The impact of COVID-19 means that most of us will be at home for an extended period and are likely to be spending increasing amounts of time online.

The online world is a necessity for many children in accessing school work and it delivers huge benefits, not least in enabling us to stay connected to family and friends during this period. However, many parents may feel concerned about the content their children are accessing.

Although rare, there is a risk that increased online activity and feelings of stress and isolation may be exploited by negative influences and online groomers of all kinds to target vulnerable children and young people directly.

An understanding of digital safety will help parents and carers safeguard loved ones from a range of harms, whether that’s child sexual exploitation, fraud, or extremist influences seeking to radicalise vulnerable people.

Extremists may use the COVID-19 outbreak to promote hateful views, for example through conspiracy theories blaming a particular group for the virus, or through spreading misinformation regarding these groups’ responses to it.

You can access guidance and support from the Home Office here

Before you start work at a new school, whether as a placement while you train, or as your first school as a Newly Qualified Teacher, ensure you have the answers to these questions.

You may wish to note the answers here for reference. Your school mentor and (if you are in training) your ITT provider have a responsibility to cover this vital and fastmoving area of safeguarding (online safety = safeguarding) but it is in your interest to show an active interest and ask lots of questions.

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Over the past six months Radio 1 Newsbeat has been investigating how social media is being used to sell drugs.

Britain’s most senior police officer when it comes to drugs says social media bosses would do more if it was their children dying from drugs bought this way.

Research suggests one in four young people are now seeing drugs advertised on their social media feeds.

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Google is making it more difficult for people to spy on their significant others and exes. Effective Aug. 11, the search giant will ban ads on most stalkerware apps.

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This report draws from young people, some with vulnerabilities, in schools across the UKand their thoughts and experiences of sharing self-generated explicit images, videos or live streams, and also the risks associated with doing so.

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On Wednesday 17 June 2020, the Department for Education (DfE) published updated ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (KCSIE) guidance ready for implementation from Tuesday 1 September 2020.

The Education People has produced a summary of key online safety requirements and changes within KCSIE 2020.

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Andrew Hall, respected safeguarding specialist, has created a video outlining his understanding of, and response to, the changes to the KCSIE requirements. You can watch the video here.

LGFL has shared a 'tracked changes' document here.