore, knowing that be safe online, then have the standuptobullying.co.uk.

decisions about their life online. positive attitude to technology. our devices, so it’s easy to see why Getty Images you’ve taught them how to navigate conidence to let them go it alone.

14 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 15 Staying safe

The law If you’re under 18, it’s illegal to share an ‘indecent’ picture of yourself, When sharing becomes shaming or to look at or share someone controlled is no longer the else’s. CEOP (formerly the Child One in 14 young people aged 11-16 have shared answer. We need to reassure Exploitation and Online Protection a nude selie**. But what if the person they trusted Selies vs sexting them, look at prevention and Centre) has produced ilms to with the image then passes it on to someone else? seek to support those affected. help parents understand this Childnet International looks at what parents can We can give them the tools subject. Find them at do to protect their child that make them emotionally vodafone.uk/CEOP selie more resilient and intelligent. Viral videos, memes videos, and make sure noun After all, it’s not a fad that is just and images spread they know they can �sel.i/ going to disappear. from person to person turn to you if anything Some schools and organisations with a simple ‘like’ or worries them. INFORMAL A photograph that are simply not sharing information In other words, the police will ‘share’, creating a fun Try to encourage them you take of yourself, usually because they’re concerned about sometimes decide that, in their and fast-paced digital to report sexual images with a mobile phone. Selies their reputation or reports of professional judgement, further experience. But imagine they see online [see are often published criminalisation of young people. It’s action isn’t in the best interests of the fear and humiliation page 44 for how to do using social media been said before, but we should the public and the people involved. you would feel if you this] and to involve you, start talking more freely again. This should provide some discovered that it was or a teacher if it concerns A young girl who shares a topless reassurance that children won’t your nude selie that was a pupil at their school. selie via Snapchat may not have be unnecessarily criminalised and spreading among your Also, challenge been coerced into doing so, but she that the police will apply careful friends and throughout attitudes that blame might be displaying worrying consideration when deciding what your school community victims. You could use an patterns of sexualised behaviour for action to take. via social media and example of an incident other reasons. We should always As parents, we need to get messaging apps. involving a celebrity and think ‘child irst’. Has she been a digital – understand the technology, This type of online discuss why people victim of neglect or sexual abuse? Is learn how it works and start to close sexual harassment can might have a more sexting this more than just exploring the knowledge gap. Most of us will have a huge impact on a negative attitude noun sexuality and experimentation? never be one step ahead of our young person’s towards the person in What about a teen boy who children, but saying “I don’t do social wellbeing in both the the picture rather than �sekst.iŋ/ pretends to be someone else to media” will mean that you miss short and long term. the person who shared it. The activity of sending get explicit images from a girl he opportunities to connect with your This so-called ‘revenge text messages that are likes? Months later, his browsing children and keep them safe. porn’ is against the law, And if the worst about sex or intended history shows he has been Becoming ‘media mums’ and ‘digital as it is illegal to take, does happen… to sexually excite accessing questionable content. dads’ is a step in the right direction. distribute or download Stay calm and act someone Should we consider him a victim Don’t wait for schools or the indecent images of quickly. You may feel or an offender? police to deliver their ‘eSafety’ people under the age shocked, upset, The Home Ofice’s National Crime lessons. The majority of children I of 18. And there are disappointed or angry, Recording Standard is clear: where speak to professionally (as well as further laws that protect but it’s important to be Six out of 10 teenagers elies seem to be Our children need to grow, be any notiiable offence is reported to my own) switch off as soon as they people from harassment supportive. say they have been asked everywhere nowadays. allowed to make mistakes and police, it must be recorded. The hear the term ‘eSafety’. and abuse online, Save the evidence, for sexual images or And with so many of the learn from them issue of investigation, and to what including new legislation report to the relevant videos*. But when does younger generation With headlines claiming that a whole extent, must be down to some very Take responsibility and consider that came into force in social media service and S seemingly happy to send generation is being criminalised, careful considerations, not least by staying safe online a much- the UK in 2015. report to police. If the sharing selies turn into pictures and often inappropriate parents, teachers and police need applying common sense. needed life skill incident happened at a criminal offence? content to each other, should it really to strike a balance. We need to Once a crime is reported and Start the conversation at home What you can do to school, encourage staff come as such a big surprise that understand what the law says, what recorded, it’s designated an before you give your child a device, protect your child to seek support from the As police guidance to nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/sexting/ occasionally something goes wrong? the risks are and how we educate our ** outcome number. Outcome 21 and continue talking to them, just Talk to them regularly UK Safer Internet schools on the matter Children haven’t changed. Although children. And we must be careful not has had a lot of attention in regards like you would when teaching about the potential Centre’s helpline for changes, Sharon Herbert, we didn’t have smartphones when to drive necessary reporting and to sexting, but it’s not that new. It them any other life skill. consequences of professionals: schools and youth we were going through puberty, we investigation underground for fear says: ‘Further investigation, Parents shouldn’t leave this sending and sharing saferinternet.org.uk/ engagement oficer at still said things that we shouldn’t that mistakes made during childhood resulting from a crime report, challenge to the professionals, but if sexual images and helpline have said and didn’t really understand. could be dragged up in adult life. which could provide evidence your child is ever forced or coerced /news/uk-24539514; /news/uk-24539514; City of London Police and We explored our sexuality and Telling already vulnerable children suficient to support formal action to ‘sext’ (even by another child), mum of two, examines pushed boundaries, just like every that when an indecent image has being taken against the suspect is remember that you should report Find out more bbc.co.uk * a very modern problem other generation does. gone, it’s gone, and it can’t be Getty Images not in the public interest.’ it immediately to your local police. To learn more about reporting, see page 44.

16 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 17 Digital families

CHRIS Adjusting controls as children grow Nottingham Dad to Izzy, 11, Smartphones, tablets, games consoles, apps and computers all have tools to control Our and Ruby, four what your child sees. But no one tool can work all the time. Use a range of strategies, including supervision, regular conversations and taking an interest in their digital life We own… By Internet Matters “A Mac, two laptops, an iPad, a Hudl tablet, shouldn’t. The stumble across family’s two iPhones and an iPod Touch.” simplest way is inappropriate to use parental content, but Our rules are… controls. There tools alone can’t “We don’t use parental controls and will be settings guarantee they that seems to work at the moment. Pre-schoolers you can choose Young children won’t see things tech Our rules are a bit vague. One day (0-5) on your home (6-10) they shouldn’t. we’ll say, ‘You’ve been on there too A recent survey broadband, your At this age your Talk to your child We spoke to three parents long, get off now and get outdoors.’ showed that two phone and your child may use the about what they about their family’s tech – Then the next day it’s raining and we’ll thirds of children tablet, which let internet without see online and let them stay on longer because it’s between one and you control the supervision – for ask them about how they use it, how they convenient. We don’t allow them to three years old type of content example, when their concerns. take their tablets to bed though.” know how to use a your children can doing homework. Most apps have control it, and what their tablet. As the irst access online. You So it’s a good time age restrictions, biggest challenges are Our worries… device your child can also ensure to set rules about and you should “My biggest fear is that they stumble uses is likely to be they don’t access their online use. make sure that Words: Gary Crossing across sexual imagery and, being yours, it’s crucial inappropriate Child-friendly your child only young girls, they then think that’s that you make content stored search engines downloads how women should be and how they sure they don’t on your device such as Swiggle, age-appropriate should act. I want them to be two accidentally or make in-app Kids Search and ones. (Find out strong girls. I don’t want them stumble across purchases when Kiddle make it less how to do this thinking that way.” things they playing games. likely they will on page 41). JULIET Tunbridge Wells, Kent The best thing about the internet… Mum to Louis, 14, and Flo, 12 “The internet is a great resource for parental controls when you magazine quick information – whether that helps for social media feel that your We own… the kids with homework, helps me sites on page 42.) child is old “Three iPads, four iPhones answer their questions, or allows us to A strong password enough, and and two PCs. Flo has a laptop. ind out what’s happening locally.” is also essential. after discussing

Louis has a PC that he built himself. We Parenting Digital Pre-teens (See page 25 for Teens (13+) it with them, also have games consoles.” (11-12) tips on how you It’s important you may decide Our worries… JAMES London We encourage can make a strong you trust your to turn them off. Our rules are… “Nobody remembers anything any Dad to Heath, ive, Our worries… parents to think password.) child to make “Weeknights they are allowed an more. They just look things up. Ninety- and Finley, three “In-app purchases are a problem. carefully about If your child smart choices Internet Matters hour of TV once they’ve done their ive per cent of the kids’ homework The irst I’ll know about them is when allowing your has a smartphone, online with is a not-for-proit homework, but no gaming. There’s is on the computer, so it’s hard to We own… I get a text telling me how much I’ve child on social make sure they your help and organisation unlimited gaming on Friday nights. monitor use and it’s hard for them as “A laptop, an iPad, spent. The ease with which the boys media. If you do know about the guidance. supported by Louis runs home from school and the temptation is always there.” iPhone 4 and an can make these purchases alarms decide to, make risks of sharing You should BT, Sky, TalkTalk, plays from four o’clock until 10:30. LG G2 phone.” me.” (For advice on preventing in-app sure they reveal images, and adjust your Virgin Media, the “We use parental controls. The best thing about the internet… purchases go to page 23). no personal encourage them parental controls BBC and Google. Qustodio is free and covers all our “Access to everything – but it’s Our rules are… information and to use Friendly depending on It offers step-by- devices – we can’t access rude things a double-edged sword.” “Screen time is limited to the The best thing about the internet… choose privacy WiFi when away your teenager’s step guides and or buy samurai swords! We also have weekend. The boys appreciate it more “The access to information, settings so they from the home. maturity. advice about how OurPact, which is also free, and less when they’ve been denied it all week. entertainment and education. You can only share with It’s free to use Parental to keep children restrictive. You get a phone app to Our rules can be undone though by show your children something very family and friends in lots of public controls exist so safe online. For schedule the kids’ use of devices. “Nobody remembers going to friends’ houses where their quickly. For example, if you wanted to they know ofline. spaces and can’t parents can ilter more, visit their If they misbehave, I can block access anything any more. children are allowed access to see how a blacksmith shoes a horse (You can ind out be used to access out all offensive website: internet The devices and software mentioned are not endorsed by Vodafone or or Vodafone by endorsed not are software mentioned and devices The to all their tech!” They just look things up” technology most of the time.” Features Rex you can ind a video on YouTube.” more about explicit content. content, but matters.org

18 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 19 Vodafone Foundation

What should I do if my “As a parent, you worry child is being bullied? It can be upsetting when your child about what your child is being bullied. But it’s important to give them the tools to deal with it. By Katie Collett, The Diana Award will ind online” Anti-Bullying Campaign Vodafone’s Helen Lamprell explains why the company is proud If your child tells of Digital Parenting magazine and its other initiatives to help 1you they’re being families make the most of the online world bullied, thank them for talking to you. It takes a Words: Eleanor Levy lot of courage to admit to being bullied but it’s don’t want to burst their bubble but if the irst step to sorting you leave it too long you’re not out the problem. It may equipping them to deal with any be hard, but try not to Encourage your problems they come across. You have get upset. Stay calm 5child not to react to start helping children build and reassure your child if they’re bullied, as resilience when they’re young. that you’ll help sort this often fuels bullying “Knowing when to have that things out. behaviour. Tell them to conversation is key. It’s harder with Don’t take over. remove themselves older children, so I would encourage allow children and young people The Foundation works throughout technology has the potential to 2Ask your child from the situation as people to think about it early on.” to show support to friends who are the world, including the UK, using unlock knowledge and widen positive what they want to do, quickly as possible and Helen Lamprell is the being bullied by adding simple, mobile technology to help improve experiences for the next generation. talk about possibilities, report any bullying corporate & external Children listen to each other positive graphics to texts and social the lives of vulnerable people. “We went out for a family walk at and make sure they’re to an adult. affairs director of Vodafone Helen believes that it’s not just a media messages. The Foundation’s JustTextGiving the weekend and heard a beautiful happy with what will Monitor your child. UK and the mother of question of parents telling children “Showing my age here, I thought, service lets people make charitable bird singing,” says Helen. “Neither happen next. 6Ask them how two daughters under 12 what to do, but that young people ‘Is that going to work?’” admits Helen. donations using their smartphone. I nor my husband knew its name If the bullying school has gone and should be encouraged to talk among “But they’ve reached more than “It’s raised more than £38 million but my daughter recorded the 3 occurs at school, check in regularly themselves about staying safe online. 150 million people on social media for charities so far,” says Helen, sound and then asked Siri on her talk to your child’s with a teacher to see ike the physical world, the “Children listen to each other,” she and the ilm has had nearly a million proudly. “That’s the challenge: how phone what the bird was. teacher. They may be how they are getting online world has risks. says. “Peer-to-peer communication is views on YouTube. do we deploy our core products and “Children use technology able to arrange for on during the day. “Information is crucial,” says important, so our relationship with the “Children ind it much easier to use services in a way that makes a real enthusiastically – it’s an integral someone to keep an If you don’t get a Vodafone’s Helen Lamprell. Scouts is crucial.” (See page 10.) an emoji – it’s a simple way to allow social impact?” part of their lives. It allows them to eye on your child at detailed response, ask “Parents want to know Vodafone also worked with them to start a conversation.” Despite the challenges families access fantastic information – and school and set up questions. Stay positive Labout these risks and how to protect anti-bullying charity The Diana Award face, Helen is optimistic about the that is a great thing.” a system (with your and try not to let the their children from them. (see right and page 15) to produce Technology can be a force for good future. Whether it’s her girls being child’s approval and situation get you down. “That’s why Digital Parenting the Be Strong Online programme for Helen is a trustee of the Vodafone inspired by watching videos of British To ind out more about the support) to report any Bullying can affect magazine is important. For parents, schools. In February 2016, it launched Foundation and the organisation is astronaut Tim Peake on YouTube, or Vodafone Foundation, go to further bullying. 7 a child’s conidence particularly those a bit less tech-savvy a series of Be Strong emojis. They obviously hugely important to her. enjoying a simple country stroll, vodafone.com/foundation Speak to your child and self-esteem. Focus than their children, it gives them 4about whether on their strengths and knowledge. More schools are asking for there’s a member of do activities that they it and more organisations are using it.” Strength through knowledge thinking, social media, and selies and staff they can talk to enjoy and which help Helen believes that, as with ofline Vodafone and The Diana Award are self-esteem. There is accompanying or a place they can go relieve stress. parenting, communication is key when collaborating on Be Strong Online, information for parents produced by if they are being bullied Keep a record of the it comes to protecting young people a digital-skills programme to Parent Zone. at school. Maybe they 8bullying so you have in the online world. encourage older children to pass on The programme is being expanded could join a club so evidence if you need to “You worry about what your child knowledge of how to make the most for the 2016/2017 academic year, they would be in a take the matter further. will ind online,” she says. “Human of the internet safely and securely. including the addition of in-school group at lunchtimes For more advice, visit behaviour doesn’t change because of The programme produces modules training events. To ind out how your and therefore less antibullyingpro.com/ technology, but technology can Vodafone’s #BeStrong anti-bullying emojis let children show support for victims of bullying. for secondary schools on subjects child’s secondary school can sign up, vulnerable to bullying. support-centre

amplify the pressures on children. You You can download them from vodafone.com/be-strong-online-emojis Getty Images including cyberbullying, critical go to vodafone.com/parents.

20 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 21 Family gaming

Disney to the stars of The Lion Crossy Road King, Toy Story and iOS/Android (Free) Wreck-It Ralph. Minimum age: 4+ The gameplay is the Apps for under 10s PEGI 3 same: tap the screen to The original Crossy hop over roads and rivers From educational titles to videos and games, there are a whole host of excellent free apps Road game has been a without being squashed available for children under 10. Here are ive of our favourites for you to try Words: Stuart Dredge big hit with children, as by passing trafic. And it reimagined the classic yes, the characters really BBC iPlayer Kids arcade game Frogger do get squashed – some iOS/Android (Free) for a new generation young Disney fans may Minimum age: 4+ of (purely virtual) need to look away. PEGI 3 road-hopping gamers. The game is free to A third of shows watched Disney Crossy Road play, but sells some on the BBC’s iPlayer are is an entirely separate characters using in-app children’s programmes, version, featuring purchases – although according to the BBC. more than 100 Disney the same characters can That’s why it launched Doctor Who: their very own Time to lex their creative favourites – from Mickey also be unlocked purely a standalone iPlayer Kids Comic Creator Lord tales. It encourages muscles. They can even Mouse and Donald Duck by playing the game. app. It’s an easy way to iOS/Android (Free) children to turn various design their own baddies stream shows from the Minimum age: 9+ Doctors, companions using bits of famous BBC’s CBeebies and CBBC PEGI 3 and aliens into on-screen Doctor Who aliens. channels. The app keeps For decades children comic strips, writing their While the app is free a separate proile for each or browse the latest have watched Doctor own speech bubbles to to download and use, user and knows their age, selection. The app also Who from behind the tell their story. it does sell packs of so it knows which shows lets them download sofa. But this oficial BBC It’s simple to use, extra characters and are appropriate for them shows to watch ofline app gets them in front easily customised and scenery as £1.49 to watch. Children can – perfect for a journey of their devices making a great way for kids in-app purchases. search for their favourites without internet access. Tynker Tynker, available for app’s free-creation mode. What you can do to stop your iOS/Android (Free) iPad and tablets, is one This allows them to Minimum age: 4+ of the best. It starts with make their own games, child making in-app purchases PEGI 3 a series of exercises animations and physics People rarely develop apps Children as young as ive teaching children to demos, letting their for charitable reasons. Even are now being taught program using drag- imagination run free. people who make free apps are computer programming and-drop code blocks: Tynker is free to hoping to make money from at school, so apps that it feels like a fun puzzle download and use and them, and many do this by help them to develop game, even though kids lots of its puzzles are offering in-app purchases. their coding skills at are learning as they play. free. However, some You can turn these off in a variety of ways, home are becoming The real fun comes are sold as in-app packs depending on the app. Within a game, you can more popular. when children enter the for £1.49 each. ind how to do this in the settings menu (look for a ‘cog’ icon), or you can create a password that means your child won’t be able to buy Read with Fonics newfound skills on to harder three-letter anything without your knowledge (obviously Game ratings and apps iOS/Android (Free) their parents’ tablets sounds. There’s a points that will only work as long as you keep the You may be familiar with the age that each game categorised using the For more Minimum age: 4+ and smartphones. system to track their password a secret). You can also restrict in-app the PEGI age ratings you is suitable for and the PEGI age-rating system. information PEGI 3 Created by primary progress, but it never purchases at device level. ind on the packaging of speciic type of content The Apple app store about PEGI Phonics is one of the school teacher Sophie feels stressful. Ofcom has produced a series of video guides games for consoles such included in the game. doesn’t use PEGI ratings for most popular ways for Cooper, the app is based Read with Fonics designed to show parents how they can turn as PS4, Nintendo DS and Apps for Android age-ratings but it does video games, children to learn to read around fun phonics may also make its way off in-app purchases on a variety of popular XBox. These Europe- phones and tablets have ratings that show see page 46. in school and at home games that test children into classrooms in the phones and tablets. wide symbols show available in the Google the minimum age that – and Read with Fonics on their letter-sounds – months ahead – Sophie You can ind the video guides online at consumers at a glance Play store are also the game is suitable for. is an app hoping to get from the simple ones is hoping to get teachers vodafone.uk/OfcomGuides. them practising their they irst learn, through using it with their pupils.

22 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 23 Cyber crime

Identity theft It might not seem like something your family needs Even children have to worry about identity to worry about, but even young children can fall theft as teens are appealing targets for some victim to cyber crime. Here are some of the top criminals. Often more trusting than adults, they cybersecurity issues for children and adults to can be tricked into sharing private information. be aware of – and useful tips for staying safe What you can do Make sure your child knows not to give out personal information online. Obviously, they Clickjacking should never share their passwords. But any Unsafe passwords This is when fraudsters disguise links that personal details that would help answer Your child’s passwords are the keys to their download malware onto your device or steal security questions on their account or proile online life. It’s important to choose passwords your personal information. The links are often information – such as their mother’s maiden that are impossible to guess, and to not use the made to look like something innocent and name, their irst pet’s name, or their postcode same password for more than one account. For Is your tempting such as a funny video, an exciting – could leave them vulnerable to cyber crime. your child, the passwords to their social media offer or ‘clickbait’-style article. This type of and email accounts are especially important. cyber-attack is common on social media. What you can do What you can do Talk to your child about how to create a strong Warn your child to be careful what they click. password. See our box below for tips about how to Usually with ‘clickjacking’ links there’s do this. Online password generators can help. And something suspicious if you look closely – an remind your child to keep their passwords private family offer that’s too good to be true, or a phrase – even the best password is useless if it’s shared. the person who shared it is unlikely to use. If it doesn’t seem right, don’t click on it. Viruses and malware Make sure your child is aware of the risks of viruses. Opening an infected attachment or visiting a corrupt website could download harmful iles onto their device, or yours, leading cyber to fraud, important data being deleted or even Where your computer being made unusable. Five tips to help you to report create a strong password Even if you’ve taken What you can do from-getting-involved precautions, things can still Install antivirus software on any device your Use a different Never use personal go wrong. Action Fraud is the family uses to go online, and update it regularly. 1password for each 3information such as UK’s national centre for reporting Tell your child not to turn off your virus scanner, account. If you use the your name, whole words, cyber crime and fraud. You can and talk to them about the risks. Even with virus same one for multiple or sequential patterns secure? report online via their website protection, make sure your child knows to not accounts, they’re all such as 1234. Words: Rachel Rosen and Gary Crossing actionfraud.police.uk download suspicious iles or attachments. vulnerable if one is hacked. Regularly update or ring them on Using a random 4 your recovery email 0300 123 2040. 2 combination of at least address so you can be What is cyber crime? Malware (malicious software) eight letters (both upper easily contacted if you This can include viruses, spyware Faura Romualdo Illustrations: and lower case), numbers need to reset your The National Crime Agency and remote access trojans (or RATs) and symbols makes it password. You can also (NCA) deines cyber crime as – programs that create a ‘back door’ much harder for would-be add a phone number to an offence ‘committed using a to allow administrative control from hackers. The Home Ofice’s receive password reset computer, computer networks or outside over a targeted computer. Cyber Streetwise campaign codes by text. Ensure that other form of information These programs allow criminals suggests the strongest the answers to any security communications technology (ICT)’.* access to other people’s computers password consists of three questions you create are to carry out illegal activities. random words: “Numbers things that only you know. It includes crimes such as: and symbols can still be Keep your passwords /crime-threats/cyber-crime/cyber-crime-preventing-young-people- Distributed Denial of Service used if needed. However, 5secure. Don’t leave Hacking attacks (DDoS) three random words is the them lying around on a This involves gaining access to These involve sending a website a key to a strong password.” Post-it note on your desk. someone’s computer network huge amount of internet trafic at without their permission. The one time. This can result in people More ways to protect your family hacker can then take control who want to visit the site not being Get Safe Online: getsafeonline.org. nationalcrimeagency. gov.uk nationalcrimeagency. and/or access information. able to access it. Cyber Streetwise: cyberstreetwise.com. *

24 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 25 Online peer pressure

“But Partying What you can do Figures show that young people Remind your child that both in the UK are generally smoking drinking and smoking are illegal if and drinking less than their they are underage and that doing parents’ generation*. But a study either to excess is dangerous. They everybody of 1,500 15- and 16-year-olds in may feel patronised but, as parents, The Journal of Adolescent Health sometimes it’s our job to state the found that social media posts obvious. (Setting a positive example inluence young people’s can be worth a thousand words!) behaviour and can make it more Also, point out that pictures of likely a child will experiment with them partying could still be does it…” drinking and smoking. viewable years later, when their Children and young people The study, by researchers social media feeds may well be have always been inluenced from the University of Southern looked at by prospective employers by their friends. This can California, revealed that the more and other people they want to now include people they pictures a child sees on social impress. Today’s fun night out could media of their friends drinking or be tomorrow’s rejected university meet online, which presents smoking, the more likely they are application or career setback. particular challenges for to do the same. This might be a good time to parents. Eleanor Levy, The report concluded: “These suggest they make sure their editor of Parent Info, results provide evidence that social media privacy settings are the online advice and friends’ online behaviours should set to ‘friends only’. be considered a viable source of See page 42 for details on how to information service for peer inluence.” set these up.

schools, explains more *http://bbc.in/2bpAiT2

t’s normal for children to want Cyberbullying happens again – and next time they Radicalisation What you can do Being made to feel bad doesn’t register with young fans. to copy their friends. But now Bullying among school children isn’t may choose to act differently. and extremism The best thing you about their looks They see the bright smile and ofline peer pressure is joined a new problem but the internet has Scotland’s anti-bullying service, There have been a can do is listen to Peer pressure isn’t just about lawless skin and think, “Why can’t by inluences from the online created new ways for young people Respect Me (respectme.org.uk), has number of instances your child. Ask them inluencing someone’s actions. I look like that?” world: the friends they chat to to gang up on others. excellent advice for parents of of children from the UK what they do online, It can also be about affecting on social media or while gaming, Encouraging someone to make children who have exhibited bullying becoming radicalised who they talk to and how young people feel about What you can do Iand the celebrities they follow on nasty comments on social media, or behaviour. They advise: “You change online and joining where they go. themselves. Ask them to think about why a Instagram or YouTube. joining in to impress your friends, the way people behave by telling religious extremist If you take an And while we’re all vulnerable celebrity has posted a particular Of course, a child wanting to copy may seem OK at the time. After all, them what they did, why it was wrong, organisations such as interest, it will lessen to self-esteem issues, young image of themselves on social media. their peers isn’t necessarily a negative it’s easy to do when you’re not and what you expect instead. the Islamic State group, the need for them to people’s lives are increasingly lived Now ask them what they think went thing. Young people can be inspired standing in front of the person you’re “It’s natural to be angry and upset, or becoming involved go somewhere else out on social media, which can bring into making that image look perfect. by friends and online role models to victimising and everyone else you but it’s important that you remain with racist, far-right for support. pressure to look a certain way. Also, it may seem obvious, but be creative, take up a sport and eat know is doing it too. Unfortunately, calm. When you’ve established the groups in the UK. Parent Zone has Since camera phones became don’t constantly point out your more healthily, or encouraged to the online bullying follows the reasons behind the bullying, you People looking to produced Resilient widely available, young people have child’s physical laws or weight gain work harder at school. person being bullied everywhere have to address their behaviour and radicalise young people Families – a free online been under even greater pressure – and try not to comment on your But sometimes online peer they go, even to what should be the the impact that it has had. All use social messaging course for parents and to look as ‘perfect’ as the stars they own in earshot either. pressure can result in young people safety of their own home. behaviour carries consequences and apps with encryption carers that covers all follow on platforms such as Suggest that they visit the being pressured into acting in ways your child has to realise that they so that their messages aspects of helping Instagram or YouTube. YoungMinds website at vodafone.uk/ they would never think of doing by What you can do are accountable for their actions.” can’t be read by others. your child cope with The fact that images may have selfesteem. The specialist mental themselves, or in the ofline world. If you discover your child has joined in If your child has been bullied, Extremists often use the challenges of the been extensively Photoshopped and health charity has really useful tips with online bullying, or has shared a see our article on page 21. friendship to make internet. Episode 2 those gleaming white teeth are to help young people feel better cruel image, talk about why they did it. targets feel part of covers radicalisation really expensive veneers often about themselves in mind and body. Explain that it is often dificult to a force for good – a and extremism. realise you’re being pressured until “It’s natural to be angry compelling message for You can ind it at For more about peer pressure online go to parentzone.org.uk/peerpressure afterwards, but encourage them to and upset [if your child has young people who feel parentzone.org.uk/ and vodafone.com/bestrong. Be Strong Online is a programme developed learn from the experience. Recognising bullied someone], but it’s powerless and aggrieved. resilient-families by Vodafone, The Diana Award and Parent Zone, aimed at building resilient

the signs will help them identify if it important to remain calm” Features Rex young people in the digital age.

26 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 27 Social media

almost 1,300 Instagram followers. Also, Snapchat The perils and pleasures By Amelia, 16, Manchester we’re both trying to By Cameron, 17, Dorset of social media Instagram is a wonderful place to learn Korean, and Why I love… Snapchat lets you share Snaps – explore and share pictures with having this account pictures taken on your phone (often By Kate Medlin are like any other parenting people who share your passions means we can selies), or brief videos. You can edit hurdles that have to be – people you wouldn’t meet in practise the the image or video and add some text Social media plays a large and navigated and negotiated. your usual day-to-day life. language with other Instagram, or a ilter before sending it. The beauty primarily positive role in many The only difference is the I joined Instagram in 2014 to create people and learn from them. is that it isn’t permanent: the sender young people’s lives today. It element of the unknown. a fan account for my then-favourite I love Instagram because there are selects how long the image or video gives them access to a new, band, Panic! At the Disco, and I met so many other worlds out there, and will be available for, and after that it’s different world to the one their So what can parents do? my irst serious boyfriend through you can discover them all with just YouTube gone. You add friends, much like parents had at their age. It can be hard to keep up when Instagram. I’d never have met him in one tap of your inger. Facebook or any other social media But there are, of course, the social media world moves real life as he lives in Birmingham. platform, and then you can send pitfalls to that new world. For so quickly, but knowledge is The relationship lasted two years and What parents need to know Snaps back and forth as you please. example, a teenager the best weapon. For example, was strengthened by the bond we Minimum age: 13 and People tend to use Snapchats struggling with an eating some young people will have formed over Instagram. We created Instagram allows its users to share more for conversation than for disorder may ind it dificult to duplicate ‘parent-friendly’ an account to post pictures of us images with each other. Users can documenting. If someone wanted to tell pro-recovery social media social media accounts. together, for friends and family who comment on posted photos, which save an image or video of something accounts from pro-ana ones However hard it is, try to supported our relationship. can lead to both positive and that happened, it would end up on (which promote anorexia as a keep an eye on what your Currently, I co-own a fan account negative comments. Shared photos Snapchat Facebook or Instagram. But if you lifestyle choice). For their teenagers are up to, especially with my best friend for the Korean can be seen by anyone, but you can want to chat parents, it must feel like they if their behaviour changes boy band BTS. The amazing thing change your child’s privacy settings about it with your can’t stop the enemy from drastically. Even if you don’t about Instagram is you get to talk to so that only people they know can Young people love apps and online friends, you’d use coming straight through their understand what they’re people on the opposite side of the see them. However, their bio, proile platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat. It’s front door and into their child’s doing, ask them questions world who share the same interests and proile image will remain public. YouTube. But why? We asked three more personal bedroom. Likewise, it can be about it – talk about the as you. In the irst few months since See page 42 to ind out more about than sending a unsettling for a parent to learn beneits, not just about the we started the account we’ve gained parental controls for Instagram. teens to explain text, and it’s far not all of the followers their dangers. If they think they Words: Eleanor Levy more fun. child has on social media are have to defend something to The main point personal friends. you, they’ll be less likely to sites mean I can still be up to date with of Snapchat is to share with you when YouTube things the same way as teenagers be social. Rather than forcing you to Into the unknown something feels wrong. By Jaffa, 16, Herefordshire living in cities all around the world. sit and hope that your post gets a One of the hardest decisions Communication, as always, YouTube’s variety of content means certain number of ‘likes’, it provokes a parent has to make as their is the key. Keep those anyone can ind something they’re What parents need to know conversation and interaction – which, child grows up is when to let channels open, and your interested in. From beauty gurus like Minimum age: 13 with parent’s in my opinion, is a far healthier way to them spread their wings and teenagers should be able to Zoella and gamers like PewDiePie, to permission; 18 without interact with people. have more independence. enjoy their online life and education channels like CrashCourse YouTube lets users watch and How do we feel when they allow it to open doors that we and Philosophy Tube, YouTube has a comment on videos and upload their What parents need to know are invited to a house where never even knew existed. bit of everything. You can also ind own. Some of its content is of an adult Minimum age: 13 we don’t know the family? Do viral videos (yes, like the cute cats). nature. There is a free YouTube Kids Snapchat is a photo messaging app we still pick them up when Kate Medlin is a member I like its community feel – everyone app aimed at under 13s. that allows users to take photos, they’re 17? These are solvable of the British Association is different, and YouTube embraces CEOP (formerly the Child Exploitation record videos, add text and drawings problems in the ofline world for Counselling and that individuality. The short-ilm and Online Protection Centre) advise and send them to a controlled list – but it’s not so simple when Psychotherapy. She works maker Bertie Gilbert produces making sure your of people. The user controls how it comes to life online. in private practice and for entertaining videos that often child knows not to long the Snaps are available for, However, while social media the counselling service at have a powerful message to get share content with usually just seconds. Recipients of presents new problems, they a London university. you thinking. And BuzzFeed details that may images can’t download them, but they uploaded a series of ‘I’m… but I’m allow someone to can take a screen shot of them and not…’ videos where people break trace them, such send that to other people. Parents down stereotypes and stigmas – as school uniform, should remind children not to share Ask about the beneits, not just about the such as, ‘I’m Muslim, but I’m not…’ your house, or inappropriate images on social media. dangers. If they think they have to defend it, and ‘I’m bisexual but I’m not…’. local area. See page 42 to ind out more about they may be less likely to share with you Finally, although I live in a very rural See page 43 to ind out more about Snapchat. For advice about selies and when something doesn’t feel right part of England, YouTube and other parental controls for YouTube. sexting, see page 16.

28 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 29 Digital health and safety

When using your The ideal position to 1phone or tablet, try adopt is with your feet to hold it high enough touching the loor, your that you don’t need bottom and lower back to lex your neck too touching the chair, and much as you look down your forearms gently to view the screen. touching the table. Keep your hands Also, make sure the ain in the neck, 2close to your body. screen is at head height. lower back and It’s hard to believe that This should be easy to P hand are the the weight of a phone adjust with a desktop Can viewing screens ‘tech trio’ of problems matters, but the load is computer, but more caused or exacerbated signiicantly increased if dificult with a laptop. regularly affect by excessive technology your arm is outstretched Using an external children’s eye health? use. And they’re more and it will put strain keyboard and mouse common than you on your neck and will allow you to raise We asked Dr Nigel Best, clinical might think – one in six shoulder muscles. the screen. spokesperson for Specsavers youngsters experience Use both hands These are easy if discomfort in their hands 3when typing and you’re at a table or desk. “All evidence to date Start young from using technology, keep messages short. Neck and back pain Leaners rest their If you’re using a laptop has failed to establish with eye-care while a smaller number Using abbreviations and are very common forearms on the desk, on the sofa and you’ve any link between “Some parents don’t report discomfort in predictive text reduces and can have many putting pressure on got one eye on the screen use and realise that the age their wrists, arms, the repetitive motion different causes the shoulders, bending television, you’re going long-term eye of eight is often too shoulders and neck. of tapping out letters. Slouchers tend to lean the spine out of shape, to ind it a bit harder. problems. However, late to correct eye Here are some simple Try to make sure backwards, sliding their causing neck and Sofas, by design, tend to recent research** conditions such as ways your child can 4that you take a hips forwards, putting lower back pain. make you slump, so found that children a squint or a lazy eye, make sure they don’t break: put your device the lower back out of Nearly all of us fall you’ll need some pillows who are regularly which can lead to end up with aches and down between contact with the chair, into bad habits, but there to support your back cooped up at home lifelong problems. pains caused by messages or different causing lower back are ways to minimise the and a pillow for the are more susceptible “I recommend an prolonged tech use. levels in a game. and neck pain. risk of injury. laptop to raise it up. to short-sightedness, eye examination for compared with those all children when who spend more they start reception Helping hand Move it! time outdoors. and that they’re These exercises will help with hand and wrist pain* Do these exercises every day for better posture “Staring at a re-tested as often as Don’t let tech siotherapist beforehand **sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160406124740.htm computer screen all their optician advises. day can cause several “A child’s eyesight symptoms including continues to develop dry and aching eyes right up to the age of and headaches. But eight and a number of be a pain in these symptoms are eye-care issues can transient and tend to be corrected by an go away when you optician if detected stop using the screen. before this time.” “There’s no evidence Vision screening the neck Wrist bend Hand squeeze Chin to chest Sideways stretch Flex your neck that long-term screen is being made Put your elbow on a Hold a rubber ball in Drop your head so your Tilt your head towards Turn your head use damages vision. available at no cost table, with your arm your hand and squeeze chin rests on your chest. your shoulder, with your 45 degrees to the side. If you experience to all 27,000 primary (and other bits!) upright and wrist straight. it for ive seconds. Then Gently tense your neck head facing straight Gently tense your neck symptoms relating to and secondary Slowly bend your wrist switch hands. Do three muscles and hold for ive ahead. Gently tense your muscles and hold for screen work, you schools in the UK, Every parent worries about keeping their children forward and hold it at 90 sets of 10. seconds. Lift it back to a neck muscles and hold ive seconds. Return to should discuss these through funding safe online, but making sure they stay physically degrees for ive seconds. neutral, upright position for ive seconds. Slowly looking straight ahead, with your optician.” by Specsavers. it and healthy while using their devices is often Straighten, then bend it and repeat. Do ive sets. lift your head back to the then repeat on the other backwards and hold for middle and repeat on the side. Do ive times on overlooked. Physiotherapist Joe Shotbolt explains another ive seconds. Do opposite side. Do ive each side. Turn to the next page for advice on looking after *Anyone starting a new exercise regime should check with a GP or qualiied phy some potential problems and how to avoid them three sets of 10. Faura Romualdo Illustration: times on each side. your child’s mental wellbeing in the digital age

30 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 31 Happy kids

Is the internet having a negative Make time to talk to each effect on your child’s mental health? other and, just as important, to listen to each other It’s something we worry about as parents, but If you want your child to have a balanced what do young people think? Parent Zone’s Rachel approach to the technology in their lives, Rosen asked hundreds of young people and set a good example. Eat meals together teachers across the UK at a table without any technology turned on. Make time to talk to each other, and Research shows that one child in 10 In my report, The Perfect to listen to each other. Show interest in has a diagnosable mental health Generation: Is the Internet their daily lives, and explain how you issue*, and many experts say that Undermining Young People’s Mental decide which TV programmes you watch. number could be even higher. Health? we set out to ind out what Equally, explain how you decide when not Through Parent Zone’s work with young people really think about to engage in digital technology, how and schools, health practitioners and mental health and the internet. We why you turn your devices off, and how parents, we know that they’re worried talked to people aged 13 to 20 around you can use time to engage with others. about this trend, and some wonder if the UK, as well as to teachers, deputy Why not create family traditions early technology could be partly to blame. head teachers and school nurses. in life that become so well-established and loved that they will always want to do them? Get outside, play games, walk What do young people think? in your neighbourhood and take your Is the internet bad for your mental health? child to a favourite café for a milkshake. In these ways you can support your child to use digital technology in a safe and knowledgeable way – and try to have fun together doing it. 28% 32% 40%

How do we ensure our Children pick up habits and children grow up emotionally attitudes from the signiicant Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree and mentally healthy? adults around them Many comments highlighted how the out was because they were worried How to be A lot has been written about the negative Nothing is more important than the internet can have both a negative and about disappointing their parents or aspects of the digital world, particularly example we set for children from the positive effect. “The internet deinitely feeling awkward around their friends. social media. Online bullying, children start of their lives. Children pick up habits ampliies everything – the good and

becoming addicted to gaming, and the and attitudes from the signiicant adults atistics the bad. You just have to choose the How can we help? potential consequences of trying to around them. Thinking about what we, as right route” was one response. Nearly three-quarters of schools have a digital create a perfect online image are all adults, present as normal in our homes, Another made a similar point: dealt with a pupil with a mental health well-documented. But the digital world and in society in general, is crucial. How “Harmful sites […] are too easily problem that they think was made has also had an enormously positive we manage digital devices dictates how accessible. These can either trigger worse by the pupil’s online activity. effect on society. our children and young people absorb the beginning of a mental illness, or And lots of teens felt adults would be So how do we ind a balance? How do early learning and how they develop their exacerbate it. On the other hand, the more able to help them with digital role model we ensure that our children grow up with personal attitudes, beliefs and values. internet can make it easier for some problems if they better understood Dr Fiona Pienaar, director of clinical services at an objective, sensible and well-adjusted Young people today not only have to reach out for help, and one can a young person’s perspective. approach to life in the digital age? to manage their lives in real-time, but also ind others online struggling The internet is now where social children’s mental health charity Place2Be, explains As a society, we have fairly recently also in a parallel digital-time. If we want with similar dificulties.” dramas play out, and where teens how to support your child in the digital age moved to acknowledge how important them to navigate that parallel world from The study also revealed that just experiment with relationships. It’s it is to protect our children and young a strong base of emotional wellbeing and over a quarter of young people would a tool they use to study and discover As a parent, it’s important to get to know the world your people from the real and potential mental health, we have to provide them turn to the internet irst if they had a the world. As parents, we need to do children are growing up in. Your openness, knowledge and challenges associated with life in the with the guidance, education, tools, skills problem, but more than 60% would what we’ve always done: talk to our

attitude to all things digital will play a major role in maintaining digital world. Getty Images and support to do so. prefer to talk, in person, to someone children, be there for them, and your child’s mental health and emotional wellbeing as they they trust. The most common reason make sure they know we love them youngminds.org.uk/training_services/policy/mental_health_st navigate an exciting but challenging new world. * that children said they wouldn’t reach no matter what.

32 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 33 Growing up digital “We have a smart TV and watch Taylor Swift videos on it. It’s not a computer, but you can get YouTube on it “I don’t like because it’s smart.” adverts. They Louisa, 6 are on a lot of things. They get in the way.” They’re machines August, 5 that transform into cars. I’ve watched all the Transformer ilms.” Digital Parenting: “Do you have any How you can manage your Transformers toys?” child’s screen time “I like Netlix… August “Of course.” and I play Professor Lydia Plowman is chair of education and technology Subway Surfers Do you have any at the University of Edinburgh and a contributor to CBeebies. on my mum’s devices of your own? Here, she offers some useful tips for parents phone with her.” August “I have a Aisha, 5 Nintendo 3DS.” Few parents ban all screens, would a book you were reading. Natalya “We [pointing but some feel guilty about how Or video-call a relative and to her twin sister Robyn] long their young children spend encourage your child to tell have an old phone to looking at them – whether it’s them family news or a story, or share. And we have an a mobile phone, a tablet or the show something they’ve made. iPad to share.” television – and others wonder Involve your child in your Robyn “I’m not allowed if they should feel guilty, but 5 own screen time Share

“I like Evan and Jillian Photos: Andrew Woods to watch for very long. like having peace and quiet to activities such as looking up [young YouTube stars They stop me if I’ve been do things without distractions. train times and encourage them whose videos show Quick-ire Q&A on too long. I’m happy Here are a few tips to help you to join in. But try to limit your them unwrapping toys]. with that.” achieve a healthy balance. screen time when your child’s I’m allowed to watch What kids really Where does the Robyn and Natalya’s Have family guidelines about. If you’re always checking them for 20 minutes, internet live? mum “Wow, you’re 1Most families have a routine your phone, they’ll do the same. then I have to turn Robyn “It lives happy with that?” for mealtimes and bedtime, Encourage creativity all around us.” and the same approach can 6 Use apps to help your child it off. My mum has think about the web August “It lives on Do your teachers work for screen time. create photos, videos, drawings a timer that you use Kids today have never known a world without the internet. We asked electrical things.” ever talk to you Start early The sooner and stories. for cooking and puts a group of primary school pupils about the digital world they live in about staying safe 2 you establish a pattern of Extend your child’s it on to time me.” What do you like on the internet? behaviour, the better. It’s much 7 play beyond the screen Orlando, 6 Words: Eleanor Levy to watch? August “Yes, our harder once children know what Find out which apps they like, t can feel as though there’s no Aisha “My Little Pony.” head teacher told their friends are allowed to do. and plan related activities, such end to the things parents worry August “I like Star Wars. us about disrespect Set boundaries You might as dressing up as one of their Iabout when it comes to children And Lego. I like to watch and respect online.” 3 allow screen time on Sunday favourite characters. and the internet: screen time, The Lego Movie.” morning so you can have a lie in, These tips fall into one of two inappropriate content, temptations Louisa “I hate Star Wars.” but not on weekday mornings, groups: ones that use screen to spend money. But what’s it like for August “Don’t say ‘hate’, or within an hour of bedtime. time for positive, worthwhile “I use the internet the children? We asked Louisa, it’s a bad word.” Similarly, screen time in the activities, and those that create to do my homework. Orlando, Aisha, August, Robyn and “I can watch ice living room may be OK, but not workable routines when your I looked up Victorian Natalya – all aged between 5 and 6 If you had ive skating videos in the bedroom. Depending on child can play independently. years old – what they think. minutes to watch on YouTube. I did your child’s age, you could make But there are no hard and fast times. What they Interestingly, despite all the anything you wanted these decisions together. rules – you have to work out wore – the big skirts.” technology on the table, as soon as online, what would ice skating once. Share screen time Perhaps what’s best for your family. Natalya, 6 they sat down, all six reached for you look for? I fell over.” 4 take it in turns to choose a You can ind more articles by Left to right: Orlando, Aisha, Robyn, Louisa, Natalya paper and coloured pencils and began Natalya “Jackets. Robyn, 6 game or video to watch – and Lydia at edinburgh.academia. and August drawing. It seems that despite the I like fashion.” talk about it the same way you edu/LydiaPlowman digital age, some things never change. August “Transformers.

34 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 35 Video games

ention video games tablets don’t end up in bedrooms is Family gaming tips and many parents roll another way to stay involved in your their eyes at what is child’s video game enjoyment. Play together often a point of Parents often assume that children 1Keep games consoles conlict and concern don’t want Mum and Dad interfering in communal rooms and Min the home. While games are second with their games, but most youngsters nature to children, parents worry are keen to share and talk about the play games together. There about addiction, the negative impact games they play – just ask your child are a number of active and gaming may have on their child’s about their favourite Minecraft mob. sports titles available for concentration and itness and, where Finally, it’s crucial that you set up consoles that the whole in-app purchases are concerned, the parental controls on tablets and family can join in with. amount of money it may cost. But, consoles before putting them in the Check PEGI ratings although research into gaming is still hands of children. This not only 2 These statutory age in its infancy, studies show that there speciies what PEGI age-rated games ratings help parents identify are actually lots of positive lessons can be played but limits online appropriate games based to be learnt from gaming. As well as interactions and sharing as you deem on their content. helping to develop social skills, such appropriate. You can also disable as taking turns and collaborating, in-app purchases so you don’t have Set up parental controls games can also nurture strategic and any surprises in your next bill. 3 Ensure you have speciied conceptual thinking. You just have to Doing this as a family means that what content children can set some ground rules. you can agree the settings together, access with secure passwords Screen time is a recurring concern. and have a healthy conversation about and user settings. General advice is that up to an hour a which games you play, and for how Regular breaks day is acceptable*, but a better long you play them. 4 Screen time studies vary measure for parents is how varied a While not all of these things are but all agree that regular child’s screen time and interactions easy to achieve, it’s important to invest breaks are essential. Take are. Ensuring children engage in a the time and effort. Make video games one every 45-60 minutes. variety of activities on their screens a family activity and most concerns Check play history instigates regular breaks between will be resolved along the way. sessions and can also create a context Children also get more out of these 5 See what your child plays, for families to play games together. experiences by discussing and sharing and for how long, by checking Lack of exercise is another them with the wider family. the user history on their proile. perceived danger for gaming children. For example, on the 3DS this is Certainly, youngsters need to engage in the Activity Log app. in a range of activities that aren’t all

tter-adjusted-children sedentary or take place indoors. While some games with motion controls Andy Robertson is a freelance build in movement, it’s essential that journalist and broadcaster, and A bit about PEGI ratings games form part of a healthy lifestyle. regular BBC contributor. He runs the Many video games in Europe are given Perhaps the biggest dificulty for FamilyGamerTV You Tube channel. a PEGI age rating. If you wouldn’t want parents is being an outsider in this your child to watch an 18 ilm, you crucial part of their children’s leisure probably wouldn’t want them to time. Even for those who haven’t play an 18 game. PEGI ratings can developed an enjoyment of games actually prevent children accessing growing up, it’s important to ind titles age-inappropriate games. You can they can play with their child. do this by setting age-appropriate By researching online or watching parental controls on your child’s Can’t beat ‘em? Then why not join ‘em? family gaming guides, parents have games consoles and devices. Andy Robertson from FamilyGamerTV the chance to take an active role both “Most youngsters are keen explains why your child loves video games in choosing the games their children to share and talk about the To ind out more about setting parental play and in enjoying them together. games they play – just ask controls and for a full explanation of and how you can share their passion Keeping gaming technology in them about their favourite age ratings, go to our Tools and settings ox.ac.uk/news/2014-08-04-little-video-game-playing-linked-be Illustration: Megapont - Folio art Folio - Megapont Illustration: * shared family spaces, and ensuring Minecraft mob” section, which begins on page 39.

36 Digital parenting vodafone.com/parents 37 Parents online Tools and settings

YouTube stars like Zoella and PewDiePie have millions of devoted Where can followers – but it’s not just Blog log the younger generation who have become internet Mrs Meldrum stars. Thousands of mums Aberdeenshire mum of two and dads share their Rebecca blogs and vlogs about I ind help? pregnancy and parenting, parenting adventures shopping and meal plans. online too. Gary Crossing Nominated for Best Lifestyle Blog spoke to Alex Walsh (aka and Best Use of Video at 2016’s Mum and Dad (MAD) Blog Awards. Keeping your child safe online DaddaCool) – ‘Britain’s mrsmeldrum.com premier parent blogger’, , you can usually ind information on tools and can sometimes be a daunting according to the Sunday Goblin Child prospect – but there are lots of Times – to ind out more… Amber Wilde lives with her partner, tools available that can help Kirsty, and their twin boys, in London. She blogs about her here are so many ways to prevent family, life as a gay parent, IVF, and children accessing inappropriate The rise of the mummy her pregnancy with twin girls due content online, it’s little wonder we this summer. Nominated for Best Tsometimes get confused about what Pregnancy Blog at the 2016 MADs. to use and when. This is where our Tools and goblinchild.com settings section comes in. With such an and daddy blogger overwhelming number of options available, Yorkshire Dad it’s important to understand what tools and Why did you start writing about to leave their job and make a career Karl is a 20-something dad of two settings can do – and what they can’t. your family online? out of it. I am unlikely to ever be able boys under two. He writes about Parental controls allow you to manage My wife started blogging a few years to make as much from blogging as I do fatherhood, food, and fashion. your family’s use of online services and before me when she was on maternity from my day job, so it remains a hobby Oh, and he lives in Yorkshire. devices. Mobile phone operators offer similar leave with our irst child. I joined in for me. Adding money to something yorkshiredad.co.uk parental controls for handheld devices as a couple of years later because often reveals a nasty underside, and internet service providers do for software I like creating things. I’m glad I’ve not had to go there. on laptops, PCs and Macs. Did you have any concerns before What does your family think? Filters include services like SafeSearch on Windows you started blogging? My parents are bemused generally How do some vloggers and ted web links have been shortened for ease of use. If links are broken or out of date search engines. They do just what they say Windows 10 offers access controls, From the start we had rules when it about the whole concept, and other bloggers make money? on the tin – restrict access to speciic time limits and activity reports, came to blogging. We don’t use the people aren’t much better. We never content. Filters are helpful if you have young including reports on the websites, children’s real names (my daughter’s feature pictures or video of extended Charging people to mention children, but can restrict useful content like Parental controls apps and games your child uses. You name isn’t Fii) and we try to use family though. Just because we decide their service or product on sex education and other health-related on your computer’s can set up individual user accounts photographs that don’t identify the to have some aspects of our lives screen, or social media, such information. They only work on classiied operating system with different age-appropriate kids or our location. That’s only fair in online doesn’t mean we shouldn’t as Facebook or Twitter. content and a lot of sites, including reputable controls. Earlier versions also offer a world where digital footprints are respect the privacy of others. ones, carry content that isn’t classiied, controls but the set-up process differs. becoming more and more relevant. What will you do if your children Selling adverts on their so inappropriate content can slip through. Mac OS X and Windows both vodafone.uk/windows Also, we don’t blog anything about the ask you to take down anything website or YouTube channel. Settings are built into services such as include parental controls that school as they don’t have a right to you’ve posted about them when Facebook. They help you control what other allow you to set time limits for Mac OS X reply. I’ve seen other bloggers get into they’re older? A vlogger can be paid every people see about you and your children. your child’s use and restrict Parental controls on your Mac let all sorts of scrapes with schools over My blog is about me, my wife and time somebody clicks on Finally, one of the most useful tools you access to certain types of you add a ‘managed user’ so you what they’ve blogged about and I’ve my kids. Without them, there an ad displayed on one of can set as a parent is a strong, private, content. In both operating can limit your child’s access to no wish to experience that. would be no blog – so, without their their videos, or watches an ad unique password for each app and service systems, parents can set up user age-appropriate websites and apps, Can someone make money permission, I wouldn’t post anything for longer than 30 seconds. your children use. To ind out how, see p25. accounts for each member of determine who they are allowed to from blogging? or leave something up that might You can ind more detailed guides for the family with their own unique contact via Mail, Messages and Game I know some individuals who make adversely affect them. Being paid to make many of the tools mentioned above at passwords and then tailor the Center, set time limits and block use many thousands of pounds a year You can read Alex’s blog at personal appearances. vodafone.com/content/digital-parenting/ controls and restrictions to the of the computer’s built-in camera. settings in the help or support section of a company’s website. from it – enough, in some instances, daddacool.co.uk Please note: Information checked and up to date as of summer 2016. Complica tools age and maturity of their child. vodafone.uk/apple

38 Digital parentingParenting vodafone.com/parents 39 Tools and settings

Safety controls Parental controls on Parental controls in Third-party on search engines your home internet your web browser parental controls

Setting SafeSearch on search Most UK broadband providers 3) Add speciic websites that you You can change Internet Explorer You may decide to use a dedicated parental engines means that the majority offer free ‘whole-home parental would like to block. the settings on the Microsoft’s Content control solution to block inappropriate of sexually explicit videos and controls’ which apply to any To ind out more: vodafone.uk/sky browser you use to Advisor enables you content. If you already have a security images will be iltered from device that connects to your access the internet. to prevent your child suite on your computer, check whether it search results, along with results broadband via your home hub. But if you use more seeing websites includes parental controls. You may not

that may link to explicit content. go are registered trademarks of Google Inc. than one browser, containing nudity, need a third-party one. Some are free, but It isn’t 100% reliable but is useful Sky has parental controls turned on by you’ll need to violence and other most will cost you an annual subscription. if you have a young child. default, and you have to choose to BT change the settings inappropriate content. turn them off. For the others, you can BT Parental Controls let you manage on each one. To ind out more: Restricted Mode on YouTube performs turn them on yourself. Contact the internet access on all devices that vodafone.uk/IE a similar function to SafeSearch – company for details of how to do this. connect to your BT Home Hub and Chrome and both can be locked if you have Bear in mind that these controls BT Wi-Fi hotspots (for example, cafés With Supervised User Firefox McAfee Family Norton a Google+ account. But these are only work on your Wi-Fi network, not and other public spaces). accounts on Google’s The parental controls Protection Family device-level settings – meaning you when you’re using 3G or 4G to get Available for free, they include Chrome, you can allow in Firefox let you ilter (Paid for) (Paid for) have to set them on each tablet, online. (See opposite for more about Strict, Moderate and Light ilters, an or block certain sites, web content that may To ind out more: To ind out more: phone or computer your child uses. parental controls on mobile devices.) option to restrict access to speciic see which ones have be inappropriate or vodafone.uk/mcafee vodafone.uk/norton websites, and a Homework Time been visited and prevent offensive for children. Google’s SafeSearch setting enables setting that blocks social media, apps being installed. To ind out more: you to ilter out most adult content. gaming and homework cheat sites. To ind out more: vodafone.uk/irefox If an inappropriate search result gets To ind out more: vodafone.uk/BT vodafone.uk/chrome Net Nanny Qustodio through, you can report it to them. Vodafone Broadband (Paid for) (Free) You can also ind information about Vodafone Parental Controls are free To ind out more: To ind out more: safety features on YouTube, Google and available to anyone with Vodafone vodafone.uk/netnanny vodafone.uk/qustodio

Play, Chrome and other services in the Home Broadband. They protect all TalkTalk magazine. Google © 2015 Inc. All rights reserved. Google and the Google Lo Google Safety Centre. devices connected to your Wi-Fi and TalkTalk Home Safe lets you control To ind out more: vodafone.uk/google prevent access to inappropriate online internet access on all devices content, such as violence and connected to your TalkTalk router Other search engines, such as Yahoo gambling, as well as websites with (Wi-Fi and cable). The free package Parenting Digital Parental controls on your and Bing, offer their own safe search viruses or malware. includes Kids Safe (which lets you child’s smartphone and tablet options. You will usually ind them You can control your children’s block all or your choice from nine under ‘settings’. access to Wi-Fi at home by creating categories of website), Homework a guest ‘family’ network for them Time (which limits access to social Parental controls on tablets manage the apps and games that and then setting time limits on when media and gaming websites at certain and smartphones can restrict your child is able to download to their the Wi-Fi is available via an app on times) and Virus Alerts (which avoids speciic sites and ‘adult content’. phone. You can also set up Kid’s your phone. You can download the malicious websites). Mobile phone companies can ilter Corner on your own Windows Phone See our online version at Vodafone Broadband app for free at To ind out more: vodafone.uk/TalkTalk content rated 18+ at network level. so that if your child borrows your vodafone.com/digitalparenting Google Play and Apple App Store. .com/parents and Eleanor Levy, editor of Contact your mobile phone company phone, they can only access age- for direct links to the parental To ind out more: vodafone.uk/home to check whether this ilter is on or off. appropriate content and not get to support pages for each Android the rest of your stuff that you want service we mention. Smartphones and tablets (e.g. LG, Samsung, Sony, HTC, to keep private. Virgin Media The UK’s main mobile providers Huawei, Motorola, Amazon) To ind out more: vodafone.uk/ Virgin Media Web Safe works on any (e.g. Vodafone, EE, O2 and Three) The Restricted User feature lets you WindowsPhone Sky device connected to your home Wi-Fi. automatically block 18+ rated content choose which apps and content your To set up Kid’s Corner: vodafone.uk/kid Sky Broadband Shield works on all Provided free in broadband packages, through the Active Choice network- child can access, such as the camera devices connected to your Sky home it has two settings: Child Safe, which level iltering system. But this only and Chrome web browser. iOS broadband and comes at no extra blocks websites that are unsuitable for works if the device is connected via To ind out more: vodafone.uk/android (e.g. iPhone and iPad) cost. You can customise your settings younger users, and Virus Safe, which the mobile network, not Wi-Fi. and scroll down to ‘multiple user tips’ You can enable Restrictions on your in three steps: blocks websites that could lead to Your mobile’s operating system child’s iPhone or iPad and select ‘on’ 1) Choose a rating – PG, 13 or 18 viruses and other security issues. may also include safety features and Windows Phone or ‘off’ for features such as FaceTime, 2) Use the Watershed feature to set To ind out more: vodafone.uk/VirginMedia you can set restrictions on the App (e.g. Microsoft Lumia) in-app purchases, and Safari.

restrictions at speciic times of the day By Vicky Prior, editor of Vodafone Digital Parenting website vodafone Store and Google Play (see p43). The My Family option helps you to To ind out more: vodafone.uk/apple-IOS

40 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 41 Tools and settings

Safety and privacy controls Safe mode on on social networks and apps video websites

Movie and TV channels online Apple TV offer a huge range of content Turn on Restrictions to limit access Facebook Snapchat for all the family. Some use a to speciic features – such as app Minimum age: 13 Minimum age: 13 combination of password and purchases and multiplayer games What can you set? Decide who sees What can you set? Choose who can PIN to set restrictions on and content – on your Apple TV. your posts and Timeline, unfriend send you Snaps, decide who can view viewing, based on age ratings. To ind out more: vodafone.uk/AppleTV people and block people. your Stories and block people. Some let you create separate proiles To ind out more and report concerns: To ind out more: vodafone.uk/snapchat Live streaming for child users so they can only view vodafone.uk/Facebook To report concerns: vodafone.uk/ child-friendly content. Obviously, SnapReport services these restrictions only work if you keep the passwords and PINs secret. Live streaming platforms YouNow Sky TV Instagram let users chat to each other Minimum age: 13 with parental Using PIN-protected parental controls, Minimum age: 13 Twitter or broadcast videos of permission; 18 without you can restrict the programmes and What can you set? Control your Minimum age: 13 themselves in real time. What can you set? Use a nickname, YouTube channels your child can watch on Sky visibility (set photos and videos What can you set? Protect your This can create privacy hide your location and block people. YouTube’s Restricted Mode helps to TV. In addition, the Sky Kids app to private) and block people. tweets so that only approved followers and safety issues for users To ind out more: vodafone.uk/YouNow screen inappropriate content that you contains thousands of children’s To ind out more: vodafone.uk/Instagram can see them, hide certain users’ of all ages, so check the To report concerns: vodafone.uk/ wouldn’t want your child to see. shows and lets you ilter them by age. To report concerns: vodafone.uk/ tweets from your timeline, block settings and controls on YouNowReport To ind out more: vodafone.uk/YouTube To ind out more: vodafone.uk/SkyTV InstaReport people from contacting you and make each individual app. Here For more about Sky Kids: vodafone.uk/ use of the quality ilter. are three of the most popular We have listed select features of all SkyKids To ind out more: vodafone.uk/twitter streaming platforms: services. There may be other safety To report concerns: vodafone.uk/ or privacy settings available. Kik TwitterReport Skype BBC iPlayer Minimum age: 13 with parental Minimum age: 13 If your child sees anything The Parental Guidance lock lets you TalkTalk TV Store permission; 18 without What can you set? You can hide your inappropriate or sexual on a live manage the BBC content your child (previously called Blinkbox) What can you set? Manage who can age, date of birth and gender; only streaming app, they should report it can access. In addition, the free BBC TalkTalk TV Store has been integrated talk to you and block people. ooVoo allow people in your contact list to get to the site’s administrators. If they are iPlayer Kids app contains CBeebies with the parental controls in the To ind out more and report concerns: Minimum age: 13 in touch; and block people. the subject of inappropriate sexual and CBBC favourites. Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Safety vodafone.uk/Kik What can you set? Prevent certain To ind out more: vodafone.uk/Skype contact or approach by another To ind out more: vodafone.uk/bbc features are also available in the people from contacting you, block To report concerns: vodafone.uk/ person, they should tell a trusted For more about iPlayer Kids: Windows 8.1+ app. incoming calls, prevent people from SkypeReport adult and report it immediately to vodafone.uk/bbckids To ind out more: vodafone.uk/TalkTalkTV seeing your photos and set video-call CEOP (formerly the Child Exploitation privacy options. Periscope and Online Protection Centre) at Whisper To ind out more: vodafone.uk/ooVoo Minimum age: 13 ceop.police.uk. Minimum age: 17 To report concerns: vodafone.uk/ What can you set? You can hide your Netlix What can you set? Block people and ooVooReport location; set Private Broadcast, so only There are four maturity levels in hide your location. people you invite can watch your Netlix parental controls (Little Kids, To ind out more: vodafone.uk/whisper broadcasts; restrict chat to only the Older Kids, Teens and Adults) to help To report concerns: vodafone.uk/ people you follow; and choose not to you control what your child watches. whisperrep ASKfm share your broadcast on Twitter. To ind out more: vodafone.uk/netlix Minimum age: 13 To ind out more: vodafone.uk/periscope App store restrictions What can you set? You can allow or To report concerns: You can report block anonymous questions, block individual posts through the app You can set up parental controls on WhatsApp speciic users, delete answers from the App Store at vodafone.uk/apps Amazon Video and Minimum age: 16 your proile and control other users’ and Google Play at vodafone.uk/ Amazon Prime What can you set? Control who sees questions appearing on your proile. googleplay to prevent your child Amazon’s PIN feature lets you set We have listed select features of all your information, what you see, who To ind out more and report concerns: downloading apps that are purchase and viewing restrictions on services. There may be other safety you interact with and what you share. vodafone.uk/AskFM inappropriate for their age. your registered devices. or privacy settings available. To ind out more and report concerns: To ind out more: vodafone.uk/amazon vodafone.uk/WhatsApp

42 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 43 Tools and settings

Did you know… Reporting be anonymous and conidential. advice, the query may be passed to Premium-rate services You can report to the IWF via their the British Board of Film Classiication, How can such as competitions, website: iwf.org.uk. (If you want to ind whose website is bbfc.co.uk. Vodafone help? voting in TV shows, Where can you out more about what happens when donations to charity and someone reports illegal Inappropriate contact with an Vodafone Content Control directory enquiries calls report content that’s content to the IWF, see below for adult online prevents access to online content can all add charges to our interview with a senior internet You should report it immediately if and services rated 18+, such as your mobile phone bill. hateful or illegal, or content analyst.) you know or suspect your child has violent games, adult content and PhonepayPlus inappropriate contact been communicating with an adult gambling websites, on Vodafone’s regulates all phone-paid ParentPort online who has done or tried to do mobile network. services in the United with an adult online? ParentPort is run by the UK’s media any of the following: Content Control is in place on Kingdom and they can regulators and allows you to make 1 Talk about sex or other type of most of the devices Vodafone help you track down If your child becomes upset or reporting inappropriate content. Try complaints about online content, sexual activity offers, except BlackBerry devices, unexpected charges on concerned about something they’ve searching for ‘Report’, or look through wherever you ind it. Their website 2 Asked them to do something that which use their own server. your mobile phone bill. seen online, it’s important to talk to their terms and conditions, or Help is parentport.org.uk. makes them feel uncomfortable, The age-restricted content bar If you’ve spoken to them about what they encountered. section. You will ind links for such as sending them an image or only works on Vodafone’s mobile your service provider and Then, depending on the type of reporting to the most popular social True Vision video in which they’re naked or network, not on Wi-Fi, and proof of your network and you’re content they came into contact media sites on p42. Although there’s True Vision is a police-funded site partially clothed age (18+) is required if you wish to still not satisied, you can with, you have a number of options no guarantee that the content will be that provides information about hate 3 Asked them to meet ofline remove it from your device. contact PhonepayPlus for reporting it. removed, sites should take your crime. You can report all forms of 4 Asked them to lie to their parents To ind out more: on 0300 303 0020*. If they experienced bullying or concerns seriously. hate crime, including online content, about their online relationship or vodafone.co.uk/control They’re open Monday to abusive comments, or see something If your child stumbles across via report-it.org.uk. This includes tried to hide it. For more information about Friday, 9.30am to 5pm, inappropriate such as pornography, something illegal online, such as racial, homophobic, transphobic, parental controls, check out the excluding bank holidays. racial hatred or images of violence, images of children being abused, religious or disability hate crime. Should your child experience any of interactive guide on the Vodafone To opt out of a text you can report it directly to the there are established organisations these things, report it immediately to Digital Parenting website at service, send a new text content provider – i.e. the website, who will deal with the report promptly. Mobile phone content CEOP (formerly the Child Exploitation vodafone.com/parents/tools saying ‘STOP’ to the service or app that hosted the images, Report any unsuitable online content and Online Protection Centre), the short code quoted in the videos or words and made them Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) that your child sees on their mobile child protection command of the message (this is a ive- or available to view. Any images or videos that show child phone – ilms, still images or even National Crime Agency. You can make six-digit number that Most social media platforms have sexual abuse should be reported just text – to your mobile operator. If a report via their website: usually begins with 6, 7 simple processes in place for immediately to the IWF. Reports can the mobile operator requires further ceop.police.uk/Ceop-Report. or 8, or 5 in the Republic of Ireland). This should cost the same as a What happens Ian, a senior internet content address) associated with the image or where in the world it’s hosted, so we Games consoles standard network analyst at the Internet Watch video in your browser. How to do this can get it taken down. If the content Games consoles have built-in when you report Foundation, explains the process will vary on different devices and is being hosted in the UK, we contact message and is likely to an inappropriate parental controls, which are usually be included as part of of reporting to them different browsers. A quick search the hosting company, as well as UK accessible through the console’s any inclusive text and image online? online will show you. police, to let them know we’ve found home screen. These allow you calls package, depending When should someone report To report something to the IWF, an illegal image or video that needs to restrict users to viewing only on your provider and the The Internet Watch Foundation something they’ve seen to the IWF? go to iwf.org.uk/report and follow taking down immediately. Typically age-appropriate games, based on package you have. (IWF) is a charity dedicated Let’s say that you’re on your favourite the ive-step process with clear we’re able to remove UK-hosted the oficial PEGI ratings. (To ind out For more information, to supporting victims of child social media site, or just suring online. information about what you’re content in under two hours. more about PEGI ratings, see the visit the PhonePayplus sexual abuse by taking reports All of a sudden, you see an image or reporting, and paste the URL into the If what you’ve reported is hosted next page.) website phonepayplus. of, analysing and removing the a video that you think shows a child correct ield. Then just click submit. outside the UK, we’ll use our huge You can also disable in-app org.uk/for-consumers/ images of their abuse. They being sexually abused. Instead of network of international hotlines, purchases for some games. unexpected-phone- provide an anonymous and panicking and closing down the What happens next? internet industry members and You can ind detailed instructions charge safe hotline to report online windows on your mobile device or Every single report made to us is overseas law enforcement partners about setting up controls for the child sexual abuse imagery. computer, you need to report that viewed by a real person. Either to get that content taken down. following consoles on the website *Calls to 03 numbers Find out more at iwf.org.uk image or video to us. myself, or one of my colleagues, will We work with the police to try to of the Video Standards Council: should cost no more open your report, look at the image identify that child and rescue them Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, than geographic 01 or How do you make a report? or video and determine whether it from the abuse. And that’s why PS Vita, PSP, Nintendo 3DS and 02 calls and may be part Reporting to the IWF is quick and easy. is illegal, according to UK law. reports are so important to us – by Nintendo WiiU. Visit gamesrating of inclusive minutes, And you can remain completely If we decide that the content you choosing to report, you could be authority.org/GRA and click on subject to your provider anonymous. Copy the URL (web reported is illegal, we need to ind out saving a real child from abuse. ‘Controls’ in the top navigation bar. and your call package.

44 Digital Parenting vodafone.com/parents 45 Tools and settings Quiz How conident are you online? Take our quiz to ind out if you know your Keeks from your catishing

1. What does 5. What’s the difference 7. What would you Games content is checked under a vlogger do? between streaming ind in the Cloud? all these categories (left). The 1 Chops down trees and downloading? 1 Digital rain, the falling ‘discrimination’ descriptor has in the online game 1 Streaming is listening columns of green data never appeared on a game box Lumberjack using to music or watching in the Matrix ilms. in the UK. If a game did receive a v-shaped saw. video directly from 2 Your local online Met this, it is likely that it would 2 Keeps a video blog. the internet, while Ofice weather forecast. infringe national criminal laws. 3 Keeps a record of downloading is copying 3 Data and iles kept the number of visitors 3. What does it mean an audio or video ile on servers connected Games ratings explained to a website. to be ‘catished’ on from one computer to the internet. 10. What is a router? social media? system to another. 1 Software that roots Just like ilms and DVDs, many games have age ratings 1 To be lured into 2 Streaming is cleaning a out malicious viruses – and you can use parental controls to make sure your a relationship by virus from your computer, from your computer. someone adopting while downloading is the 2 A journey planner child only plays age-appropriate games. Gianni Zamo from a fake online persona. process of being infected that gives directions the Games Rating Authority explains why ratings matter The GRA strongly believes in 2 To be lured onto by a computer virus. especially for people providing as much information as malicious websites with 3 Streaming is spreading on foot. possible, so as well as the PEGI rating pictures of cute luffy rumours online, while 3 A hardware device and content descriptor, it also provides animals such as kittens. downloading is getting that sends data from Additional Consumer Information (ACI) 2. How long is a Keek? 3 To be hooked on using the gossip online. a local area network t has been suggested that video younger than the speciied age. Anyone – a detailed breakdown of why a game And what is it? dating websites. 8. In internet slang to other connections. game ratings – and also ilm and who does so can be prosecuted. has the rating it does by describing the 1 A video post no longer 6. What does ISP what does ‘rol’ IDVD ratings, come to that – are The GRA also has active input into degree to which content issues such than 36 seconds. 4. Where would you stand for? stand for? Answers: 1) 2; 2) 1; 3) 1; pretty pointless. The argument goes the International Age Rating Coalition as violence, sex and bad language 2 A very short tweet, up ind a PEGI rating? 1 Internet Sausage 1 Resting ofline 4) 2; 5) 1; 6) 2; 7) 3; 8) 2; that, these days, most of us (including (IARC), an organisation incorporating appear. This information is readily to 10 characters long. 1 On the windows of Procurement. for lunch. 9) 3: 10) 3. young people and children) can worldwide regulators to oversee available via the GRA’s website: 3 The second-long recommended internet 2 Internet 2 Rolling on the access virtually anything, anywhere, online content such as apps and gamesratingauthority.org. squeaky alert that cafés where People Service Provider. loor, laughing. How did you do? anytime, courtesy of the internet, and games. This enables online stores Through the PEGI system, the GRA your phone/tablet Enjoy Great Internet. 3 Intermittent 3 Reddit on 0-4 points without oficial hindrance. such as Google Play and Microsoft to is committed to providing independent, emits when you 2 On the packaging of Signal Problem. Facebook love. Analogue: OMG, what While this may be true to a certain display recognised PEGI ratings. clear information, which is why we’ve have a message. a computer game – it’s a disappointment. extent, the problem is that, while we launched a campaign to get schools the game’s age rating. 9. In which online 4-9 points

welcome the freedom the internet to join us in providing appropriate 3 On shows listed on game would you Digital: N2B – you’re offers us, that freedom brings with it knowledge and information to parents the Internet Soap ind the characters no stranger to the a certain amount of responsibility – 3 steps to safety and children alike. Awards Database – Steve, Pig and online world. particularly for content providers. in online games’ In a world of modern and often named after Barbara Enderman? 10 points This is where organisations such complex entertainment media and Windsor’s legendary 1 Super Mario Bros. Warp drive: Gratz, you as the Games Rating Authority (GRA) chat rooms systems, games ratings DO matter. EastEnders character 2 Call of Duty. clearly know your stuff.

and ratings systems such as the Pan Not only do they remove a lot of the Polo Parko Illustration: Peggy Mitchell. 3 Minecraft. Well done! European Game Information (PEGI) Don’t give away your full guesswork and uncertainty involved in can be used to help parents and 1name and where you live. choosing the appropriate game, but young people make informed choices. If other gamers you don’t know they also ensure that the widest range Acknowledgements In the UK, all physical games are in the ofline world ask to of games are available for all to play 2 Thanks to the following experts and contributors for all their help in putting together issue 5 of Digital Parenting: The Diana Award, NSPCC, regulated by the GRA, which uses connect outside the game, such as safely without the risk of something The Internet Watch Foundation, Place2Be, Internet Matters, Parent Info, The Games Rating Authority, Professor Lydia Plowman, Childnet, the PEGI rating system to ensure on social media, tell a trusted adult. frightening, worrying or unpleasant The Scout Association, PC Sharon Herbert, the Department for Education, Catherine Goodwin, Katie Collett, City of London Police, that they are suitable for the speciied Speak out if anyone makes you suddenly appearing on screen. Cerebra, Vicky Prior, PhonePayPlus, Dr John Coleman, Dr Nigel Best, Kate Medlin, Dr Fiona Pienaar, Stuart Dredge, Geraldine Bedell, Gilly age group. feel uncomfortable or upset. We hope you agree, and if you 3 Longton, the parents of our Digital Kids, Joe Shotbolt, Andy Robertson, The Stemettes, Jaffa, Cameron and Amelia. While PEGI 3 and 7 ratings are not Always tell a parent, teacher or require further information about legally binding, PEGI 12, 16 and 18 are. older relative. video game ratings then contact us at ©Vodafone 2016. Vodafone and the Vodafone logo are trademarks of the Vodafone Group. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows and Xbox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation of the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. The opinions It’s illegal to sell a game to someone videostandards.org.uk. stated in this document are the authors’ own and not necessarily those of the Vodafone Group.

46 Digital parenting vodafone.com/parents 47 Just some of the great feedback we received after last year’s Digital Parenting

“It’s highlighted how important it is to have open and regular discussions with my teenage stepdaughter about internet safety.” Cass, mum and stepmum of two, Leeds

“This practical and informative guide is greatly appreciated.” Michael, dad of one, Cumbernauld

“Digital Parenting addressed some real-world issues the digital world was creating – thank you!” Naomi, mum of two, Leicester

“Parents love it. Our head teacher loves it. I love it!” Tony, teacher, Hertfordshire

The Vodafone Foundation’s Connecting for Good programme combines Vodafone’s charitable giving and technology to make a difference in the world. Globally, the Vodafone Foundation supports projects that are focused on delivering public beneit through the use of mobile technology across the areas of health, education and disaster relief. vodafone.com/foundation

The Vodafone Foundation invests in the communities in which Vodafone operates and is at the centre of a network of global and local social investment programmes. The Vodafone Foundation is a UK-registered charity, registered charity number 1089625.

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