Keeping Safe On Line

It has become apparent that many of our older students have social media accounts that are not appropriate for their age. 

Research shows that social media and young children can have negative effects  – Netsafe  

We do not allow any students to use social media apps at school.  Phones are to be kept in bags or given in at the office.

PLEASE NOTE

• • SNAPCHAT – Age 13 is the minimum age to sign up.  Common Sense Media rates Snapchat for teens 16 and up, mainly because of the exposure to age-inappropriate content and the marketing ploys, such as quizzes, that collect data.
  • INSTAGRAM–  requires everyone to be at least 13 years old before they can create an account.
  • TIK TOK –  The minimum age for a TikTok user is 13 years old
  • games that are inappropriate for their age. Some of the games we know students play at home: Far Cry  (18+), Monster Hunter (12+) Dragon Ball Fighterz. (13+) Call of Duty: (17+). Grand Theft Auto (18+). Sea Of Thieves.(13+)
  • Fortnite is 12+ and not appropriate for primary aged students
  • YouTube and Google is 13+ (NOT for primary school aged students)
  • G Suite, for education including youtube, gmail, etc, is for all ages (managed school accounts)

Most problems occur with the communications students have with people they know.  Please monitor your child’s online communications and friendships.

We do not have any 12,13 year olds at school so do NOT see it necessary for any children to have any of the above apps or accounts.

Keeping ourselves safe online – Digital citizenship

What does this mean?

• “Digital citizenship can be understood as the skills, knowledge, and values required to be an effective, ethical and safe user of ICT”   www.netsafe.org.nz 

10 basic safety tips to help keep our children safer online

1. Talk to your child about potential risks online
2. Spend time online with your children.  Take an interest in what they are doing. See where they surf, understand their interests, find out who they are communicating with 
3. Create rules around using devices at home and away from home
4. Set clear rules and consequences if the rules are broken
5. Set time limits for how much time they spend online
6. Keep the device in a central location such as the family room or kitchen (not the bedroom)
7. Make it clear that together you will randomly check their communications, blogs etc. to help ensure they are safe
8. Check the device for security settings, safe searching etc.  
9. Do not give out your passwords to change privacy settings or to buy apps
10. Teach children online safety, communication skills.  Treat the cyber world the same way as we would the real world (face to face).

Websites to support digital citizenship

• www.digizen.org 
• www.hectorsworld.com 
• www.netsafe.org.nz   
• http://www.netsafe.org.nz/owls/ 
• http://www.safesearchkids.com/ 
• https://families.google.com/familylink/ 
• http://www.police.govt.nz/advice/email-and-internet-safety/online-child-safety
• https://www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/articles/internet-safety/

Information on purchasing managed routers to keep children safe online 

• https://www.n4l.co.nz/children-kept-safe-at-home-with-n4ls-new-safety-filter/  (most schools in NZ use n4L filtering)
• https://www.lifewire.com/best-parental-control-routers-4160776