A new advice guide to help teenagers stay safe online has been launched to mark Safer Internet Day.
The guide – produced by Manx Telecom in association with Isle of Man College and Isle of Man Constabulary – contains lots of useful hints and tips on everything from how to manage your digital footprint to where to go for help if someone is a victim of cyber-bullying or trolling
It’s been published as a printed leaflet which will be handed out to students at the Isle of Man College and across the Island’s secondary schools – plus there’s a digital version which can be found downloaded from www.manxtelecom.com/onlinesafety
Safer Internet Day – on February 10 – is co-ordinated by the UK’s Safer Internet Centre and brings together hundreds of organisations to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. This year’s theme for the awareness day is ‘Let’s create a better internet together’ – and it is being supported here by Isle of Man College, Isle of Man Constabulary, and Manx Telecom.
PC Mike Griffiths, of IOM Constabulary, said the leaflet and online guide were excellent and would complement the work of the Constabulary’s Safer Schools Team.
Kerry Birchall, Computing, IT and Administration Course Tutor at Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education, said:
“I currently deliver e-safety guidance tutorials to all full-time students at the College. As there is an increasing complexity of issues relating to the misuse of social media there was a real need to provide clear guidance, tips and strategies for young people on the Island. I would like to thank Manx Telecom for their collaboration in order to produce this leaflet, which I hope will give our young people, aged 14 and over, the confidence to keep themselves safe online and to understand the impact of misusing social media.”
Kerry is also a CEOP Ambassador – CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) is part of the UK’s National Crime Agency and works with child protection agencies to identify the main threats to children and young people and bring offenders to account. The ceop.police.uk site also gives advice on staying safe online.
Voirrey Barron, Marketing Communications Manager at Manx Telecom, said:
“We take our responsibilities as an internet provider very seriously, and supporting campaigns such as Safer Internet Day, helping Isle of Man College to produce the online safety guide and the ongoing sale of our routers with parental controls, are all part of our ongoing strategy to help children stay safe online.”
In recent years Manx Telecom has also produced online and mobile safety leaflets aimed at the primary and lower secondary school age groups, and the company also gives online safety presentations at secondary schools for parents, as well as the annual Crucial Crew event at Isle of Man College. You can also find more information on the Manx Telecom website at www.manxtelecom.com/onlinesafety.
Photo - Launching the new e-safety guide at Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education are, left to right, Kerry Birchall, Computing, IT and Administration Course Tutor at the College; PC Mike Griffiths of Isle of Man Constabulary; and Voirrey Barron, Marketing Communications Manager at Manx Telecom.
