Safe Use of the Internet, Social Media and Photographs

All staff need to understand the risks that using the internet may pose for young people, such as bullying, sexual exploitation and radicalisation. Staff also need to be aware of the strategies the Service has in place to support them in learning how to keep themselves safe.

The internet and social networking sites can pose risks to young people, for example in relation to sexual exploitation and abuse, bullying and radicalisation.

In relation to sexual abuse, this can include:

• Exposure to pornographic or other offensive material via the internet;
• Abusive images of children (although these are not confined to the internet);
• A child or young person being groomed for the purpose of sexual abuse.

Social networking sites can be used by perpetrators as an easy way to access young people for sexual abuse. The Serious Crime Act 2015 introduced an offence of sexual communication with a child or young person. This applies to an adult who communicates with a child and the communication is sexual or if it is intended to elicit from the child a communication which is sexual and the adult reasonably believes the child to be under 16 years of age. The Act also amended the Sex Offences Act 2003 so it is now an offence for an adult to arrange to meet with someone under 16 having communicated with them on just one occasion (previously it was on at least two occasions).

It should be noted that creating or sharing explicit images of a child is illegal, even if the person doing it is a child. A young person is breaking the law if they:

• Take an explicit photo or video of themselves or a friend;
• Share an explicit image or video of a child, even if it's shared between children of the same age;
• Possess, download or store an explicit image or video of a child, even if the child gave their permission for it to be created.

However, if a young person is found creating or sharing images, the police can choose to record that a crime has been committed but that taking formal action is not in the public interest.

Internet abuse may also include cyberbullying. This is when a young person is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another person or persons using the internet and/or mobile devices. In the case of online bullying, it is possible for one victim to be bullied by many perpetrators. In any case of severe bullying it may be appropriate to consider the behaviour as child abuse by another young person.

Radical and extremist groups may use social networking to attract children and young people into narrow ideologies that are intolerant of diversity: this is similar to the grooming process and exploits the same vulnerabilities.

Children and young people may be drawn to adopt a radical ideology through a failure to appreciate the bias in extremist material; in addition by repeated viewing of extreme content they may come to view it as normal.

There is a correlation between online risk and real-life vulnerability that means care-experienced children have an increased risk of encountering online harm. Young people with prior off-line vulnerabilities are at greater risk of harm online then children and young people with none. For example, young people with eating disorders, looked after children and young people and those with communication challenges may use technology to communicate and socialise in ways they cannot achieve without it.

The Online Safety Act 2023 introduced new criminal offences including:

• Sending a message with information the sender knows to be false with the intention of causing non-trivial psychological or physical harm to a likely audience without reasonable excuse;
• Sending a message with a threat of death, serious injury, rape or serious financial loss where the sender intends the recipient to fear that threat will be carried out (or is reckless as to whether the recipient has such fear);
• Sending or showing an electronic communication with flashing images with the intention to cause harm to a person with epilepsy;
• Communicating, publishing or showing material capable (and with the intention) of encouraging or assisting the serious self-harm of another, even if the sender cannot identify the recipients and even if the self-harm does not occur;
• Intentionally sending or giving images of any person’s genitals to another person with the intention to cause the recipient alarm, distress or humiliation, or for the purposes of sexual gratification whilst reckless as to whether the recipient will be caused alarm, distress or humiliation;
• Four offences in relation to intentional sharing or threatening to share intimate images without consent, which do not necessarily require proof that the sender intended to cause alarm, distress or humiliation. (This replaces the previous offences relating to so-called ‘revenge porn’ where there was a requirement for an intention to cause distress).

The internet is an integral part of our lives, and young people need to learn how to use the internet safely and take responsibility for their own safety. This is best achieved by providing guidance, support and messaging around appropriate use of the internet.

Young people should be supported by staff to use the internet and social media safely, including to understand that when they use digital technology they should not give out personal information, particularly their name, address, mobile phone numbers to anyone they do not know or trust. Discussions should also cover safeguarding measures young people must consider if they plan to meet someone face to face whom they have only previously met online.

Young people who wish to post images of themselves on websites must be made aware of the risks involved. In some cases it may not be safe for children and young people to post images on social networking sites such as Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter).

Furthermore, young people should be warned about the risks of taking sexually explicit pictures of themselves and sharing them on the internet or by text. It is essential, therefore, that young people understand the legal implications and the risks they are taking. The initial risk posed by sexting may come from peers, friends and others in their social network who may share the images. Once an image has been sent, it is then out of your control.

Computers and web-enabled devices owned by the Service must have appropriate controls with regards to access and site-limitations and that 'firewall' and other safety filters are installed and regularly monitored and maintained. Staff must never use equipment belonging to the employer to access pornography; neither should personal equipment containing these images or links to them be brought into the workplace.

The Digital Passport is aimed specifically at Looked After Children, but may be a useful resource that can be adapted for any vulnerable child.

Records kept in the Service on each young person, including photographs, represent a significant contribution to their life history. Young people will be encouraged to keep appropriate memorabilia of their time spent living at the Service, including photographs.

Useful Websites

Refuge and Risk: Life Online for Vulnerable Young People - research into the risks and dangers for vulnerable young people online. The report discusses the types of risk they encounter which is exacerbated by the vulnerabilities.

NSPCC Report Remove Tool - The tool enables young people under the age of 18 to report a nude image or video of themselves which has appeared online. The Internet Watch Foundation will review these reports and work to remove any content which breaks the law.

UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS) Digital Passport - a communication tool to support children and young people with care experience to talk with their carers about their online lives.

Childnet Parents and Carers Toolkit - Resources that offer practical tips and advice on different aspects of keeping children safe online.

Talking to Your Child About Online Sexual Harassment (Children's Commissioner)

The Dark Web Explained (for Professionals)

The Dark Web Explained (for Parents and Carers)

Online Safety SEND Resources

Child Safety Online: A Practical Guide for Parents and Carers (GOV.UK) - The guide includes practical tips about the use of safety and privacy features on apps and platforms, as well as conversation prompts to help families begin talking about online safety. It also contains pointers to further advice and support.

• CEOP - This is the website of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), which delivers a multi-agency service dedicated to tackling the exploitation of children. It provides advice to parents, carers and children on Internet safety, an online reporting facility (Click CEOP) and the Thinkuknow website (see below);
• Thinkuknow - These resources help young people, parents and carers and teachers to learn about the risks that young people may encounter whilst using the Internet. Developed by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) the Thinkuknow website also includes a facility for young people to report online abuse;
• Childnet International - This website provides a range of resources to help children and young people to use the internet constructively and to protect children from being exploited in the online environments provided by new technologies.