Safeguarding Updates

03/03/2025

Safeguarding update - Watching and Browsing Online - Internet Matters.

 According to Ofcom, 90% of children are watching online videos and browsing the internet regularly. Children may love to stream videos and look up information, it’s a fun way to learn and relax afterall but they must be guided. The e-space is filled with inappropriate content and dangerous material. It is important that parents and even teachers, are able to steer their pupils and youngsters, towards the right places when online. Internet Matters has published a guide dedicated to supporting adults in setting digital boundaries for children, so that they can make smart choices and build healthy online habits. In the Internet Matters guide you’ll find practical tips on managing content access, the use of safety controls, advice on setting boundaries and ways to educate children on how to stay secure online. If interested please follow the link below:

https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/by-activity/watching-and-browsing-online-a-parents-guide/

24/02/2025

 Safeguarding update - Manipulative marketing in games (Better Internet for Kids)

Children's online experiences increasingly intersect with potential financial and psychological risks. Manipulative marketing tactics are commonly employed in digital platforms, games, and apps that target children. Understanding these tactics is crucial for safeguarding professionals, as they can lead to unauthorised spending, privacy breaches, and impacts on mental wellbeing.

There are three important areas to consider: persuasive features (such as 'dark patterns' and variable rewards), subscription traps, and product placement. As digital safeguarding becomes increasingly complex, children need support to recognise and respond to manipulative online marketing strategies.

To read more about how manipulative marketing affects children and young people, go to: https://better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/en/learning-corner/parents-and-caregivers/marketing-games