Safer Internet Day - 11 February 2025
BBC News Report: Pre-school children's screen time at 'crisis point'
Pre-school children's speech and language development is in "steady decline" due to an over-reliance on screen time, an expert has said. More than 25% of three-and four-year-olds own their own smartphone and half of children under 13 are on social media, according to a recent Ofcom report.
One early years centre in North Yorkshire said that some of its pupils even used Americanisms like "diaper" and "garbage" that they had learned from their viewing, but could not communicate basic needs such as needing the toilet.
The Department for Education said it has set a "clear milestone" including advanced early language support to make sure thousands of children are school-ready by age five.
Ms Beck, who has been a teacher for 20 years, said some children were not experiencing the world first-hand but seeing it through "someone else's eyes" when they were watching someone play with toys on YouTube. Meanwhile speech and language therapist Sandy Chapell, from Health Professionals for Safer Screens, said she has seen a decline in children's communication skills over the last 10 years and an increase in referrals.
She said more young children were being referred with delayed speech and language abilities as well as poor social, attention and listening skills. Ms Chapell believes parents don't know how harmful screens are for young children and is calling for a public health campaign to highlight the issue.
While it has been widely reported the pandemic had an impact on children's development, Ms Chapell said pre-school children today were too young to have been affected by lockdowns: "Giving a child a device to calm them down means they don't learn how to regulate their own emotions, which can lead to behaviour problems,"
Health Professionals for Safer Screens suggest children age 0-2 should not be on any screens at all and those age 2-5 for a maximum of 30 minutes per day.
Ofcom Report:
Recent research from Ofcom (2023) highlighted that 87% of 3–4-year-olds go online (an increase from previous years’ data), with 92% of children in this cohort watching videos on streaming sites such as YouTube.
When children go online, they are most likely to be using a tablet (75%), but in this report, parents suggest that 25% of 3–4-year-olds own a mobile phone.
Advice
• using device safety settings - https://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/ to ensure apps and content are age-appropriate
• monitoring and supporting children while they use devices
• choosing educational apps and platforms - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/early-years-apps-approved-to-help-families-kick-start-learning-at-home that help them to develop their skills
• Online safety in the early years - https://eysafe.lgfl.net
• SafeResources, LGfL - https://saferesources.lgfl.net
• "Internet Safety", DfE - https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/safeguarding-and-welfare/internet-safety
• ParentSafe, LGfL – a portal with resources specifically for parents about online safety, https://parentsafe.lgfl.net
• Keeping your under 5 safe online, CEOP - https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/keeping-your-under-five
• Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety guidance for practitioners -
• Child Safety Online: A practical guide for parents and carers whose children are using social media - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-safety-online-a-practical-guide-for-parents-and-carers/child-safety-online-a-practical-guide-for-parents-and-carers-whose-children-are-using-social-media#for-more-information
• Keeping children safe online | NSPCC
• #SaferInternetDay on February 11th, is a great time to talk with your family about staying safe online. Find more resources by visiting safer.connectsafely.org/family-program
• #StartTheConversation #woodstockpolicedepartment #woodstockga
SNAPCHAT allows users to send photos and vides that disappear after they’re received, but pictures don’t completely disappear from a device and users can take a screenshot before an image vanishes
• SKOUT is a location-based dating app and website. While users under 17 are unable to share private photos, kids can easily create an account using a different age
• X is a networking site for “public” conversations or direct messages. It also has been used for bullying or harassment
• OMEGLE lets users chat with strangers through text or video in real-time, with no registration required. While it can be used for casual conversations, users have reported encountering inappropriate content, cyberbullying, explicit material, and even predatory behaviour.
• INSTAGRAM is a photo/video sharing app. Profiles can be public allowing anyone to see or comment. Teens can create fake accounts to hide content and use the messaging feature
• GRINDER is a dating app geared toward gay, bi and transgender people. The app gives users options to chat, share photos and meet up based on a smart phone’s GPS location
• WHATSAPP is a messaging app that allows users to send texts, photos, voicemails, make calls and video chats worldwide. The app uses an internet connection on smart phones and computers
• BADOO is a dating and social networking app where users can chat, share photos & videos and connect based on location. While the app is for adults, teens are known to create profiles.
• ROBLOX is an online gaming platform where users can play games designed by others or create and share their own. Be aware of in-app purchases chat features, “condo” games and using “signs” to communicate if chat is blocked
• BADOO is a dating and social networking app where users can chat, share photos & videos and connect based on location. While the app is for adults, teens are known to create profiles
• KIK allows anyone to contact and direct message your child. Kids can bypass traditional text messaging features. KIK gives users unlimited access to anyone, anywhere, anytime
• HILY is a dating app where users can browse photos, engage in chats, send private videos and more. Based on GPS location of phone, strangers can arrange to meet up locally
• DISCORD allows users to talk to friends or strangers in real-time via voice/text or video chat while playing games. Users have seen racial slurs, explicit content, cyberbullying and more
• MEETME is a dating social media app that allows users to connect with people based on geographic proximity. As the app’s name suggests, users are encouraged to meet each other in person
• WHISPER is an anonymous social network that promotes sharing secrets with strangers. It also reveals a user’s location so people can meet up
• MONKEY is a live video chat app that connects users to random strangers worldwide, offering group chat and private message options. Rated for 12+, but has mild sexual content and nudity
• AMONG US is a space-themed online multiplayer social game where players can message and chat with each other
• ASKFM is known for cyber bullying. The app encourages users to allow people to ask and chat anonymously with them in 40 different languages
• HOLLA is a video chat app that allows users to meet people all over the world in seconds
• BEST SECRET FOLDER is specifically meant to hide photos and videos. It features password protection, decoy videos and alarm settings
• LIVE ME is a live-streaming video app that uses geolocation to share videos so users can find out a broadcaster’s exact location. Users can earn ‘coins’ to pay minors for photos
• YIK YAK is a location-based network app to connect with people around your location. It is an anonymous virtual bulletin board known for bullying
• CALCULATOR% is only one of several secret apps used to hide photos, videos, files and browser history
• REDDIT is a chat/discussion board app. Users can post whatever they want without identity verification. Reviewers have been confronted with racial slurs, explicit content & more
