Dear Parents/Carers
We are aware as a school of current issues stemming from the use of social media outside of the school.
Most social media apps are aimed at age 13 years and over, and therefore not at primary school aged children. As a school we strongly recommend parents resist giving their children smartphones or that social media applications and accounts are removed from your child's phone.
Whilst smartphones can be a very helpful piece of technology for adults, they can equally expose children to a number of negative risks including the following:
- They are highly addictive, with the lasting effects on young and developing brains being similar to that of gambling.
- They have been linked to poor mental health, depression and low self-esteem, especially in young teenagers.
- There is potential exposure to harmful content including pornography, grooming, bullying and material that is not age appropriate.
- There is a reduction in attention spans – they are changing the way children’s brains develop and fundamentally affecting their ability to concentrate.
- They rob children of their childhood. Time spent on a device reduces time spent playing, interacting and developing vital social skills.
If as a parent you still choose to allow your child to have a smartphone, we strongly recommend the following strategies:
- Monitoring devices regularly to check the apps downloaded and check the content.
- Reviewing messages sent/received – make monitoring part of a daily or weekly routine.
- Enacting parental controls on your Wi-Fi, devices and consoles; your internet service provider or mobile phone provider should help you with this.
- Setting expectations about what space (preferably communal) and times they have access to devices. It is useful to suggest that devices are only to be charged overnight in these areas allowing you to check the content regularly.
- Encouraging them to share or discuss with you what they are doing.
- Taking screenshots of any negative interactions experienced.
- Block unwanted contact.
We would like to remind you that, as the bill payer of the mobile phone or internet package in your household, the parent/carer is responsible for the content on devices and for the appropriate use of apps downloaded.
Thank you for your co-operation and support. Please see further useful links at the bottom of this letter.
Kind regards
Miss S O'Brien, Headteacher
The following links will also help you to better understand some of the risks associated with social media and how you can help to safeguard against them.
- Early Years (0-5) online safety advice - Internet Matters
- Young children (6-10) online safety advice - Internet Matters
- Pre-teen (11-13) online safety advice - Internet Matters
- NSPCC guide to online safety - Keeping children safe online | NSPCC
- You can also find free webinars and courses at the National College, which the school is a member of. All parents are invited to sign up to via this link.
Please also find guides for WhatsApp and Snapchat below.