Safer Internet Day 2010

Safer Internet Day is organised by Insafe each year in February to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people across the world. The topic for 2010 is "Think B4 U post!".

Anything anyone posts online remains there for an indefinite period and accessible for everyone. This can have serious consequences.

Children and teenagers need to be made aware that they can control their online identity.

So the advise is:

- use the privacy settings offered by social networking services.

- select friends online that you can trust.

- publish your own photos only after thinking carefully about the potential consequences.

- publish pictures of your their friends only with their permission.

To support the day the SWGfL are running a competition. Children are invited to create an E-Safety SWGfL Merlin minisite with advice, links to useful resources, discussion boards and more… or a 30 second Radio or TV commercial promoting E-Safety. See here for more details.

The release of the new Online Safety Planner – the next step for the 360 degree safe software which allows any agency working with children to validate just how safe their own internet provision is. This was successfully rolled out to schools in November 2009. For more information on this go to www.360safe.org.uk

The release of an update of the Golden Rules film, aimed at parents to help themselves and their children to be safer when using the internet. The current version of this film is available to view at http://www.swgfl.org.uk/Staying-Safe/e-Safety-Movies

CEOP has produced some great resources for KS1 as well as advice for how to support Safer Internet Day. Go to their site here.

Safer Internet Day

Tomorrow is Safer Internet Day which takes place each year in February to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people across the world.

Since the first edition in 2004, participation in this event has been steadily growing, with an increase in general awareness, stronger involvement of relevant stakeholders in the field of internet safety and a high level of media interest.

In 2008 over 120 organisations in 56 countries took part in Safer Internet Day celebrations, organising local, national and pan-European events ranging from safety sessions in schools and competitions for young people to public meetings and conferences.

Schools are encouraged to do something to mark the day and many use it as a launchpad for other internet safety awareness related activities in their school.

Here are some useful links and resouces:

• Click here for resources some of which can support a school assembly.
• Safer Internet Day Event Page
• The Insafe Network
• Childnet
• SWGfL Safety Page
• Becta’s Safety Page