The UK is developing an internet safety strategy in an attempt to secure a position as “the safest place in the world for young people to go online”.
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This blog has been written by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, a part of The Children’s Bureau charity in the UK. To celebrate Safer Internet Day 2015, AVG has teamed up with the Anti-Bullying Alliance to create a graphic designed to help anyone who may be experiencing cyberbullying.
It seems like a lifetime ago but many of us at the Anti-Bullying Alliance can still remember a pre-Internet world. There were few computers and certainly no smartphones.
Once you left the house you had to print a map of where you were going and hope that the person you arranged to meet would actually turn up.
Fortunately, now we have the Internet and it’s infinite different uses. Looking around, it is hard to find a part of our day to day lives that hasn’t been touched by the world wide web.
However, as is so often the case, with great power comes great responsibility. The Internet gives us an incredible window into the world but it’s up to each of us that we use the net responsibly.
The Anti-Bullying Alliance is all about working to make the Internet a safe and positive place to be. But with recent stories in the press about antisocial behaviour on social media sites it’s no wonder parents and schools are concerned about keeping young people safe from cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is a significant issue facing young people today, and according to Safer Internet Day research in 2013, as many as 41% of 7–11 year olds knew someone who had been cyberbullied
That’s why we’ve created some tips in the infographic below with AVG to support Safer Internet Day 2015.
Don’t forget that the biggest impact we can have to reduce cyberbullying is to model kindness and respect both online and off – stay safe, fun and connected.
You can follow the Anti-Bullying Alliance on Twitter @ABAonline
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
