Internet Safety

 We invited Cyber safety experts, Garda Barbara Kelly and Garda Derek Halligan to chat to our Fifth and Sixth Classes last week.

They had plenty of good advice for everyone.

• Do not have photos up online which show the school crest.
• Make sure your apps are set to private.
• Pretending you're older than you are on social media means you could be targeted by inappropriate ads.
• When you post on a public forum you have lost control of your comment and/or photo.
• Be careful before you post: Would you said it in front of your classmates? Or in front of your granny?
• Remember that small comments can hurt.
• Even one hurtful comment online about another person is regarded as bullying-it doesn't need to be repeated.
• What you might regard as a prank on social media might be regarded as bullying by the person who is on the receiving end of the joke.
• If you have a social media account delete anyone who is not your friend.
• Make sure your apps are set to private.

We have seen a rapid rise in engagement in social media and online gaming by our pupils in recent years. Children as young as Junior Infants are playing games such as Fortnite even though it has an age 12 rating! We have increasing incidents of children sending hurtful comments online or excluding others. Some pupils are also spending an enormous amount of time engaging online to the detriment of their sleep, physical exercise and learning opportunities-and, ultimately, their well-being and relationships.

On the plus side, from talking to our pupils this week, we know that very many of them are wise to the dangers of over engagement online. They need the support of their families with this!

• Phones and internet enabled devices should not be in their bedrooms.
• Check out ikydz.com for filtering content and keeping you, the parent, in charge of internet usage in your home.
• If you want to see what's apps and games are recommended check out commonsensemedia.org.
• Check what apps your child uses. Make sure they are set on private mode.
• Ensure the location setting is off.
• Have control over all of your child`s passwords.
• Keep security updated.