Who are you and why are you here?
Maddie: My name is Maddie Moate and I am a YouTube Presenter, I make lots of videos mostly about science and technology. I know quite a lot about social media, and how to stay safe using technology. That’s why I’ve been invited here today.
Luke: I’m Luke Franks and I’m a presenter, I present shows on live kids TV but also do the online X-Factor. I spend a lot of time online, on social media in particular so I’ve come along today to talk to people about how they can do that in a safe way.
Have you ever been cyberbullied? Do you think there are ways to stop cyberbullying?
L: I don’t think I’ve ever been cyberbullied, but I’ve had people send me some nasty messages. They don’t make you feel good when you read them. I think the best thing you can do is talk to an adult, either your parents or someone at school who you trust. It’s not okay and it shouldn’t happen!
M: Totally. Just because it is happening online doesn’t mean that it’s okay. It’s just as bad as bullying in real life. I’ve had a couple of instances where people say not very nice things to me on YouTube. It can be very difficult but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to handle it by yourself. Look for some support.
What are the pros and cons of social media?
L: Good question. One of the best things about social media is that it’s a very easy way to share things with your friends and build a place online where you can all hang out.
M: Yeah, it’s a great way of sharing photos and memories with friends and family who might live far away. But these days it’s very common to be part of bigger communities that share wider interests or passions for activities, brands or music.
L: Exactly. One of the great things about YouTube is that it can also be a great learning tool. Let’s say you wanted to learn the guitar. You can go onto YouTube and find hundreds of free lessons that will teach you exactly what you want to learn.
And the cons?
L: There are definitely some cons. You don’t always necessarily know who is online or who you are talking to. So you have to be aware and be careful about what you are putting online.
M: There are also lots of people who see what you do online but aren’t speaking up. It’s easy to think that you are just talking to certain people but actually your messages can be seen by many more than you think.
How do you keep safe on the Internet?
M: Check your privacy settings. You want to make sure that what you are posting can only be seen by the people you want to read it. Remember that anything you put online can be discovered, so try and make sure that you are showing a good representation of yourself.
L: Yeah, settings can be quite complicated sometimes but it’s worth checking them from time to time to make sure you’re not sharing with too many people.
Can someone be addicted to technology?
M: Yes! Definitely.
L: I think you can. I spend so much time on my phone and I love tweeting and finding out about stuff online. But there’s a real world too and it’s important to learn skills for the real world and not just online. You can’t stay on your phone forever!
M: It can be very easy for people to get addicted to creating an online personality or life that doesn’t actually exist. It can seem more exciting online where you might be more cool or popular but actually the most important thing is to look after the real you in the real world.
