Watching the detectives…
Are you e-proficient? Or does your son, daughter, niece, nephew etc. understand the world wide web far better than you?
There’s no doubt we’ve moved much closer to a ‘big brother’ state and one of the biggest watcher’s of our activities is the internet. It’s also one of the most popular leisure and work tools since the bicycle was invented. We bank online, we shop online, we socialise, we share work, listen to music, educate ourselves… there’s an ever expanding list. I was asked to run a drama session with the Brownies this month on e-safety and I came across Tim’s Blog. Tim is a youth worker who is asking some very pertinent questions about social media, because no matter how much we worry about our young people being safe when ‘online’ there is no denying that they thrive on the flexible, creative nature of social media. The whole point of social media is it’s self-regulation and lack of rules imposed by an authority – the masses vote with their feet.
In youth arts young people, can make a film, write a song, record it overlay it as a soundtrack and upload the whole shebang on the internet in a very short space of time. They can grab photo’s and content from their work and market their project to friends and strangers alike in a scarily efficient way –sometimes capturing the imagination and interest of thousands of people as evidenced by you-tube and face-book campaigns. Is it time for an e-safety test? (like cycling proficiency) i.e. before you get on it you have to be aware of how to use it safely; protect yourself, respect others (there is an alarming incidence of e-bullying). Taking the computer away might be a little like bolting the stable door – it’s an exciting world and I do mean ‘world’ it is addictive and equally it’s useful. Do read Tim’s blog and do check out these sites below if you have any concerns about e-safety. The most useful piece of advice given to me by Artist and blogger Dan Thompson was “don’t do something just because the computer or a website tells you to, you’re in charge not the computer” - ‘check before you click’.
Internet safety websites giving information to parents and young people http://www.bbc.co.uk/chatguide/parents/index.shtml
An easy-to-understand site with a common sense guide to using chat rooms for the whole family.
http://www.iwf.org.uk The only organisation in the
http://www.safety.ngfl.gov.uk Advice for schools on internet safety from the Department for Education and Skills.
http://www.childnet-int.org/ Childnet International : Key safety issues and how best to discuss internet safety with children.
http://www.getnetwise.org/ Challenge yourself and learn how your children can use the internet safely. http://familyinternet.about.com/cs/internetsafety1/a/safety01.htm
About: internet safety. Take the tutorial for internet safety. US site with level-headed information for parents.
http://www.besafeonline.org/English/safer_use_of_services_on_the_internet.htm
This site has been developed to make adults more aware of how to use the internet safely, so they can encourage safe behaviour online among children and young people. http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/
A safety site with resouces and activities for families and teachers including some interactive games. http://www.safer-internet.net/
A European site with information about the campaigns and activities on making the internet a safer place for all. http://www.keepyourkidssafe.com/
Product reports and information about what software you need to have installed on your computer. http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents The Home Office working with industry experts to keep parents informed.