What parents need to know about PlayStation4?

Posted: 15 May 2020

There’s a good chance you already know what the PlayStation 4 (PS4) is. Sony’s video game console is often touted as being one of the best-selling of all time, with over 100 million units shifted worldwide. With over seven years of polishing and fine-tuning under its belt, you’d expect the console to be one of the safest around. While this is overwhelmingly true, there are still things parents should be on the lookout for whether they’re children are starting it up for the first time or they’re already experienced users.

What parents need to know about Netflix?

Posted: 17 April 2020

Launched in 1997, Netflix is now one of the world’s leading online streaming services, providing users with unlimited access to a huge selection of TV shows and films. It’s available on any internet-connected device that supports the Netflix app, from smart TVs and games consoles to tablets and smartphones, and is becoming increasingly popular with a younger audience. This is unsurprising given consumer attitudes are changing more towards video-on-demand (VoD) services. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help parents and carers understand exactly what Netflix is about.

Strip Fortnite

Posted: 21 November 2018

Risks and concerns around children playing the online game Fortnite, which has a 12 rating but is played by much younger children.

There is an emerging trend, where people are playing strip Fortnite using webcams. The rule is that when you achieve a “kill” you have to strip off, potentially adding an additional risk from children being exposed to and/or sharing indecent images whilst playing the game.

Please could you share this information with parents and colleagues and remind them that any inappropriate/unlawful contact with children online needs to be reported to the CSE Hub Advice Line on 01274 435049

NOS Online Safety App

Posted: 26 November 2020

We're excited to announce that our FREE mobile app for parents is now available to download via your app store:

The app makes our award-winning resources even easier to use by giving you free access through any smart phone. It’s a simple and flexible way to get authoritative, helpful guidance on online safety issues – whenever and wherever you choose.

On the National Online Safety app you'll find:

• Hundreds of online safety guides on the topics you need to know about – from screen addiction, fake news and trolling to hacking, social media influencers and sexting;
• An online safety training course for parents – developed by our experts and delivered by online safety ambassador Myleene Klass;
• A user-friendly interface with increased functionality – find exactly what you need, when you need it;
• The option to get notifications to your phone as soon as new content becomes available – so you can stay up-to-date with the latest online crazes (and risks);
• An in-app voting system so you can help determine the subjects you’d like us to cover in future;
• The facility to personalise your content by favouriting key resources.

We hope you enjoy using the app and would love to hear your feedback! Please leave a review on Google Play or in the App Store.

Thank you for joining our vision of keeping children safe online.

Click here to read more...

Let's Talk About It

Posted: 07 July 2020

While we are self-isolating and socially distancing due to Coronavirus, we will all become more reliant on communicating online, read through our advice for parents, guardians and carers to make sure you and your family stay safe online. .

Building Digital Resilience

Posted: 24 April 2020

Created by the Waltham Forest Prevent Team, part of LBWF Community Safety.

BDR is a guide to online risks and tools to protect yourself,  your child and others from harm in the digital space.

What parents need to know about Google Stadia?

Posted: 4 May 2020

Google Stadia marks the tech giant’s ¬first proper foray into the world of video games. Not strictly competing directly with the already established household names of PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, Stadia has something else to offer; online streaming. In a nutshell, Stadia beams its catalogue of video games directly into your house via Wi-Fi¬, allowing you to play on compatible mobiles, tablets, computers and televisions with console quality. The technology opens up a whole new world of accessibility for those who don’t want to commit to the console cycle, but the risks of online gaming remain ever present.

Guide on TIK TOK

Posted: 15 April 2020

TikTok is a video-sharing social media app available on iOS and Android which lets users create, share, and view user created videos much in a similar manner to Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. It’s main draw, however, is that users can record and upload bite-sized looping videos of themselves lip-syncing and dancing to popular music or soundbites, often for comedic effect, which can then be further enhanced with filters, emojis and stickers.

TikTok has been designed with the young user in mind and has a very addictive appeal. At the beginning of 2019 it skyrocketed in popularity to become the iOS store’s most downloaded app with over 33 million downloads. Estimates suggest that it now has anything between 500 million and over 1billion monthly active users worldwide.

Momo Challenge

Posted: 31 September 2018

You have probably heard about the Momo Challenge through traditional media and social media in recent weeks.

The challenge has often been reported as the Momo Suicide Challenge alleging that children and young people are contacted by a mysterious character called Momo and have to participate in several online challenges with the last challenge being to commit suicide. It is reported that if they fail to complete the challenges they are threatened and receive abusive communication from Momo including phone calls.

To read more, please follow this external link…