Is your young one getting a new first device this Christmas? If so, take a look at the information link below to help keep them safe in the online world

I do not normally comment on so called 'challenges' as I believe any air given to them is a waste, however, this one has come to light again recently so I thought it best to give you a bit of information about it.

The "Blue Whale challenge" was reported to be an online "suicide game" aimed at teenagers which set 50 tasks over 50 days. The challenge was alleged to be linked to numerous deaths around the world. But little about the "game" was quite as it seemed.

Please read this BBC link to learn more - The Blue Whale Challenge 

I am sure over the (many) years you have heard about the Online Safety Bill - first discussed back in 2018 at an NSPCC Conference I attended where there were calls for companies to be made responsible for what was on their platforms, rather than the old excuse of 'we just create the platform not the content'.

Now tech companies will have a legal duty to protect children from sexual abuse and harmful material on social media sites, gaming apps, and messaging services. In some cases being fined up to 10% of income and those in charge serving prison sentences.

End-to-End Encryption, previously the domain of spies and those seeking to exist below the observation of the authorities is now becoming a must-have feature in the e-communication world.

The commencement of End-to-End Encryption as a feature of all messaging apps, owes much to the screen capturing of private images and texts in the adult world. However, the question remains is the enhancement of security via this level of encryption an advantage or disadvantage to child protection?

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), has recently published an article on this topic. Please follow the link below to find out more: