Welcome to Hillhead Primary

The what and how of social media

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What is social media

• Interactive technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks.

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• Usually accessed through web-based apps on desktops or downloaded services to mobile devices.

But Why?

• Social media is now an important/essential part of many people's lives.
• Studies suggests that at least half of those aged between eight and seventeen have social networking profiles like Facebook, Instagram etc.
• Almost all teenagers in the UK have a strong Internet presence and extensively share personal content and opinions online.
• People of all ages and professions are using social networking sites as a means of communication and it plays a dominant role in connecting people.

Their room, their device, their space?

• Changes in society have resulted in the emergence of an unrestricted social life in a virtual setting.
• As parents we scrutinise who our children interact with in the real world but what controls do we have in the virtual world?

Top Parental Tips

• 1 – Be Involved and offer help!

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• Know how to help/ support.
• Know the apps your child is on and how they work.
• Be aware(and use) of the parental controls on most apps.
• Understand that this is their world and where they exist.
• Limit screen time?

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THOUGHTS & FEELINGS

• 2 – How does it make them feel/ think?

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• Talk to your child re the use/ experience of social media & the internet.
• Prolonged exposure to social media can result in emotional/ mental and communication difficulties.
• Are they addicted? Do they still meet people in the real world?
• Is ‘likes’ how they determine their worth?

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R. E. S. P. E.C.T. that is what I want for me!

• 3 – How are young people treating each other on social media?

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• Do they think before posting?
• Ask permission – sharing images/ adding to gp chat/ sharing info of others?
• If they wouldn’t say it in real life why on the internet? Keyboard Gangster?
• Why Hate?

What’s your first pets name?

• 4 – What is being shared online?

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• Are you or your child sharing images of them? Appropriate?
• Are they disclosing their name/ family name/ phone number(s)/school?
• Would they share their username/ passwords/D.O.B/ address.
• With fishing scams this info is sometimes gained under the pretence of signing up/ entering a ballot or similar.

Comparison is the thief of Joy

Where to go?

Childnet — Online safety for young people

Eliminating Child Sexual Abuse Online | Internet Watch Foundation IWF

CEOP Safety Centre

Child sexual abuse and exploitation | Barnardo's (barnardos.org.uk)