Social networking and chat - FAQ's
What is social networking?
Social Networking websites utilise applications which help connect friends using a number of tools like blogs, profiles, internal email systems and photos. Well known sites include Bebo, Myspace and Facebook.
How do young people use social networking?
They create their own profile or 'space' containing sections such as 'About Me' and 'Who I'd Like to Meet' and also include things like Music, Films, Sports, Scared Of and Happiest When. They can also add specific personal details such as physical appearance, and the school you go to.
What are the risks when social networking to young people?
Risks can arise when young people give out their personal details to strangers. The online world can often seem very different to the real world for young people, and they can be tempted to say and do things that they wouldn't dream of if they met someone face to face. This can include giving out personal information such as mobile numbers and pictures of themselves.
If they are talking to another child there is a risk that they will misuse this information - for example, by texting abusive messages to the child, or by posting their image on a website; but there is obviously a greater risk if the person that they are chatting to is an adult. Unfortunately, paedophiles use the internet, often with the intention of talking with and meeting a child.
Young people will often 'swap friends' through IM, and therefore can be chatting to strangers who they feel they trust because a friend of a friend knows them. IM is a very intimate form of communication - more so than a chat room with many participants, and therefore child abusers will often use this as a means to extract personal information from a young person.
Is there any specific guidance for protecting children using social networking websites?
- Encourage them only to upload pictures that you as their parents/carer would be happy to see. It's also not a good idea to post pictures which can identify the school which your child attends since this could help someone locate them.
- Tell your children not to post their phone number or email address on their homepage.
- Help your child to adjust their account settings so that only approved friends can instant message them.
- Check if your child has ticked the “no picture forwarding” option on their social networking site settings page – this will stop people sending pictures from their page around the world without their consent.
- Encourage them not to give too much away online. Friends can call them for the address of the latest party rather than read about it on their site.
What is instant messaging?
Instant messaging (IM) is a form of real-time text-based communication conveyed over a network, such as the internet, between two or more people on a user's contact list. IM technologies often include additional features that make them even more popular such as having the ability to talk directly for free; to share files; or to view the other party through a webcam.
What is a buddy list?
A buddy list is a list of a user's contacts that they converse with through instant messaging. On such lists users can view if their contacts are online, offline, online but busy etc and can block contacts that they no longer wish to talk to.
What is a chat room?
A chat room is an online forum where people can chat online (talk by broadcasting messages to people on the same forum in real time). Sometimes these venues are moderated either by limiting who is allowed to speak (not common), or by having moderation volunteers patrol the venue watching for disruptive or otherwise undesirable behaviour.
How can I minimise the risks to my children?
You can minimise the risks by taking the following simple measures with your children:
- If your child uses IM then it is a good idea to ask them to show you how it works—in this way you can also gauge who they have on their contact list and if there is anyone how they don't know in the real world.
- It is also a good idea to ask them if they know how to block someone who they no longer wish to talk to.
- You can also direct them to the Thinkuknow website, where they can watch films and play games on how to stay safer online.
- Consider creating some family rules which you will all agree to on online use, including not giving out personal information, or talking to strangers without discussing it.
- Remind your children that they should never meet up with someone that they have met online without you or another adult going with them.
What should I do if I am still concerned?
If you are concerned that your child may be at risk, it may be necessary to log or monitor their conversations, and this can be done though some forms of filtering software - but this should be considered carefully, since a child may feel that they have to hide more from their parents if they think they are not trusted. GetNetWise has lists of filtering and monitoring software.
If you think your child may be in touch with an adult online make a report or call 999 if they are at immediate risk.
Find out more about social networking at the Thinkuknow website.
