Online Safety Blog

Thinkuknow is an education programme from the National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) Command. Thinkuknow.co.uk is an extremely useful website for parents to gain more information on how to keep their children safe online as well as on what to do should problems arise. Thinkuknow also offers child friendly videos and activities targeted […]

The minimum age for a TikTok user is 13 years old however, TikTok doesn’t use any age verification tools when new users sign up and it is evident that there are many younger users. It is important to note that while children may only be looking for child friendly content, they could still come across harmful content […]

Twitch is an extremely popular livestreaming platform used by gamers to watch others play games such as Fortnite. It is in the top 30 most visited sites on the internet. While gaming is what it is primarily used for, you can also follow non-gaming channels such as talk shows and podcasts. The minimum age required […]

Minecraft remains a popular game amongst children and can be a fantastic learning tool. Elements of the game are even featured in some of our computing work in KS2. However, as always, there are some potential risks. First of all, it is important to know which mode your child is playing in. Creative mode removes […]

There are many benefits to screen time amongst young children. Screen use provides a range of opportunities for creativity and learning as well for maintaining friendships. Many parents agree that using devices is essential for their child’s development. However, there are many challenges too such as children finding inappropriate content or device use affecting their sleep. In […]

Discord is a popular voice and text chat tool that allows players to talk to each other in real time while they play games. Whilst it is extremely popular and an excellent tool if in the right hands, the app is aimed primarily at adults and does pose some potential risks for children. Using Discord, […]

If you are ever feeling unsure about whether an app is suitable for your child, there are a number of strategies you can use to find out. If your child already uses the app, you could ask them to show you it and how it works. Alternatively, to check for yourself before giving your child […]

BeReal is a social media app that has recently grown in popularity amongst teens and children. Every day at a different time, the app alerts users that it’s time to take a photo of what they are doing in the moment. The user then loads the photo and can decide whether they share it with […]

Age ratings are useful to help you decide what is appropriate for your child.  It is important to remember that apps and games are rated differently to films and there is lots more to consider. Apps stores have classification systems but there are also developer’s recommendations and PEGI ratings and often, not all of these match […]

Children currently enjoy a range of games online that are safe and age appropriate. There are however, some things to be aware of that children could encounter when simply seeking information or guidance on these games. Modding- People can create mods which are their own versions of existing, popular games. Sometimes these are harmless but […]