eSafety Information
Equals Trust Digital Leader Magazines - created for children, by children!
Social Media Guides
Social Media can be a bit of a minefield at the best of times, but you should always start with the age restrictions. Is your child old enough to even be on the site? Chances are they aren't, as the minimum age requirement for most sites is 13+, and even this is a guide. Did you know the age restrictions for the below?
13+ TikTok
13+ Instagram
13+ Snapchat
13+ Youtube
13+ Facebook
16+ Whatsapp
It can be difficult to prescribe a precise age limit for social media sites as children need to have the social and emotional skills to cope with the demands of social media. However it is important to adhere to the legal age requirements as they are in place for your child's protection. If and when you do allow your child onto social media sites, ensure you are monitoring their use. Below are some social media guides that contain very useful information about social media sites.
Gaming and influencers
Much like social media, gaming and influencers can be a minefield too! Again, we recommend starting with and following the age restrictions, and always monitoring what your child is doing online. Please see the below for information and guidance.
Online safety stories (3-7 years)
The Digiduck collection has been created to help parents and teachers to educate children aged 3-7 years about online safety. The collection includes ebooks, PDFs, a poster and an interactive app. Follow Digiduck and his pals in these stories of friendship, responsibility and critical thinking online.
SMART Rules Video Lessons
Below you will find 6 easy-to-follow videos based on the SMART rules for online safety. Each video has:
- simple, clear online safety advice specifically tailored for children aged 6-9 years old,
- 10-15 minutes of fun activities, games and discussion points,
- narration from an experienced member of the Childnet education team,
- optional follow-up activities to extend children’s learning.
Please note: due to the format of this resource and to encourage meaningful discussion, we would strongly advise that children watch the video lessons together with an adult.
The S Rule - Safe (What information is safe to share?)
The M Rule - Meet (Is it safe to meet people online?)
The A Rule - Accept (What is safe to click on and open?)
The R Rule - Reliable (Can we trust everything we read online?)
The T Rule - Tell (Who can we tell about online problems?)
Play Like Share: (8-10 years)
Play Like Share is a three-episode animated series which aims to help 8-10 year olds learn how to stay safe online. The series follows the adventures of Sam, Ellie and Alfie as they form a band and enter their school's Battle of the Bands contest, taking on the mean but 'cool' Popcorn Wizards as they go. The three friends learn that while the internet can help them in pursuit of their goal, they need to use it wisely and safely.