Protecting Children from Internet Risks
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June 16, 2022Protecting Children from Internet Risks
Risk and consequences of the internet and mobile phones The Internet can be a wonderful tool for learning, but as well as accessing educational information also has the possibility those children may access inappropriate information whilst online. Within the school setting children will have some protection, as school networks will have specialist software to block inappropriate websites. Mobile phones There will be some children within the school setting who have access to the Internet at break and lunchtimes on their phones without censored search engines and it is important to be vigilant for any pupils who may be accessing and sharing inappropriate content with other children (children are more likely to be warned about bringing mobile phones on to school premises). Children are becoming more and more interested in IT by using mobile phones, laptops, iPods, computers etc and should be monitored in and out of the school. Mobile phones can be used appropriately rather than inappropriately as they could be used to communicate with their parents for forgetting work, PE clothes, school bags etc, but can also have devastating consequences for children if they are used inappropriately. Mobile phones can be used as a forum of bullying, both inside and outside the school setting. The support assistant needs to be watchful and should monitor mobile phone use in the classroom, at break times and lunchtimes to see what children are using them for. Most school’s have a policy for no mobile phones to be used or brought onto the school premises, as they can be sued to send abusive and threatening text across the classroom to bully and intimidate others. Children sometimes hide their mobile phones in their pencil cases, up their blazer sleeves or under jumpers and will take any opportunity to get them out quickly when they think they are not being watched, so it is important to be vigilant at all times. The table below shows the risks and consequences of mobile phones and then Internet.
| Mobile phones | Internet |
| Can issue inappropriate content, pornography, cyber chatting (can lead to meeting strangers online and sharing of personal information)-paedophiles and other strangers could take advantage. | Online harassment, through e-mails, chat rooms, face book and other files that can be accessed. This could lead to suicide, self harming, mental breakdown etc. |
| Text messages- can be used to torment victims and at any time of the day or night. | Cyber bullying to hurt, upset, harass or embarrass others (could lead to suicide as a result) |
| Images or videos can be taken without others consent or knowledge and can be posted online. | Identity theft- could lead to a child’s or adult’s identity being stolen as personal information has been shared. |
| Texting- sexually suggestive or explicit messages or photographs (could lead to the victim self harming or committing suicide) | The child could be located in the real world by paedophiles etc which could lead to murder, rape and other upsetting factors. |
| Late night texting- can lead to tiredness, lack of concentration, and an inability to function in normal day to day activities at school. | Pornography can be easily located through the Internet, and misleading young girls to do things like stripping, prostitution, drug taking, alcohol consumption etc |
| Theft of expensive mobile phones could cause upset. | Chat rooms- could be chatting to the wrong person and leading them to run away from home (could lead to murder) |
| Health issues of long term usage of mobile phones. | Could get involved with gambling online which could be addicted in the long term. |
All these negative risks and possible consequences can be controlled by positive parenting strategies for the use of the Internet and mobile phones. The following could be used to control this.
- Talk often to the child about their safety
- Set ground rules for using the Internet and mobile phones (have penalties if this is abused)
- When and where the mobile can be used
- Do not let other children use your mobile phone for the use of the Internet
- No sending of mean or unkind messages via mobile phones or email on the Internet
- Think carefully about what you search for on the Internet, once shared images they cannot be reversed
- Be discreet in your use of your mobile phone; do not flash it around as it is a target for thieves.
- Monitor your child’s Internet sites they have looked at
- Be a good role model
- Have some daily routine by
