Online Safety Guidance
Parental Controls
If you have queries about how to apply parental restriction settings to your child’s phone, please see the guidance below to offer support and tips.
Instagram is a photo-sharing social media platform which has an age restriction of 13. Any photographs shared on this platform must have permission from those included to be published. Below is information guidance for you to refer to if you have any queries.
Snapchat
Snapchat is messaging app used to share photos and videos. The minimum age for Snapchat users is 13 years old. Police forces have raised child safety concerns about a new Snapchat feature that reveals users’ locations amid fears it could be used for stalking. Below is information guidance for you to refer to if you have any queries.
WhatsApp is a messaging platform which has an age restriction of 16. It allows users to send and receive text and voice messages along with images and videos. Any photographs shared on this platform must have permission from those included to be published. Below is information guidance for you to refer to if you have any queries.
TikTok
TikTok is a video sharing platform which has an age restriction of 13. Users are able to view content from all users and this is not monitored for content. Users can also produce their own videos which, depending on privacy settings, can be seen by anyone who accesses the App.
YouTube
YouTube is an online video sharing and streaming platform. There is no age restriction for watching videos on YouTube however, users need to be 13 or older to have their own YouTube account. A YouTube account allows you to like and comment under existing videos and create your own videos. You may have seen news reports about inappropriate children’s videos on YouTube which is why we are sharing this factsheet with our parents so that you are aware of how to keep your child safe at home.
Fortnite
No doubt many of the young people you work with are playing, watching and being generally obsessed with it. But how much do you know about Fortnite Battle Royal – the free online multiplayer game?
Parent Zone has created a guide to everything you need to know, from how to play it, to suitable age ranges and potential risks.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a Netflix film that has recently been released and has a Rating of 15+. Due to unexpected success in terms of viewing figures, Squid Game’s popularity is beginning to spread across various online platforms. There has been a slew of content created – ranging from memes to apps – that convey the violence of the show, so it is important for parents, carers and educators to understand the basis of Squid Game and the potential risks to young people who might be exposed to it.
