(B)e Safe Buddies
May 2015 - Issue 3
Pause for thought
In January issue (1)<<LINK>> we looked at "screen time" TV - computer - games - phones - tablets - watches and how much is too much - should we monitor, restrict availability?
This month we would like you to think about
" Do Children compete for attention from parents / carers with technology?"
technology can be used to enhance playful, creative and engaging activities between adults and young children.
What about parents/carers who are tethered to their smart phones and lap tops?
Young children, research tells us, thrive on loving, supportive back-and-forth conversations and interactions with their parents and other caregivers. It’s the basis of social-emotional development, the oral language skills and vocabulary building that form the basis of literacy, and the parent-child bond. Is the use and misuse of “screen time” proving to be an issue for adults as well as children?
are these children - tablet / smart phone orphans?
Staying Safe online
Hot off the press, just produced by UK Safer Internet Centre three brand new checklists - for Twitter, Snapchat & Instagram, with the same style and format as their hugely popular Facebook checklist. can all be found on the downloadable resources page of the
Staffordshire Foster Carers web site
The checklists cover everything you need to know in order to manage your information and stay safe online while using these services. The handy guides include advice on how to manage your privacy and control what and who you share information with, how to block and report, as well as how delete or deactivate an account. All four checklists were produced by our helpline in partnership with safety teams of the three service providers - Facebook, Snapchat & Twitter.
Phone scams
What should I look out for?
There are some key things that may indicate that your caller is not genuine. Be aware if a caller:
- Asks for your personal and financial information, including your full security details
- Tells you that fraud has been detected on your account - using a sense of urgency and your natural concern to gain your trust
- Asks you to transfer money into another account - your bank and the police will never ask you to do this
- Suggests that you hang up and call the official bank phone number - by them not hanging up, they can be sure that you're reconnected directly with them again
- Asks you to enter your PIN into the handset - this sounds like a security measure, but is actually the fraudster stealing your pin and is something your bank will never ask you to do
- Asks you to put your card and PIN in envelopes to be collected - your bank will never collect your card in person
Staffordshire Foster Carers association
(B)e safe Buddies would like to thank S.F.C.A. for their continue support
we would also like to thank all those that share these updates with friends, colleagues and other contacts in their address book, by being aware we will be better positioned to support, guide and equip children and young people to better protect themselves
Whats New ?
Last month Twitter launched Periscope – a livestreaming app which lets you broadcast video live online.
The app lets you tune in to other people’s broadcasts, or you can broadcast your own live video. Throughout the broadcast people can post comments or share hearts.
While there are positive uses, there are a few potential risks around what young people share,
As with everything, it’s about being informed and making good choices,
Some Top Tips as published by UK Safer internet Centre << LINK>>
Revenge Porn
A new term that has received some media attention in recent months,
Revenge Porn is a term used to describe sexually explicit media that is publicly shared online without the consent of the pictured individual. Content is often uploaded by ex-partners with an intention to shame or embarrass an individual, linking content to the persons other online content, such as Facebook, LinkedIn or even work websites, along with personal information including addresses and telephone numbers. Sometimes this content is also directed at family members to cause maximum harm to the victim.
South West Grid for Learning, (one of the partners of the UK Safer Internet Centre) have been funded by the Government Equalities Office to provide a dedicated support service for anyone affected by this issue in the UK. Victims come from all backgrounds, male and female
Victims and support professionals can contact the helpline between 10-4, Monday to Friday by telephone 0845 600 04590845 600 0459, or anytime via email help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk or our anonymous online reporting tool Whisper http://www.revengepornhelpline.org.uk/?
Digiduck's Big Decision
A nice child friendly resource developed by Childnet international -
Help arrives just in time for Digiduck when faced with a difficult decision! Follow Digiduck and his pals in this story of friendship and responsibility online.
The Digiduck collection has been created to help parents and teachers educate children aged 3 - 7 about how to be a good friend online. The collection now includes a book, PDF and interactive app <<LINK>>
Stranger Danger
At a recent support group I attended the topic of Stranger Danger was discussed, and as carers and Parents we shared ideas to educate our children about the dangers that can be associated with unknown people both in the physical world and the on line world.
I hope the following links will be helpful.
BBC Newsround - "Caught in the web" narrated by David Tennant <<Link>>
C.E.O.P. (Child Exploration & Online Protection) Lee and Kim suitable for 5-7 year olds <<LINK>>