Please follow the link to download the parent app for Safer Schools NI https://saferschoolsni.co.uk/parent-carer/ . This app contains lots of advice for your child's online safety. Please note that our advice is that children in primary school should not have access to a smartphone. If they must have a phone it should be for making calls and text messaging only and not have data bundles. We strongly advise against buying smartphones as Christmas presents for primary age children. Some Alarming facts;
- There is clear evidence that around 1 in 5 children and young people (20% of 8-13 year olds and 18% of 14-18 year olds) have experienced something nasty or unpleasant happening to them online, most commonly on social media apps
- 19% of children, aged 10-15-years-old, exchanged messages with someone online who they never met before in the last year.
- Over 9,000 child sexual abuse offences involved an online element in 2022/23.
- Around a sixth of people that experienced online harassment offences were under 18-years-old.
- Under 18-year-olds were the subject of around a quarter of reported offences of online blackmail in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
