Information for Parents

Cyber Safety
Apply digital information security practices and apply personal security protocols

Cyber-bullying:

When you were in school, face-to-face bullying at school would have been an issue, however cyber-bullying is a more significant issue today, due to the prevalence of ICT in society.  The home is no longer a safe haven for victims of cyber-bullying; bullies have access via social media 24/7.  You may also have the added concern that strangers may be able to communicate with your child, gain their trust, and potentially harm them.  10-15 years ago, children may have grown up in a house with one family computer, and parents were able to monitor and control access to safe sites.  Your child has likely grown up in a home with mobile phones, laptops, iPads and possibly other personal devices.  As they continue to become more independent throughout year 9, they are likely to use their own personal communication devices.  It is extremely difficult to monitor use when children are constantly connected online, however there are strategies you can use to educate your children about cyber-safety.

The following videos provide an overview of cyber-bullying, and suggest strategies for enhancing cyber-safety:

Click here for more information about cyber-bullying and strategies to deal with it.

A good strategy to discuss with your child is to THINK before posting something online, since it will become part of their digital footprint/reputation and could impact others.

Before you post to social media, THINK by Wes © All rights reserved   

Passwords and Privacy:

Helping your child create strong passwords and apply personal privacy and security settings can minimise the risk of others accessing and using their information.  Ensuring your children do not allow just anyone to access their social media sites can decrease the opportunity for a stranger to access their information, steal their identity, communicate with them, or cyberstalk them.  Remember, online ‘friends’ (on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram etc.) should be real-life friends!  

For information on maximising safety and privacy, visit the following links:

Choosing a strong password

Privacy settings for social media

Age restrictions for social networking

**Most social networking sites require the user to be 13 years + however it’s best to check with each site before allowing your child to create an account.

It’s important to be able to trust that your child is safe online, but before you can do this, it’s helpful to have a serious conversation about cyber-safety.  Here are some questions you can use to start this conversation:

· Have you checked the privacy and security settings on your social media accounts lately?

· Do you know anyone who has arranged to meet with someone they connected with online?  Do you think this is safe?

· Have you ever had messages or friend requests from strangers on social media?  How did you/would you respond if you did?

· What would you do if someone you know was sending or receiving nasty messages online?

Click on the image for more advice about starting the conversation:

Social Media Mix 3D Icons by Blogtrepreneur Licensed CC BY

A final tip for keeping safe online is to download antivirus software to protect your computers from malware and other malicious programs. 

Recognising intellectual property

Key terms:

Copyright is a legal right that allows the creator of a product the exclusive rights to a products use and distribution.   

Creative Commons is a non-profit organisation that allows copyright owners to licence their products under certain conditions; this gives the owners more freedom to determine and communicate the rights they reserve for their product. 

Plagiarism occurs when someone tries to pass of another person’s work or ideas as their own.

There are extensive sources available online today that you may not have had access to at school, so this section may be useful in advising you on how to support your child with recognising intellectual property.  Whether your child is paraphrasing information for an assignment, using a direct quote, or simply copying an image from the web for personal use, they have a legal and ethical obligation to recognise intellectual property.  We have practiced referencing various sources for assignments at school, and have recently explored APA referencing and Creative Commons.

Here is a video that will help you understand Creative Commons:

Please encourage and support your child to comply with legal obligations in all aspects of their online activity, not just when they are doing school work. 

Here are some final resources you may choose to access for further information on the key ideas discussed throughout this blog:
Stay Smart Online
Cyber Safety
Cyber Wise

I hope this blog has been helpful.  I encourage you to explore the links for further information, and have discussions with your child about cyber-safety (applying digital information security practices/applying personal security protocols) and recognising intellectual property.  Please feel free to contact me with any further questions.  I am happy to help out with any aspect of the safe, responsible and ethical use of ICT; my number one priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of your child.

Alicia Holland