• Would you let your child walk though Manchester city centre on their own at 11pm? Letting them on the internet unsupervised can be just as dangerous!
• Do you know what your child is doing online?

All the children have their own school Google account and it is important that parent/carers monitor their usage whilst using the internet. We use various Google applications linked to their Google account (Classroom, Docs, Slides etc). Although we disable the Google Classroom whole class comment posting feature children do still have the ability to contact each other by using the Google chat or comments feature in the various Google applications they can access. We do not allow children to use the chat or comments facilities in school and strongly recommend that you do not allow your children to use these features out of school. As the children progress through the school we teach them during Computing and eSafety lessons about these features and how to use them safely.   

Further websites with useful eSafety information are listed below:

• https://www.net-aware.org.uk/# (NSPCC information)
• www.thinkuknow.co.uk (information for parents and children by age group – also the report button)
• www.saferinternet.org.uk (information on all areas but particularly good re how to set up filters etc – advice > parents)
• www.childnet.com (lots of resources – the parent guide in different languages is good too)
• www.beatbullying.org  (cybermentors)
• https://www.lifecake.com/family-internet-safety-privacy/ (lots of good advice on various subjects)
• http://www.vodafone.com/content/parents.html (really good magazine style site with articles on all areas including how to have the awkward tech conversations with children)         

Below is one of the eSafety posters on display at the school. Click on the poster to view a larger image.       

PLEASE ENSURE YOU SUPERVISE YOUR CHILD WHEN THEY ARE VIEWING THE INTERNET.

FAKE NEWS AND DISINFORMATION

What’s the problem?

Fake news is false or misleading information presented as genuine news. 

Fake news and disinformation have been linked to radicalisation by extremists and attempts to skew people’s world views. Extremist narratives relating to coronavirus include:

• Antisemitic conspiracy theories blaming Jewish people for the spread of the virus or suggesting it’s a ‘Jewish plot’

• Claims that British Muslims have flouted social distancing rules

• Anti-Chinese hatred

• Isis-inspired narratives about how coronavirus is a divine punishment for the ‘sinful behaviours’ of the west

• Extreme right-wing conspiracies that society is collapsing and far-right groups can accelerate its end

Reading information like this can upset or worry your child unnecessarily. Fake news also helps create a culture of fear and uncertainty, with children trusting reputable news outlets less as a result of fake news.

How can I help my child spot fake news online?

Tell them to ask themselves:

• What’s the source? Is it a reputable news source, and are mainstream news outlets reporting it too?

• When was it published? Check the date an article was published, as sometimes old stories are shared on social media. This could be an accident, or it might be to make it look like something happened recently

• Have you seen anything similar elsewhere? What happens if you search for it on Google or check it using a fact-checking website like Full Fact?

• Do the pictures look real? Images might have been edited. They might also be unrelated images that have been used with the story

• Why might this have been created? Could someone be trying to provoke a specific reaction, change your beliefs, or get you to click a link?

• Encourage them to read beyond the headline too. Many people share stories having just read the headline, then discover the actual story is quite different.

• Point them to the government’s SHARE checklist (https://sharechecklist.gov.uk/) and advice from Childline (https://bit.ly/3oYfsgd) too.

What signs of radicalisation should I be alert to?

It’s worth knowing what signs to be alert to, just in case. If you do see these signs, it doesn’t necessarily mean your child is being radicalised – it could be nothing at all, or it could be a sign that something else is wrong.

• Becoming more isolated from friends and family

• Not being willing or able to talk about their views

• Becoming more angry

• Talking as if from a script

• A sudden disrespectful attitude towards others

• Being more secretive, especially about their internet use

If you have any eSafety concerns click on the CEOP REPORT button, at the top of your page, to get further help.

If you’re worried about your child, email admin@thedivinemercy.manchester.sch.uk, call 0161 672 8660, or get in touch through the school website at https://www.thedivinemercy.manchester.sch.uk/contact-details/