Parents urged to talk to children as young as nine about online porn

  • The Children’s Commissioner for England is urging parents to talk to their children about online pornography and sexual harassment when they are as young as 9 or 10.
  • Concerns have been growing about the ease of access to and damaging impact of online pornography on young children.
  • Parents are being encouraged to “talk early and talk often” to their children in an age-appropriate way to be prepared for the risks of the online world.
  • Check out our blog post on how to handle harmful content.
  • Full story, here.

Snapchat launches ‘Story Studio’ app to facilitate video content creation

  • Snapchat has launched a new ‘Story Studio’ app to selected users.
  • The app provides a simplified, streamlined means to create more complex vertical videos which can be uploaded into the main app.
  • The app is only available to iOS users in the US, UK, and Canada.
  • This follows the release of Meta’s ‘Spark AR Go’ app, which facilitates simplified AR creation.
  • Full story, here.

Young people at risk from county lines exploitation in possible lockdown

  • The Children’s Society charity warns that another lockdown could put young people at further risk of exploitation from county lines drugs gangs.
  • The issue has grown in the last five years, and lockdowns can leave children more at risk from exploitation.
  • Lockdowns and holiday periods can leave children feeling more isolated due to school closures.
  • For more information on county lines, check out our blog post.
  • Full story, here.

Schools preparing for possible online term due to COVID-19 variant

  • Schools across the UK say they are prepared to switch to online learning if they have to next term.
  • UK schools have been advised to reopen next term under current guidance.
  • Contingency plans include children bringing laptops home and creating timetables, especially when classes need to be taught in “bubbles” next term.
  • Some schools in Wales have already opted to move into online learning, whilst unions in Northern Ireland have called for a ‘staggered return’.
  • Full story, here.

Young people commissioner calls for end to pupil restraint and seclusion

  • The Commissioner for Children and Young People has called for an end to the practice of restraint and seclusion in educational settings.
  • The Department of Education is currently conducting a review of the practice, but the Commissioner is pushing for legislation and the development of guidelines.
  • Restraint and seclusion intentionally limit a pupil’s freedom of movement or function by keeping them isolated or using something to restrain their movement.
  • Schools are not currently required to record or report instances of restraint or seclusion or to inform parents that they have occurred.
  • Full story, here.