On Tuesday 6th February it’s Safer Internet Day 2018, Safer Internet Day is an annual event which promotes the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. 2018’s slogan is “Create, Connect and Share Respect: A better internet starts with you”.

Coordinated by the UK Safer Internet Centre, hundreds of organisations, including tootoot, are helping promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.

Tootoot will be sharing online resources for teachers including assembly plans, activities and fact sheets to help pupils explore the role they can play in helping to create a better and safer online community.

In recent years cyberbullying and online abuse has hit headlines with stories of devastating impact on the lives of those involved.

56% of young people said they have seen others being bullied online.

42% of young people have felt unsafe online.

24% of young people will experience cyberbullying in some form.

Cyberbullying can take many forms and can be extremely distressing for those involved, some common experiences of cyberbullying include:

Harassment

Sending unwanted and often rude or offensive comments or messages online. From those who have experienced cyberbullying, 39% had a nasty comment posted on their profile.

Impersonation

Hacking into another person’s social media and impersonating them or creating a whole new profile using their name and images. From those who have experienced cyberbullying 18% had somebody impersonate them online.

Cyberstalking

Excessively following a person’s social media pages and sending them numerous unwanted comments and messages, 42% of young people have said they have felt unsafe online.

Exclusion

Exclusion from groups, games and chats. Intentionally leaving someone out of a group on or offline is a form of social bullying. Of those who have experienced bullying online, 41% have developed social anxiety as a result.

Threatening Behaviour

Threats made online through messaging or comments, 68% of those who have experienced cyberbullying received a nasty private message.

Blackmailing and grooming

Many young people online have experienced others trying to pressure them into taking their clothes off and filming or taking pictures of themselves. Some have been threatened that their parent will be told embarrassing things if they don’t take part. From those who have experience online bullying 27% had photos/videos of them that they didn’t like.

Join tootoot this Safer Internet Day and let’s work together to create a better online environment for children and young people.

Our downloadable resources include assembly plans and presentations for both primary school and high school pupils, so you can discuss the facts on cyberbullying with them.

We’ve also included activities and tasks for pupils to reflect on using the internet in a safe and respectful manner, primary pupils can take part in our poster challenge and secondary pupils can help re-write their school’s cyberbullying policy and share it in a video.

Safer Internet Day is the perfect time to set up and launch tootoot if you haven’t already. If your pupils are already using tootoot it will be a great way to re-familiarise them with the safeguarding app and emphasise the importance of making a noise about cyberbullying.

Resources are available in the support section of your tootoot login, if you want to get set up to launch tootoot on Safer Internet Day just give our customer support team a call on 01289 541 991

Make sure you share your day with us! Tell us what you’re doing for Safer Internet Day. Email us on info@tootoot.co.uk or tweet us at @tootootofficial and let us know what you’re getting up to!