**This blog was originally posted on techsavvykids.co.uk on 17/08/13**
So,
another tragic story emerges of a teen committing suicide as a result
of online bullying, this time 17yr old Daniel Perry following on
recently from that of 14yr old Hannah Smith. Again a social networking
site is implicated - although it was noted that Skype also played a part
in the Perry case, Ask.fm was cited in both and is bearing much of the
blame for not monitoring its users diligently enough. While I
wholeheartedly agree that any networking site that does not monitor and
block users that part take in trolling or any form of bullying is
effectively condoning the act, I can't help but feel that you need to
apply blame to those sending the messages, not the site through which
they are sent.
Whether
computers, the internet and social networks exist or not, there will
always be those that wish to prey on the vulnerable and they will find a
way to do it. The internet has simply given the bullies a convenient
appearance of anonymity and extended their reach. Social networking
sites are connecting people from across the globe, and the chances are
that the site that you are using is not even based in the same country
as you.
When
children under 13 use networking sites, by law avatars and pseudonyms
must be used to protect the users privacy. This may in turn reinforce
their lack of connection with those they are interacting with, so that
by the time they are using social networking sites as teenagers they do
not see the user on the other computer as an actual person, but as a
just another fictional avatar.
What
we can do though is educate our children and students to be aware of
the dangers of interacting with others online as soon as they are old
enough to start going online independently – and what to do if they do
encounter bullying or offensive behaviour. Most sites should have a
facility to flag offensive messages or block users. We must also
remember that those posting the offensive messages are people too,
someone’s children, possibly someone’s students. Part of teaching how to
deal WITH the offensive behaviour should be teaching how TO behave when
online. As with the playground, what can start off as harmless teasing
can evolve into something more sinister. It is all of our
responsibilities to make sure our children are taught how this behaviour
affects others, as well as how it can affect them.
Promoting e-safety and online etiquette to parents and teachers.
Wednesday 18 September 2013
Why I started the Tech Savvy Kids website…
I
am not a technology expert. I don’t have a background in IT or in
Education. What I do have are two daughters under six who both love to
use mummy and daddy’s tablet and smart phone. The eldest is now also
starting to show an interest in the laptop with its mysterious lack of
touchscreen functions.
At first it was such a cute sight to watch them show their curiosity with these items. To see as they learned to swipe their fingers across the screen, move from one game or app to another, to make the device respond to their touch. Then they progressed to playing the games we had downloaded for them, watch videos on YouTube or on I-Player. Then, slowly realising that actually, your child was probably more interested in playing with this thing in their hand than they are with you. It began to dawn on me that maybe I should gen up on how these devices affect children and what we would need to do to make sure they were exploring technology within the safest environment possible.
Reading articles on the internet turned up the usual polarising material, ranging from fire and brimstone ‘technology will damage your child forever’ to the more benign ‘technology will help your child’s development’. Of course, as with all things moderation is the key. But one thing that did strike me when reading these articles was the level of ignorance of all parties. The age old joke is that the child can work the video/TV/microwave better than the parent, as children love to learn how to work new ‘toys’. However, when these ‘toys’ can access unlimited content how can you be sure that they are only looking at what is suitable. I am coming at this from the perspective of a parent of very young children. Obviously parents of older children will want to widen the scope of what they can see, but the point is they still need to understand HOW they are viewing it. You can control what you have inside your own home, but when devices allow you to look outside how do you ensure they are doing so safely?
Children develop quickly, technology develops fast too. My reasoning is, that if you want to understand how your child is interacting with the outside world using technology, you need to stay up to date. You and your child can learn this together, bond over the shared experience of discovering what using these devices are capable of. But at the same time know that the technology and systems you are using are set up appropriately. Communicate to your children how they should behave online, as, although they are safely behind a screen – they should still apply the same caution as when interacting with strangers in the ‘real’ world.
This site was started to learn and share this information. A repository of useful links and advice about how to explore the potential that technology can offer us, and know that my daughters – and I – can do so confidently and safely.
Dan
At first it was such a cute sight to watch them show their curiosity with these items. To see as they learned to swipe their fingers across the screen, move from one game or app to another, to make the device respond to their touch. Then they progressed to playing the games we had downloaded for them, watch videos on YouTube or on I-Player. Then, slowly realising that actually, your child was probably more interested in playing with this thing in their hand than they are with you. It began to dawn on me that maybe I should gen up on how these devices affect children and what we would need to do to make sure they were exploring technology within the safest environment possible.
Reading articles on the internet turned up the usual polarising material, ranging from fire and brimstone ‘technology will damage your child forever’ to the more benign ‘technology will help your child’s development’. Of course, as with all things moderation is the key. But one thing that did strike me when reading these articles was the level of ignorance of all parties. The age old joke is that the child can work the video/TV/microwave better than the parent, as children love to learn how to work new ‘toys’. However, when these ‘toys’ can access unlimited content how can you be sure that they are only looking at what is suitable. I am coming at this from the perspective of a parent of very young children. Obviously parents of older children will want to widen the scope of what they can see, but the point is they still need to understand HOW they are viewing it. You can control what you have inside your own home, but when devices allow you to look outside how do you ensure they are doing so safely?
Children develop quickly, technology develops fast too. My reasoning is, that if you want to understand how your child is interacting with the outside world using technology, you need to stay up to date. You and your child can learn this together, bond over the shared experience of discovering what using these devices are capable of. But at the same time know that the technology and systems you are using are set up appropriately. Communicate to your children how they should behave online, as, although they are safely behind a screen – they should still apply the same caution as when interacting with strangers in the ‘real’ world.
This site was started to learn and share this information. A repository of useful links and advice about how to explore the potential that technology can offer us, and know that my daughters – and I – can do so confidently and safely.
Dan
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