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There are of course, enormous benefits to children being online and the Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on the power of digital technology to help children learn, to connect them with their friends and family and, importantly, to have fun.
But the online world was not built with children’s protection in mind and as such can expose them to significant risks. Research by Internet Matters shows that children who are vulnerable offline are many times more likely to be vulnerable online too.
For example, according to their ‘Refuge and Risk’ report, produced in partnership with Youthworks and the University of Kingston, 1 in 5 teens with mental health difficulties said they often saw pro-anorexia content online, compared to just 1 in 20 of their non-vulnerable peers. Young people with a physical illness were five times more likely to say they visit adult chatrooms online than those without vulnerabilities, and children in care were more than 4 times as likely to share a sexual image.
Internet Matters strives to empower vulnerable children, and the adults in their lives, so they can enjoy the many benefits of being online whilst managing the risks. Their Connecting Safely Online hub is an online destination offering advice and support for children with additional learning needs, as well as their parents, carers, teachers and other professionals in their lives. In contrast to a ‘one size fits all’ approach, the resources on Connecting Safely Online are designed specifically with children and young people with SEND, and other additional learning needs, in mind. Children, parents and professionals were consulted closely as part of the hub’s development, to ensure it was relevant to their needs and concerns, and delivered in a way that suited them.