Schoolchildren and their parents will be encouraged to think about the ‘three Cs’ to mark Safer Internet Day (Tuesday 7th February).
As part of ongoing work on being safe, primary and secondary schools are staging activities connected with e-safety and many are involving families, too.
This year’s Safer Internet Day theme is ‘connecting generations and educating each other’ and pupils will be considering the three Cs – content (what they look at when they are online), conduct (how they behave online and the messages it may send out) and contact (who they communicate with and the dangers of communicating with strangers).
Julie Wilsdon, Advisory Teacher for ICT with the Department of Education and Children, said the DEC is working with schools, local internet service providers (ISPs) and the police to give consistent messages to children about staying safe online.
‘The DEC supports schools in developing their e-safety guidance and curriculum. We have online resources and are working with the police and ISPs to deliver a clear and concise message about e-safety,’ Julie said.
‘The internet offers excellent opportunities for learning, global exploration and socialising. The development of web 2.0 technologies means that we are no longer passive viewers of websites but can interact, post comments, create profiles and play interactive games.
‘The internet can influence young people in a beneficial or harmful way and schools and families can play a crucial part in managing those risks.’
Advice to pupils and parents around the three Cs includes:
Conduct – remember that some people might not be who they say they are. Keep personal information, including passwords, safe. Observe age limits on social networking sites, look at privacy settings and be careful what you post. Remember your digital footprint could last forever.
Content – what are children viewing? They should exercise caution over nasty or unwanted emails or reading or forwarding content that might cause offence. Beware of illegal or violent sites. Don’t accept spam and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Contact – children shouldn’t pass on or reply to rude or upsetting messages and should tell a trusted adult if they feel uneasy about a message or approach they receive. Never agree to meet anyone you only know from the internet.
‘In the lead up to and on Safer Internet Day, some schools are working with parents to develop e-safety tips for families and are running parents’ meetings to share and discuss the key elements of e-safety and show some excellent videos that illustrate some of the real dangers of the internet,’ Julie said.
‘This week is about highlighting to children and families that the internet is a wonderful way to explore the world and learn but poses very real dangers that we all need to be aware of.’
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