Castle Bromwich Junior School
A message from Mrs Hobden (Head teacher)
I would just like to add my thanks to the online council for all the work they have carried out this term. If you haven’t already done so please scroll back through the terms below and read the fabulous articles they have written.
They have shared some very interesting views and advice regarding some of the online issues that our pupils now face in such a technological world Technology is very useful but can lead to issues when mis used. AT CBJS we aim to teach our pupils best practice but we need the support of families as well to ensure they are monitoring their pupils use.
AI is another exciting IT development and it will be interesting to see how that develops over the coming years.
Thank you again to our online councillors and I look forward to reading more of your work next year.
Editor's Notes - by Mr Foley
Once again, a huge thank you to members of the Online Council for their contributions to the Summer Edition 2023 of the Online Council Termly Report and in additional to this all the work that has taken place this year to promote online safety.
The subjects covered in this report are some of the latest updates and talking points for children in the online world and to be able to provide guidance from our very own pupils is something our council should be very proud of.
For those members of our community who have follow-up questions from some of the articles written by our pupils please get in touch.
WhatsApp Permissions - by Paige D (image below) and Aaliyah B (intro)
Many children have had the issue where they are been added to group chats on WhatsApp without permission. This could be unsafe for children as they could be added to a group of older people, these chats could be inappropriate maybe using bad language or sending inappropriate pictures. Also a stranger may ask for the children’s name, age , address and school this is very unsafe. However to avoid this you can change the settings to give permission before been added to any groups. This is easily done by :
Peer Preasure - by Paige D
Children can face a lot of peer-pressure online and sometimes go against their best judgement. Starting early and talking to them about what is and isn’t acceptable online to help guide the decision they make is key.
Find out more about peer preasure here:
AI - Artificial Intelligence for children - by Phoebe B
In our ever-changing world, we are using more and more AI. Children are using it on a daily basis. It has incredible capabilities but we must also think about using it safely and responsibly.
AI is a powerful tool that is used more and more in our daily lives to help us perform tasks at home and in different industries.
Using Alexa or Siri on your phone is an example of how we use this everyday. It is used in hospitals, factories and outer space to do work which is impossible for humans.
But you have to use it responsibly or it might have negative impacts on your mental and physical health. We don’t want too reliant on robots to do things for us. AI robots could take over jobs and people could be umemployeed.
This video will tell you more…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttIOdAdQaUE
Guidance for parents
Children's Wellbeing - by Indi H
The article is aimed at 9 to 10 year old girls, but is also relevant to boys as well. It is important to talk about screen time and conversations with carers or parents.
The article suggests that we talk to children about how they feel and about the time they spend online instead of setting parental controls. The article suggests you use a combination of parental controls, wellbeing apps and family agreements. Children need to feel that they can talk to you. And you need to check in on them from time to time.
The time spent on the device is not as important as how they are using it. For example, creating digital art is better than scrolling through social-media, YouTube and watching the same thing over and over again.
It takes time to change how we interact with our devices. So keep checking in on your child.
Amazing Games Guide for families - by Frances N
https://www.internetmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Internet-Matters-Amazing-Games-Guide-2021-1.pdf
From this PDF, pick some games to promote for children to play. Just like promoting books, these games can be promoted for children for their suitability (don't forget to mention PEGI rating).
Once again, a huge thank you to members of the Online Council for their contributions to the Spring Edition 2023 of the Online Council Termly Report.
As a school we cover many aspects of Online Safety within our Computing curriculum and on days like Safer Internet Day each year. This report just highlights some of the fantastic knowledge our pupils have in regards to keeping safe online both in school and whilst at home.
The subjects covered in this report are some of the latest updates and talking points for children in the online world and to be able to provide guidance from our very own pupils is something our council should be very proud of.
For those members of our community who have follow-up questions from some of the articles written by our pupils please get in touch.
Epic Games - by Indi H
Epic is a games store and games playing platform. There are lots of different games available such as Fortnite and rocket league. There are a number of parental controls available for users under 13 years old such as chatting and in app purchases.
Here is the link:
www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/gaming-consoles/epic-games-store-parental-controls-guide/
Useful information available includes chatting, game rating, in app purchasing, inappropriate content,online games, parental controls, privacy and identity theft and purchasing.
How to play Fortnite Safely - by Thea H
You have probably heard about your child talking about a game called “Fortnite.” Fortnite is a game for 13 years olds or older, but if you have a child that is under 13 and wants to get Fortnite here is what to do about it if you do get the game.
- Hide other gamer’s name tags
- Make sure there is a parent to supervise your child
- Hide chat if people are being mean to each other/saying inappropriate things
- Count the time your child has been on for so they can take a break
- Check if Fortnite has to much violence when your child plays the game
- Make sure if they are not making friends with other bullies/toxic people on Fortnite
Most of these things are in Fortnite settings. where you can change things to keep your child safer from other people online above 13. Also, some of those things aren’t in Fortnite settings and you would have to do it like.
- Make sure if they are not making friends with other bullies/toxic people on Fortnite
- Check if Fortnite has to much violence when your child plays the game
- Count the time your child has been on for so they can take a break
And lots of other things…
Even though your child is having fun you need to make sure they don’t pick up bad things from the game. Or they will copy it more and more which is predicted for example they might:
- Start copying words your not supposed to use under 13
- Start learning lots of names of guns
- Start using the parent’s or adult’s money to buy V-bucks (virtual money in game)
If your child starts doing these things a lot it is best to let them have a break from playing the game for about a few days, but if they don’t stop doing these things it is best for them to not play it. Especially children under 13. If you have banned them from playing you would want to send the game back or just keep it out of reach from your children or child.
So, they best way to keep your child safe is to have an adult nearby to check on your child every now and then. To see if they are doing things appropriate for their young age like 7-10 or 7-9
Finally, if you are still unsure about how safe this game is, then it is probably best not to get the game.
Playstation Plus Report - by Harry R
What is PlayStation+ ?
PlayStation+ is an additional subscription service for PlayStation users. There is a monthly subscription fee which allows online multiplayer as well as exclusive content and features. The multiplayer has the ability to communicate and play with real players across the PlayStation Network (PSN).
What is PlayStation Network (PSN)
PlayStation Network—or PSN—is the name for all the stuff you can do over the Internet on your PlayStation console. With an account for PSN you can create your own nickname and profile, add a picture and connect with other friends who have an account for PSN.
What tools can parents use on PSN?
Parents and carers can set up an account as a family manager and create a separate accounts for each child, this means you can add dates of birth and tailor online experiences depending on the age of each child.
Each created child account comes with parental controls , which let the family manager control the content and experience. This includes things like a spend manager, restricting communication with other players, restricting content and setting play time controls.
How to set parental controls online
Sign in to Account Management > Family Management.
Select the child family member you want to set restrictions for and select Edit to adjust each feature.
PS5
Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management. Select the child family member you want to set restrictions for and select a feature to adjust.
PS4
To make sure parental controls are effective, make sure your child has completed email verification and is signed in to PSN on their consoles.
Adjust your console settings to prevent child family members from changing parental controls.
How to set who can change your child’s privacy settings online
- Go to Account Management and select Family management
- Select a child family member and scroll to privacy
- Select set by then select your style from the dropdown
- Select Save
Reminders for Young People
Talk to your Responsible Adult about what you do on PSN and who you play with. They can help you make sensible decisions and stay safe.
If anyone on PSN makes you feel unhappy, tell your Responsible Adult or a teacher or another adult you trust.
Do not tell anyone your password — not even if they tell you they will give you games or money.
Roblox Report - by Frances Nolan
Roblox is a fun, free, and interactive game you can play on any device. The best part is that new games are being added all the time. However, it is important to stay safe when you are playing.
MY 5 TOP TIPS FOR KEEPING SAFE
- Do not play any inappropriate games. I have an age filter on my Roblox, so I can only play games that are suitable for my age, which keeps me safe. If I try to go on a game that is too old for me, it won’t let me because it is locked. You can find the options in the safety setting.
- Make sure you only add people you know in real life. Many people will try to add you, but you don’t know who they are, so it's best to decline.
- Make sure you report anyone if they are being inappropriate so that they will be banned from the Roblox game they are playing.
- Do not reveal any personal information about yourself, not even your full name. You can’t see who is on the chat. If someone does ask for any information, tell a grown up straight away.
- Always tell a grown up if anyone says anything offensive or inappropriate to you. Then block and report them to Roblox.
Before I was allowed on Roblox, my mom and dad researched some websites to give them tips on how to keep me safe while I was playing Roblox. One of the websites was www.internetmatters.org
A message from Mr May (Deputy Head)
The CBJS Online Council is an integral part of supporting the education of our children. Consisting of 16 children, one taken from each class across the year, their enthusiasm for this topic is extremely impressive. Last year they produced a superb video about online gaming which was shared with all parents and children and is available on our website. They have also shared a termly report and useful posters around school all with the same goal. We look forward to seeing them continuing their work this year.
DISCORD Report - by Celine K
It’s no surprise that certain online platforms may leave parents and carers scratching their heads in confusion as young people talk about how they like to socialise online. As technology continues to move forward, we quickly realise that tech savvy young people may be keeping up with it more than we are! Discord has been around for several years but has gained notable popularity with millions of active users taking part.
-HOW CAN PEOPLE USE DISCORD?-
Discord uses a lot of familiar features that many of us will be used to from other apps. Originally used by gamers to chat, the free app has expanded to a wider social network, accommodating those with more general interests to come together and chat through discussion forums called ‘servers’. Online chat is available through messaging, video calling or audio depending on what the user chooses. Users can also be direct messaged on a one to one basis which is not made public.
-SERVERS-
Servers can be specific to certain groups such as particular fan bases, allowing users to join in with those who share similar interests. Some groups require an invitation and others are publically available for anyone to join. Alternatively, chats can be limited to friends and family alone. As the internet is so vast, Discord houses communities that cover a wide array of topics, sometimes containing mature content that may include offensive language, graphic imagery or general inappropriate content for certain age groups. As well as this, Discord provides more open chat features which can result in unwanted contact from strangers when participating in public discussions.
-Discord Security Features-
Discord requires users be over the age of 13 to create accounts, however this relies on honesty and is up to users and family members to ensure correct information is given. As well as this, there are servers that require a minimum age of 18 to take part in, but again, this relies on honesty.
The app provides a number of features that can help with limiting the exposure of harmful online content, unwanted contact from strangers and unwanted friend requests. These include: DIRECT MESSAGING– Images and videos sent via direct message can be scanned for explicit content and, where such content is found, this can be deleted by Discord. Users have the option to choose between scanning all messages (Keep me safe), only scanning those from strangers (My friends are nice) or not at all (Do not scan). For users under 18, all messages are scanned by default. These settings can be found in Privacy and Safety as part of the Settings.
WhatsApp Report - by Thea H
WhatsApp is an app where you can chat with friends and have fun. But sometimes you might not know what your kids or children are texting to their friends.
1:They could be saying mean stuff they got from the internet.
2:They could be sending stuff and games over 18 to them!!
WhatsApp doesn't have any safety settings. So children are not safe when chatting friends or family or even someone you don't know!
If you have given your number to your friends they might be actually mean or nice when chatting!!
You need to tell your parents/carers and any other family members or adults that you trust.
Until then, stay safe when chatting on Whatsapp or anywhere else where you're chatting.
WhatsApp 'View Once' Feature - by Aaliyah B
The View Once Feature on WhatsApp is basically a tool used to send a video or photo to a recipient to only view once and then deletes itself.
However one downfall to this is that someone can screen shot the photo without you knowing and therefore it is saved onto their device. Also if someone needs to report any photos or videos, which are dangerous, they can’t because as soon as they see the video or photo it will disappear.
Overall, I do not think this feature is safe for children to use. Parents need to be mindful that your children may be using this feature and speak to them about being responsible and ensure they are aware of the consequence of sending trusted images to other people.
Instagram Family Centre - by Harry R
Instagram is a photo, video, and message sharing app with a community of people that use it to connect with each other through their interest Its especially popular with teens and the minimum age for an Instagram account is 13. It is the 2nd most downloaded app of 2022, and it has had over 3.8 billion downloads since its launch.
Instagram has launched family centre offers some new parental controls for your teen’s account which is helping families build positive online habits together.
Supervision Tools: On family centre you can accept your teen’s invitation to supervise their Instagram account. Or you can send them an invitation for supervision. This allows parents to view how much time a teen spends on Instagram and set limits, receive updates as to who their teen follows and reports. You can even control the teens breaks.
Education Hub: Here you can access resources from experts and review articles on topics like how to talk to your teens about social media. This comes as video tutorials and articles.
To access the family centre 1) tap on your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile 2) go to settings 3) Tap supervision
New Parental Controls - by Indi H
Instagram is a very popular social media site. People can follow and you can follow their instagram pages to view their videos and photos.
Some parents like to have parental control over what their teenagers whilst they are using social media. Parents can see who their child is following and who is following them; parents can also send invitations to supervise their teen's Instagram account and stay up to date on who they follow and who follows them.
Parents can see how long their teen has been online and help manage the amount of time they spend on their social media account.
Parents please look into this feature and all the benefits it can give you in keeping your child safe whilst using social media.
If your child is under the age of 13, they shouldn't be using Instagram!
The following video is about the P-A-N-T-S rules:
1. P - private parts are private
2. A - your body is yours
3. N - it's ok to say no
4. T - talk about bad secrets
5. S - adults can help
The video is introduced by Sabah and Lucy, on behalf of the NSPCC. They use Makaton and subtitles with the help of Pantosaurus the dinosaur.
Keep Your Money Safe - by Phoebe B
How to help avoid getting your bank account emptied by your children gaming.
Lots of games are free but have in game purchases that are very tempting to children when they are playing.
In popular game Among Us gamers can buy in-game currency to purchase skins, pets and hats. FIFA allows gamers to buy coins which can be used to help build their dream squad.
Here are some tips to avoid your child spending money on your credit card in game.
1. Set up parental controls on your child’s game system.
XBOX One
Create two accounts; one for you and one for your child.
Set up a passkey in the systems menu, which must be used to make a purchase.
You can remove your card details from the system once up and running.
Nintendo Switch
Sign into your parent Nintendo account and create a new account for your child.
Link it to your account.
You can change settings which can restrict spending in the Nintendo eShop or disable purchases completely.
Don’t forget to save settings
PS4
Simar to the Xbox One, you can set up two accounts.
It will automatically set to a zero spend limit on a childs account. If you want to you can set a monthly spending limit on the childs account when you create it.
Funds do not roll over. Your child can only spend funds already in the adult account wallet.
IPhone/IPad
Apple have a screen-time tool that can give good control for parents on what children are accessing online.
Set up a separate Parent passcode.
In Content and Privacy Restrictions you can set App Store Purchases to “don’t allow”.
Android devices (Google Play)
Most android devices use the Google Play Store to download games and apps.
In the store tap the hamburger menu and scroll down to settings.
Select the “Require Authentication for Purchases” option.
Click save.
2. Do not give your child access to your account or any of the passwords you have now set up on your devices
My Discovery of Roblox - by Frances N
I started CBJS in September. Now that I’m in the juniors, my parents allow me to play some online games. The game that I play the most is Roblox. Roblox is loads of different games made by different people.
WHY I LIKE ROBLOX
· Different games [that are free];
· You can add your friends on Roblox;
· New games are added all the time, so it doesn’t get boring;
But I know I need to keep safe when playing online.
HOW TO KEEP SAFE ON ROBLOX
· I never put chat on, as strangers can talk to me [using bad language];
· I only add people as friends that I know;
· I check with my parents if I what to play a game;
· I read about the game before I play it, because it can contain violence, threat and inappropriate language.
