eSafety for kids

https://www.betterinternetforkids.eu/

How old do you need to be to open a Facebook / Twitter / Snapchat account?

'Why can't I go on Facebook?' - The question many teachers will face at some point, that's if you haven't already. With the huge number of social media sites available it can be difficult keeping track of what your pupils can use and when. Recent figures show that 78 per cent of children under the age of 13 have at least one social media account, which is the minimum age restrictions for most social media sites. Even with age restrictions in place, many children push their parents to open accounts before they are old enough.
To learn more about the different privacy and safety features of today's most popular applications, used by children and young people (and adults), click here.

How should I behave when communicating with other people online?

All online communities have their own codes of behaviour, sometimes called community guidelines. In eTwinning for example there is a Code of Conduct for all registered users. It is very important that members know and follow the netiquette to create a good working climate and ensure everyone feels safe. In most cases, they are just common-sense rules, good manners and other good practices normally observed in any social interaction. However, it is important to take into account that we are communicating online and we miss very important pieces of information, like tone of voice, gestures, etc. Therefore, it is very easy to misunderstand what others say or take words out of context.
Useful references:
1. eTwinning has its own netiquette rules, have a look at the eTwinning Portal. Available here.
2. Take a look at the guidelines and rules of behaviour implemented in some of the most popular online communities nowadays:
a. Facebook
b. YouTube
c. Twitter
d. Instagram
e. Snapchat
3. Also have a look at the research from Kent County Council.
4. In addition, have a look at the Better Internet for Kids guide to online services, which aims to provide key information about some of the most popular apps, social networking sites and other platforms which are commonly being used by children and young people (and adults) today.