10 Tips for Parents and Carers: How to be Green with your Tech

What parents need to know about Reddit

Over the last ten years, Reddit’s monthly user count has grown from 70 million to an estimated 430 million. Around two-thirds of that total are in the 18–29 age bracket, which adds up to a lot of fairly young people discussing … well, pretty much whatever they want. It’s easy to see how that environment might not be suitable for younger users!

Unsurprisingly, age-inappropriate content is therefore a common risk on Reddit, and – as this week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide explains – it’s not in isolation. Constant distracting notifications, online harassment and uninvited contact from strangers are also among the threats that young people might encounter through using Reddit.

Read on to access your free guide and catch up on the latest online safety news…National Online Safety

What parents need to know about Roblox

Over the past decade, Roblox has become one of the world’s most popular platforms for young gamers. It’s certainly among the most commercially successful: during one three-month period in 2020, for example, players spent a staggering £200 million on in-game purchases. The possible financial costs, however, aren’t the only area to have caused concern.

How are some sections of Roblox unsuitable for younger players? Why aren’t private or VP servers a water-tight defence against strangers? Who are ODers and why should children be wary of them? Why is it a good idea to disable the private messaging function? Updated for 2022, our #WakeUpWednesday guide to Roblox has the answers.

Read on to access your free guide and catch up on the latest online safety news…National Online Safety

For #WakeUpWednesday this week, we’ve produced a poster with some useful reminders for children on how they can stay safe – and ensure a positive experience for others – when they’re having fun online this summer. How many of our top tips can you and your child spot dotted around our bustling skatepark?National Online Safety

12 Ways to Champion Equality Online

Footballers are used to harsh treatment from opposing crowds during the heat of battle over 90 minutes – it goes with the territory. But comments made about them from the world at large, over the internet, based on something other than their footballing ability? It shouldn’t happen. Not in 2022. Regrettably, however, discrimination is still very much alive and kicking.

With record attendances, plentiful TV coverage, some thrilling matches and – dare we say it? – a more evident sense of fair play than the men’s game, the Women’s European Football Championships is one of the sporting showpieces of the summer so far. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide suggests how we can all help to keep it that way with some tips for championing equality online.National Online Safety

What parents need to know about Steam

Steam came into being simply as a means for software developers Valve to distribute their own games (including the popular Counter-Strike, Half-Life and Dota series), but swiftly evolved to host third-party titles as well. These days, players can find A-list gaming franchises like PUBG, Apex Legends and Grand Theft Auto among the platform’s most-played games.

It’s a model that clearly works: in some recent years, as many of 15% of the total computer game purchases globally have been made through Steam. With a growing volume of users – the vast majority, by default, spending at least some money on the platform – it’s no surprise that scams are among Steam’s pitfalls. Trusted adults should check out our #WakeUpWednesday guide for the full story.National Online Safety

What parents need to know about Minecraft

Giving players the freedom to craft entire worlds from an interactive landscape, Minecraft has been described as the ultimate sandbox game (that is, it eschews the usual pre-determined goals or objectives in favour of creativity and exploration). With enthralling gameplay that encourages inventiveness and problem solving, it’s been a runaway critical and commercial success.

Every Eden has its serpents, however – even virtual ones. Minecraft is no exception. Although the game itself is mostly child friendly and conflict free, some hazards persist that could upset younger users, including disruptive rival players, contact from strangers and the occasional in-game scare. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide digs a little deeper into Minecraft.National Online Safety

What parents need to know about Twitch

Many people have never even heard of it – but for gamers, Twitch is big. On 15 June 2020, for example, 2.3 million users (a record for the platform) were using it to watch someone else play Fortnite. Quite staggering, when you consider it. Perhaps less surprising if we provide the context that Twitch is owned by Amazon and sits among the top 30 most-visited sites on the internet.
Within an online community of roughly 15 million people, however, one will invariably find a proportion of bad apples. Twitch, unfortunately, is no exception – with potential bullying and the chance of unsolicited contact from strangers among the hazards to young people. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide brings trusted adults the essential information on Twitch.National Online Safety

What parents need to know about virtual reality

Virtual reality has been around, in various rudimentary forms, since the late 1970s. After a prolonged gestation period, however, the technology’s march to the mainstream has begun to gather momentum in recent years. The UK government, for example, is predicting a meteoric 78% rise in spending on VR and its stable-mate AR (augmented reality) by 2024.
The potential applications of VR in gaming and entertainment are obvious. From its longer-term physical and mental effects on users to its rules of online engagement, however, virtual reality remains an area that most of us know comparatively little about. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide this week attempts to put trusted adults in the picture about the emerging phenomenon of VR.National Online Safety