Online Safety

Cyberbullying happens when someone uses digital platforms (social media, games, messaging apps) to deliberately harm or intimidate others.

What to watch for:

• Being excluded from chats or games
• Offensive or mocking posts (trolling/roasting)
• Private info shared without consent (doxxing)
• Someone pretending to be them (catfishing)
• Sudden silence or being ignored (ghosting)

How to Help:

• Keep conversations open—ask how online interactions make them feel.
• Encourage them to save messages or screenshots as evidence.
• Teach them how to block or report abusive users.
• Reassure them they can talk to you or a trusted adult, such as college staff, Childline, or CEOP.

Social media can help your child connect and express themselves, but it can also impact their wellbeing:

• Comparing themselves to unrealistic images
• Pressure to post or gain likes
• Exposure to harmful or inappropriate content
• Long-term digital footprint (e.g., old posts being seen later)

What you can do:

• Talk about how social media content isn’t always real.
• Set boundaries around screen time and who they connect with.
• Explore apps and privacy settings together.
• Encourage them to only accept people they know in real life.
• Check in regularly about how social media affects their mood and self-esteem.

Gaming and livestreaming platforms (like Discord, Twitch or YouTube Live) are a big part of young people's social lives. But they can carry risks, such as:

• In-game bullying or trolling
• Talking to strangers in open chat rooms
• Spending money on in-game items or falling for scams
• Too much screen time—affecting sleep, mood, or work

Helpful tips:

• Agree on healthy time limits and regular breaks.
• Use built-in parental controls to manage chat and purchases.
• Stay curious—ask about the games they play and how they interact with others.
• Talk about how to handle or report abusive behaviour.
• Look out for signs of withdrawal, frustration, or secrecy.

Sexting involves sending or sharing explicit images or messages. Young people may feel pressured or think this is normal, but once shared, key risks include:

• Content being shared beyond the intended person
• Sextortion (threats to share images unless demands are met)
• Legal consequences for creating or sharing indecent images under 18
• Emotional distress and damage to reputation

How to support:

• Talk about respect, consent, and saying no to pressure.
• Discuss the permanence of digital content—once it’s out there, they can’t control it.
• Encourage them to ask themselves: “Would I be okay if everyone saw this?”
• If something’s been shared, stay calm, reassure them, don’t share it any further, and report it using Report Remove (Childline & IWF) or CEOP.

Speak to Activate Learning’s Safeguarding Team for guidance.

The internet can be a great place for young people to learn and connect, but it can also expose them to harmful ideas or groups that promote hate, harm or violence.

What to watch for:

• Being drawn into extreme beliefs or conspiracy theories
• Spending time on forums or channels that promote hate or division
• Adopting "us vs. them" thinking or language
• Sudden changes in views, behaviour, or friend groups
• Talking about feeling misunderstood, isolated, or angry.

What you can do:

• Keep communication open - ask about what they’re watching or who they’re following online
• Help them think critically about content, encourage respectful conversations about identity, beliefs, and current events
• If you’re ever concerned, you can speak to Activate Learning's Safeguarding team or access guidance and support through trusted services like ACT Early.

AI tools are now part of everyday online life, from filters to chatbots and content generators. However, these tools can be used to create fake images or videos (deepfakes) which can be hard to spot and be used to scam people, and bots can also contribute towards the spread false information.

What you can do:

• Help your child question what they see and verify info from trusted sources.
• Talk about fake content, how to spot it, and why it’s harmful.
• Stay informed about the platforms and tools they use.

As your child spends more time online, keeping their information safe is vital.

Tips to stay safe:

• Use strong, unique passwords and turn on two-factor authentication where possible
• Watch out for phishing scams asking for personal info
• Keep apps and devices updated to ensure the latest security features
• Check privacy settings together and talk about what’s safe to share online.

Digital life can affect your child’s mood, confidence and sleep. Signs to look out for include:

• Sudden changes in mood or behaviour
• Becoming secretive about online activity
• Feeling pressure to be liked or approved of online

Ways to support them:

• Having regular check-ins about how the internet makes them feel
• Encouraging screen-free time and offline hobbies
• Reassuring them they can talk to you without fear of judgment.