Online Safety Newsletter March 2023

p TikTok
an eye You must be over 13 years of age to
use TikTok. Some of the videos on TikTok
eature. may not be appropriate for your child to
ure, view and there is also the risk of
e strangers contacting your child. If your
rived child is using TikTok then make sure
the appropriate security/privacy
settings are on.
can
quickly Account set up
r is in By default, accounts for people under 16 are set to private at the start and
button we would recommend keeping it as this. This means your child can approve
rt, follower requests. You can read more about the other settings available (such
and as switching off comments and switching on restricted mode) here:
cation https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/account-privacy-settings
. Visit
Inappropriate content, themes and challenges on TikTok
Whilst against TikTok’s guidelines, explicit and inappropriate content can be
found on this platform, for example nudity/sexual content and hate speech.
We often see viral challenges on TikTok, some of which can be dangerous. If
alls your child is using TikTok, chat to them regularly about what they are viewing
OS calls and to ensure they know not to try challenges they see online.
it calls
Family Pairing
n when
This allows you to link your own account to your child’s account. You can
how to
then set controls such as restricted mode (limit the appearance of content
that may not be appropriate) and screen time management. You can find out
more here: https://www.tiktok.com/safety/en/guardians-guide/
hold
Blocking and Reporting
olume
Ensure your child knows how to use the safety features available to them.
ar.
You can find out more here: https://support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/report-
a-problem
e the
e Bullying on TikTok
OS This article makes suggestions on appropriate settings as well as how to deal
tton with bullying: https://www.tiktok.com/safety/en-sg/bullying-prevention/

Tech Tips Live with Parent Zone

You can watch back this 13-minute broadcast from Parent Zone (originally
times
broadcast Jan 2023) which discusses what you need to know if your child is
ntdown
using TikTok. It’s an excellent overview including how algorithms work on
rvices
social media. You can access it here: https://parentzone.org.uk/tech-tips-live

Users of this guide do so at their own discretion. No liability is entered into.

Current as of the date released 1.3.23.
 Gangs & County Lines
Online Scams Would you like to find out more about
gangs and county lines and how
Internet Matters have children can be exploited? LGfL have
published an article put together a number of short videos
detailing common and a leaflet including more information
online scams for you. You can find the information
targeting teenagers. here:
Are you aware of
scams involving social https://parentsafe.lgfl.net/gangs-
media spoofing, county-lines
webcam and remote
access scams and The National Crime Agency also provide
health and beauty information including defining what a
scams? Internet Matters highlight a list of different scams, how they work county line is and what to do if you have
and actions you can take to protect your teenager online. You can read the any concerns:
article here:
https://
https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/expert-opinion/common-online- www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/
scams-targeting-teenagers/ what-we-do/crime-threats/drug-
trafficking/county-lines

Steam online games platform Nude selfies: what

parents and carers need
Steam is an online platform where users can play video games and chat to
others. It is rated as 12+ on the App store to know
and for Teenagers on Google Play. You
should be aware that not all games are free CEOP look at what to do if your child
to play, not all games will be appropriate for has shared a nude pic of themselves.
your child to play and some may include The page includes four videos -
adult themes. Steam does offer ‘Family understanding why your child has
View,’ which allows you to set what is shared a pic, talking to your child,
accessible to your child to view. Find out looking at when you should be worried
how to set it up here: and finally where you can get help from.
Find out more here:
https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/6B1A-66BE-E911-3D98
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
parents/articles/Nude-selfies-a-parents-
guide/
Discussion Guides from Thorn
Gurls Out Loud
Thorn was co-founded by Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore in 2012.
It includes Thorn for Parents which contains a wide selection of Gurls Out Loud is a campaign from
discussion guides, designed to empower you to start conversations the Internet Watch Foundation, which
with your child. You can filter the guides by topic and age e.g., talk to sets out to educate girls about online
your 9 year old about screen time or your 14 year old about the issue sexual abuse and how to stop it. Their
of resharing nudes. Each guide includes an introduction, how to start tag line is: “Block. Report. Tell someone
talking about the topic as well as an interactive conversation script you trust.” Find out more here:
based on your child’s response.
https://gurlsoutloud.com/
You can find them here:
https://parents.thorn.org/discussion-guides/