Interface

Recently updated guidance for schools on standards for filtering and monitoring online content has led to some confusion and worry. But don't worry - it's not as complicated as you might think! SWGfL online safety lead consultant Graham Lowe joins Interface's Jess McBeath and Gareth Cort to explain.

More support and resources for schools on filtering and monitoring at the following links:

https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/teachers-and-school-staff/appropriate-filtering-and-monitoring

https://testfiltering.com/

swgfl.org.uk/resources/filtering-and-monitoring/

Interface is delivered by SWGfL, a leading online safety charity. If you have enjoyed listening to any episode of Interface and would like to support the ongoing work of SWGfL, please visit their website: swgfl.org.uk/donate

Discover more about various aspects of digital wellbeing, through the Digital Wellbeing Hub from SWGfL. Access guidance and resources to support the young people in your care: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing

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Gina Martin embarked on a tireless campaign to criminalise 'upskirting' (taking photographs from underneath to see up someone's clothing) after someone did it to her in June 2017. She shares her experience of online activism, and gives tips on how teachers can support children and young people to make a difference on issues they care about - and stay safe while doing so. Gina speaks in this episode with Interface's Gareth Cort and Ailish Hunter.

Find Gina Martin’s book Be the Change: A Toolkit for the Activist in You here.

If you’re over 18 and have been impacted by a form of intimate image abuse you can contact the Revenge Porn Helpline by emailing [email protected], phoning 0345 6000 459 or by using their 24/7 chatbot. Those at a younger age can find guidance and support, here: https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk/how-can-we-help/under-18s/

Discover more about various aspects of digital wellbeing, through the Digital Wellbeing Hub from SWGfL. Access guidance and resources to support the young people in your care: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing

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For our final Interface episode before the long summer holiday, something a bit different. Our young co-hosts Princess and Ailish reflect on a whole school year of working with SWGfL, and think about what they know about internet safety now, that they wish they'd understood when they were still at school. They're joined for the chat by SWGfL's Gareth Cort.

Find out more about the support on offer from SWGfL, one of three organisations that make up the UK Safer Internet Centre: https://swgfl.org.uk/

Schools and teachers can access ProjectEVOLVE to support students to develop their online safety knowledge: https://projectevolve.co.uk/

The Professionals Online Safety Helpline (POSH) is a service for any professional working with children and young people, UK-wide, who need advice around any online safety concern: https://saferinternet.org.uk/professionals-online-safety-helpline

SWGfL’s Online Safety and Social Media Hub explores various aspects of social media, helping you to keep young people safe as they explore these online communities: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/social-media/

Discover more about various aspects of digital wellbeing, through the Digital Wellbeing Hub from SWGfL. Access guidance and resources to support the young people in your care: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing

Does your class have a social media influencer? There are likely to be students with career ambitions as Tiktok stars or YouTubers. What do they need to know? And what do you need to know to better support them? Interface's Ailish Hunter is a former beauty and make-up YouTuber, and hosts this episode alongside SWGfL online safety consultant Jess McBeath. The pair are joined by YouTuber Eman Kellam who first went wildly viral online when he was still in school.

Further reading:

Guidance from SWGfL, informing parents and teachers about how they can support young people to address influencer culture swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing/influencer-exploring-how-influencer-culture-can-impact-a-young-person-s-wellbeing/

Supporting guidance from SWGfL, highlighting how young people can create a positive online space as influencer culture increases swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing/impact-of-influencer-culture-how-to-help-young-people-create-a-more-positive-online-space/

Digital Wellbeing Hub from SWGfL, providing guidance and advice to teachers and parents; helping them to support the digital wellbeing of the young people in their care swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing/

Free Digital Literacy toolkit, supporting teachers to address wellbeing and social media (alongside many other topics) within the classroom projectevolve.co.uk/

Supporting guidance for students who have found unwanted online fame https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing/supporting-students-who-have-found-unwanted-online-fame/

Discover more about various aspects of digital wellbeing, through the Digital Wellbeing Hub from SWGfL. Access guidance and resources to support the young people in your care: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing

How can pornography impact the children and young people in your care as an educator? Andy Phippen is professor of digital rights at Bournemouth University. He joins SWGfL internet safety consultant Gareth Cort and co-host Ailish Hunter to talk about online sexual content, and its impact on young people's relationships, body image, and more.

Resources:

Let's Talk About Porn: A teaching resource designed to help educate young people about pornography: https://swgfl.org.uk/resources/lets-talk-about-porn/

Harmful Sexual Behaviour resources - Support for professionals working with children and young people when responding to incidents or issues surrounding harmful sexual behaviours: https://swgfl.org.uk/resources/harmful-sexual-behaviour-in-schools/

Digital Wellbeing Topic Page - Information, guidance and resources to help support digital wellbeing in children and young people: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing/

StopNCII.org: Online tool which prevents the sharing of intimate images, across multiple platforms. Can be accessed worldwide by anyone over the age of 18: https://stopncii.org/

Discover more about various aspects of digital wellbeing, through the Digital Wellbeing Hub from SWGfL. Access guidance and resources to support the young people in your care: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing

For International Women's Day, Jess McBeath and co-presenter Princess Lawal welcome campaigner, author and broadcaster Natasha Devon MBE, to talk about the pressures and difficulties facing girls and women online. The three talk porn, toxic influencers, tackling disinformation, and so much more.

Natasha's book are online: https://www.natashadevon.com/books

Links mentioned in this episode and places to get online support:

https://projectevolve.co.uk/toolkit/resources/curriculum/

https://www.childnet.com/resources/embedding-online-safety/ 

https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/social-media/how-can-social-media-affect-body-image/

https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing/

https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/social-media/misinformation-on-social-media-guidance-impact-and-support/

Discover more about various aspects of digital wellbeing, through the Digital Wellbeing Hub from SWGfL. Access guidance and resources to support the young people in your care: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing

As parents and educators, maybe it's time to re-think our attitudes to video and computer games. Are they just addictive time sinks that get in the way of more 'positive' activities? Or can they be a pathway to genuine learning experiences, and a tool to have better communication with children and young people? Jess McBeath and young co-host Bill Byers are joined by Andy Robertson, the family video game expert who wrote the Taming Gaming guide for parents and teachers.'

Links:

More info about Andy's work at taminggaming.com.

Further guidance, resources and articles in the SWGfL Gaming Hub

Discover more about various aspects of digital wellbeing, through the Digital Wellbeing Hub from SWGfL. Access guidance and resources to support the young people in your care: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing

How can we help young people develop a healthier relationship with technology? Jess McBeath and Ailish Hunter are joined by Cath Knibbs, psychotherapist and cybertrauma expert. They discuss digital detoxes and decluttering, using technology mindfully, and helping young people to navigate online challenges.

Much more at SWGfL online

The Professionals Online Safety Helpline (POSH) helps anyone working with children and young people with any online issue. Find it here

Series produced by Carys Wall at Bespoken Media

Discover more about various aspects of digital wellbeing, through the Digital Wellbeing Hub from SWGfL. Access guidance and resources to support the young people in your care: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing

(TW: This episode contains a brief mention of suicide) 

So-called 'revenge porn' - non-consensual online sharing of intimate images (NCII) - is increasingly a form of abuse that everyone should be aware of. We hear from Crystal Palace footballer and NCII abuse survivor Leigh Nicol about the impact of having videos shared globally on porn sites, and how it led to months of anxiety and depression. We also speak with SWGfL's Revenge Porn Helpline manager Sophie Mortimer, and hear how StopNCII.org works with industry partners including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Bumble to provide a ground-breaking tool that prevents the sharing of non-consensual intimate images.

Find out more about StopNCII.org at SWGfL online here: https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/new-industry-partners-join-stopncii-org-to-prevent-the-sharing-of-non-consensual-intimate-images-online/

Discover more about various aspects of digital wellbeing, through the Digital Wellbeing Hub from SWGfL. Access guidance and resources to support the young people in your care: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing

Alex Holmes is one of the UK's best known anti-bullying campaigners. Aged just 16 and after experiencing bullying himself, he founded a peer-to-peer support programme Anti-Bullying Ambassadors. He won a Diana Award for this work, and then went on to become deputy CEO of the Diana Award organisation. He has been named as one of '100 people who make Britain a happier place to live’.

Find out more about the Diana Award's work here: https://diana-award.org.uk/

Discover more about various aspects of digital wellbeing, through the Digital Wellbeing Hub from SWGfL. Access guidance and resources to support the young people in your care: https://swgfl.org.uk/topics/digital-wellbeing