E-Safety
Trinity e-safety policy
Details of our e-safety policies can be found here, in our ICT Policy.
Information and advice from Redbridge Council can be found here.
The links below are to key e-safety documents provided by Redbridge LEA:
Potential negative issues related to e-safety
Cyberbullying
What is it?
Cyberbullying is bullying which occurs over a technological medium.
What forms can it take?
Cyberbullying can take a variety of forms, some of which are highlighted below.
Receiving sent abusive emails, texts or voice mail messages
Online content (like Facebook groups or websites) with humiliating or abusive content.
Sharing abusive, humiliating or degrading video or pictures of students.
It is important to keep in mind that technology is the tool of the cyberbully. As technology develops so do the methods the cyberbully employs to abuse their victim or victims. A comprehensive list of forms is therefore difficult to compile.
Why is cyberbullying so damaging if the abuse isn’t face to face?
Face to face bullying normally occurs in or near to school, therefore the powerfully negative feelings associated to such victimization are contained with the realm of the instiuation. Though this is obviously devastating for the victim’s feelings toward school, it does mean there is an escape when they return home. With cyberbullying however there is little escape for students. Using technology to bully another student means that that the abuse follows the victim everywhere this technology is apparent, including at home. This sensation of the abuse being unavoidable can create profoundly negative feelings. If left, these feelings can build creating deeper psychological problems.
How to deal with cyberbullying if it occurs?
If you suspect your child is being cyberbullied talk to your child, try to ascertain their situation. Reassure your child that they have done nothing wrong their situation can be improved if they discuss the problem.
Though your child will probably be inclined to delete all abusive content, try to keep a record of all activity undertaken by the bully. Print out emails, save all text messages, take screen shots of web content, keep whatever you can. This makes it is easier to identify and appropriately punish the cyberbully.
Contact the school as possible with as much information as possible. You will be taken seriously, you will be listened to.
If abusive content has been posted, contact the owners of the site to get it removed. YouTube, FaceBook, MySpace and Bebo all have mechanisms for removing abusive content.
What measures could I take to help prevent/equip my child to cope with cyberbullying
If you can, get involved with your child’s use of the computer. Ask them what social networking sites they have joined or what instant message applications they use.
If possible have the computer in a place where it you are able to monitor their usage of the computer.
Encourage your child not get involved with the cyberbullying and to talk to either you or their teachers about any abusive videos or pictures they may receive involving another student. The cyberbully’s power comes largely from the social hit they get when others think their actions are funny. This is highlighted in the government’s anti-cyberbullying campaign ‘Laugh at it, and you’re part of it’, visit http://yp.direct.gov.uk/cyberbullying/ for more information.
Encourage your child to ‘lock down’ their social networking accounts so to make harder for a cyberbully to get in contact. Locking down an account blocks off access to an account to any outsiders that haven’t been invited. Read the privacy setting of they social networking site to ascertain how to do this.
Gaming
How do I judge the appropriateness of a game?
PEGI labels
Looking at the PEGI (Pan European Game Information) images printed on the back of the game will provide invaluable information regarding the content of a game. PEGI images can tell you if a game depicts violence, contain swearing, frightening content, sexual imagery, drugs, discrimination, gambling or if the game can be played online.To find out more about PEGI and their work with the games industry visit http://www.pegi.info/en/index/id/952.
British Board of Film Classification
Games contain the same age classification as films and TV programmes. If a game is classified as being an 18 then your child cannot by law buy that game. Visit the BBFC website for more information http://www.pbbfc.co.uk/videogames.asp.
Gaming websites
Gaming websites provide a wealth of information about the content of a game and will allow informed decisions to be made regarding the both the appropriateness and quality of a game. A list of websites are listed below.
Can I make a game more appropriate?
It is possible for some games to alter the content subtly so to remove aspects such as swearing or overly violent scenes. Bare in mind however that a game which has been flagged up as being violent is unlikely to become completely devoid of all aggressive scenes.
Is online gaming unsafe?
Behaviour of others gamers
Online gaming in itself is not an unsafe activity, playing games online is another way children can socialize with their friends. It is, however, worth keeping in mind that when engaging with some gaming online, children may be exposed to swearing and discriminatory language from other players. Talk to your child about what games they play and what happened while they playing. If you feel the actions of other players is inappropriate for your child encourage play with only friendship groups or remove the game.
Game Addiction
Often online environments are high octane, exciting and frenetic. Rewards, gamer points and rep points all add to reinforcing the positive nature of gaming. Gaming can therefore become a very attractive place for children. It is very easy for a child to become addicted to spending copious amount of time playing these games. Monitor the amount of time your child spends online gaming. If you feel their gaming is interrupting their life, cap their usage.
Should I panic if my child is an avid gamer?
Remember, gaming (online or otherwise) is an important part of popular culture on par with TV and radio, to completely exclude all gaming from a child’s life would be inappropriate. There is no concrete evidence that video games can make children badly behaved or violent. Be sensible and you’ll be safe.
Illegal Downloading
What is considered illegal?
A download is considered illegal if the material is copyrighted and the downloader did not pay for it. Illegal downloads are often associated to music, films and TV programmes but they can also relate to games, software and images.
What if I didn’t know the content was copyrighted?
Under the eyes of the law an illegal download has still occurred. Unless the content is specifically flagged up as being copyright free or free to download assume it must be paid for.
What is are BitTorrents and are they illegal to use?
BitTorrents refers to the technology which allows people to share content online. Using a BitTorrent in itself isn’t illegal but the content which they can supply can be. BitTorrents were originally (and still are) used to share software updates between programmers now they are used to shared anything online. Some BitTorrents are used to illegally share copyrighted material. BitTorrents are often used to facilitate the spread of malware - programs that can damage other files on your computer or enable the theft of personal details.
What are the alternatives?
Spotify, gives free users 20 hours of music every month. For £9.99 Premium users have unlimited music access and offline music listening. Visit http://www.spotify.com/uk/free-user/ for more information and to join.
Last.fm, a social networking website allowing users to listen to genres of music of their choice. Visit http://www.last.fm/ for more information and to join.
BBC iPlayer, watch BBC programs for up to 7 days after they’ve broadcasted on TV. Visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/ to start watching BBC programmes.
Online grooming
Some people make use of the Internet (especially chat rooms, gaming and social networking sites e.g. Facebook) to make contact with young people. The intention of these people is to establish and develop relationships with young people with the purpose of persuading them into sexual activity. These techniques are often known as ‘online enticement’, ‘grooming’ or ‘child procurement’.
Social maladaptive behaviour
Social networking and communicative technologies are an important part of many student's social lives. A relience on such methods has the potential to effect the confidence and ability of a student to communicate in face to face discourse. Online communication has the potential to become a hiding place for less socially confident students.
Inappropriate content
There is a risk that when using the Internet, young people may be exposed to inappropriate content. This may be material that is pornographic, hateful or violent; encourages activities that are dangerous or illegal; or is just age-inappropriate or biased. One of the key benefits of the web is that it is open to all, but unfortunately, this also means that those with extreme political, racist or sexist views also have a free voice. Without guidence students may not appreciate the damaging nature of this content.
Copyright and plagiarism
The ability to copy and paste information found online is very simple and is a practice with is very easily adopted by students to complete classwork and homestudy and some cases, coursework. This is problematic for two reasons. Firstly copying work breeches copyright and is illegal. Secondly, while students copying and paste work from another they themselves do not learn anything from the activity.
Useful Links
Governmental and offical links on the topic of e safety
Online Games, quizes and Activities
Flash games on e safety
Flash games on e safety
A general quiz on the topic of e safety for parents
Staying safe when communicating online
Website with a general overview of e-safety from IM to online gaming
A well presented website providing advice on how to safe when communicating using mobiles, chat rooms, email, IM and games.
Program from TeachersTV highlighting ways students can stay safe online in class
Advice from Microsoft, the makers of the XBox 360, about how to stay when gaming online.
CyberBullying
A short video about cyber bullying from CyberMentors
Privacy
information about downloading music safely