Keeping your child safe online

CEOP helps any child or young person under the age of 18 who is being
pressured, forced or tricked into taking part in sexual activity of any kind.
You can visit the CEOP Safety Centre for information and advice and
make a report directly to CEOP.

Online safety is a vitally important part of modern education and something that is engaged with by all year groups at Fairfields.

Pupils have weekly online safety activities delivered by their class teacher as well as the topic being taught as part of their weekly computing lessons. Each year the whole school takes part in Internet Safety Day in February.

The online world is a rapidly changing landscape, therefore we aim to instill values and behaviours that will allow our students to be safe regardless of technological developments. By the end of their time with Fairfields they should be able to:

use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly;
recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour;
identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact

If you’re uncertain or worried about how to support your child with technology, then speak to us!

Alternatively, you might find your question answered in the below advice or weblinks.

Using the Internet safely.

The Internet is a fantastic source of fun e learning, but it's worth following some simple rules to help your children stay safe online.

Always sit with young children when they use the internet.
There are plenty of safe places for children to play and learn on the web. Find and save them as shortcuts.
Adjust browser settings and filters to protect children from unsuitable sites.
Get older children to use the computer, laptop or tablet in a family room or a place you share.
Talk to your child about how to stay safe online and let them know they can talk to you if they find themselves in any sort of trouble.

Children and social media.

Nearly all social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Musical.ly and Skype have a minimum age of 13 to access and use their services. Whatsapp now has a minimum age of 16.

As an adult, you should consider carefully the impact of anything you share on your own social media about your child. For example, could your post identify them to strangers or compromise their safety.

Apps on smartphones and tablets.

Many children now use apps on smartphones and tablets. Some of these devices have a child mode that stop children leaving the app they are using and accessing other things accidentally.

Some apps have 'in-app purchases' that require a payment to get extra features or progress in the game. Some devices have parental controls that require a password to be entered before a purchase can be made.

If your device has these features, consider turning them on.

Top Tips

Prioritise safety - Teach children not to give out personal information. This includes their name, address, and telephone number. Other details about their life can give away more information than they might think. Children should avoid posting which school they go to or uploading pictures of themselves in their uniform.
Set parental controls - Work together with your child to agree a list of websites they can visit. Remember to check the minimum age limit on services like Facebook, Tik Tok and YouTube. Most social media channels have an age limit of 13.
Be open - Let them know that they can tell you about anything that happens on the internet. Try to listen without judgement or anger. With older children, explain your worries so they can see the reasoning behind any rules you set.
Location - Think about locating your computer in a supervised, family area to help you oversee what your child is accessing. Despite parental controls which you may have in place, unfortunately sometimes children can be exposed to unwanted and unpleasant comment content.
Discuss their activity - Take an interest in their online world. Talk to them about their favourite websites, videos, and their online friends. This will keep communication open between you and your child.
Set boundaries - Establish time limits for activities such as using the internet and gaming. Make sure to set aside time for 'unplugged' family activities.

AI Chatbots: Benefits, Risks & What Parents Need to Know

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/are-ai-chatbots-safe-for-kids.aspx

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are now a part of daily life for many families. Children may turn to chatbots for entertainment or companionship. There are even cuddly toys like teddy bears powered by AI chatbots. That's when these computer programs, designed to interact like humans, can be more risky for young users. Companies are investing a lot of time and money into growing AI platforms and chatbots. But these are not necessarily being made with kids in mind. This means that chatbots may tell kids false, harmful, highly sexual or violent things.

How do AI chatbots work?

Chatbots are AI-driven computer programs that listen to us and respond in friendly, human ways. They "learn" how to speak and write naturally by absorbing what we (and millions of others) tell them, either in writing or out loud.

Advanced chatbots help users create characters who can talk with users for hours, giving the impression they are caring friends.

What are the risk of AI chatbots?

Chatbots can't think or feel

Even though they respond in warm, friendly ways, they don't care about our children. Interacting with AI can be thought-provoking and enlightening. One thing AI can never do is be a substitute for the safe, stable and nurturing relationships that children need to grow.

Chatbots can too easily gain a child's trust

One of the fun and incredible things about kids and teens is they are more magical thinkers than adults. This means that they become more attached to "parasocial" relationships. Parasocial relationships involve a connection between a person and someone they do not know well. AI can fuel these parasocial relationships. Children and teenagers can become very attached to and trust their AI avatars or online personalities that they construct.

Chatbots aren't responsible for what they say

Unlike humans, chatbots don't have a sense of duty to protect kids. They only know what they learn from the internet and other users. This is one reason they might give false, threatening, misleading, violent or overly sexual answers and advice to young users.

Chatbots don't check facts

Chatbots aren't required to sift through multiple sources and figure out what information seems trustworthy. They can misguide children or advise them to take dangerous actions based on scant knowledge of a given subject.

Chatbots don't really know our kids

Chatbots don't know a child's life story. Young or sensitive kids, those who are developmentally delayed or those living with trauma or mental health issues might be more open to their influence.

How to talk with your child about chatbots

Listen to learn

Ask whether they've used chatbots for fun or friendship and which platforms they like most. Take a calm, curious approach so they feel safe telling you about their experiences. Ask if the chatbot has ever said anything creepy or false to them. Suggest looking together at your child's chats with the bot. This can help them identify anything you think is inappropriate.

Discuss the difference between humans and chatbots

Touch on the fact that only real people can offer them loyalty, caring or truthfulness. You might even reflect on the ways real conversations sound. They can be messy, loud, funny or challenging. Explain that we need these complex connections with other people who can question, disagree, and interact in real time. Lacking this kind of input from other people can dampen a child's creative thinking and skills.

To keep them vibrant and help them thrive, tell your child how much your relationship with them matters. Help them seek out other strong and impactful relationships with others.

Talk about the dangers of sharing

Discuss how it may be tempting to confide in a chatbot about something that feels embarrassing. But chatbots are not meant to be sounding boards for deeply personal issues. They should seek out trusted relationships with actual human beings to help navigate the twists and turns of life.

It might help to remind them that the chatbot's only real goal is to tell them what they want to hear and keep them engaged. This isn't the same as genuine support. Plus, there's no guarantee that information shared with a chatbot will stay confidential. Private information should only be shared with parents, family members or trusted friends.

Open, caring communication makes chatbots less tempting

Kids may be drawn to chatbots when they feel frustrated with the people in their lives. This can create an unhealthy cycle of hanging out alone with a chatbot while growing more distant from friends, classmates, mentors and family.

Talk about your child's frustrations and how to handle them. It's not always easy to connect with kids, especially in the tween to teen years. But there are ways to make kids of all ages feel seen, heard and respected. Here are just a few.

Family meals spent chatting, laughing and relaxing.

Car rides that provide a chance for casual conversation.

Making yourself available at key times—for example, after school or sports practice.

Asking open questions and supporting their need to think for themselves.

Staying calm and non-judgmental, even when you're discussing tough topics.

Avoiding lectures and long stories that make them want to tune out.

Affirming how much you love them and care about their health.

Another helpful tip:

Stay tuned in when kids are using AI, especially at younger ages. Encourage them to work in a common area so you can keep loose tabs on what they're viewing. Reassure them you're not "spying" on them or trying to control their every move. If they know you're motivated by love and concern, they'll feel more comfortable with this request.

Talk with your child's doctor if they seem withdrawn and prefer talking with chatbots rather than people. Therapy and other social skills opportunities can help your child feel more comfortable in the social world.