Blog – Latest stories tagged 'safety'

Friendly WiFi is the world’s first accreditation scheme designed to verify whether a business’ public Wi-Fi service meets a minimum level of filtering to block out access to pornographic and child abuse websites. ‘Friendly WiFi’ aims to keep children and young people safe from viewing inappropriate material when logged into public Wi-Fi offered in cafes, shops, restaurants etc across the UK.

RDI Director Mike Davies said; “The creation of the ‘Friendly WiFi’ scheme follows a number of collaborative discussions about what can be done to improve child safety online. RDI has worked with the Government and industry to develop such a scheme, carrying a friendly logo to help UK businesses promote the fact that their Wi-Fi service is filtered and that ‘Friendly WiFi’ sites can be easily identified and located throughout the UK. The RDI is looking forward to supporting a safer environment for children and young people as the level of internet browsing and availability of services continues to increase.”

So what is 'Friendly WiFi'? Mike explains:

"For the past 12 months the Registered Digital Institute (RDI) has worked alongside The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) to design and launch a scheme that is the first in the world to use a minimum standard specification of filtering and to regulate public Wi-Fi services offered by businesses in the UK. This initiative is supported by Government and the UK’s main Wi-Fi providers."

"‘Friendly WiFi’ has been created to ensure that businesses who offer their customers the use of their public Wi-Fi services and who wish to become a ‘Friendly WiFi’ venue, can have their Wi-Fi services verified by an independent body to confirm that the correct filters are in place to block anyone from accessing inappropriate material."

Where should people look out for the ‘Friendly WiFi’ logo?

"The ‘Friendly WiFi’ logo can be found on the high street, in cafes, shops, restaurants, hotels and public transport. Wherever you see the ‘Friendly WiFi’ logo, parents and children can be assured that the public Wi-Fi offered at that particular venue has reached an industry recognised standard level of filtering and that access to pornography and child abuse websites, videos and images are blocked."

Why is it important for public Wi-Fi to be filtered?

"If filters are not placed on public Wi-Fi services, children and young people are at risk of viewing and accessing inappropriate material. This includes pornographic and child abuse imagery, websites and videos."

Claire Lilley, Head of Child Online Safety at NSPCC, has also given the scheme her backing; “Children often go online when they are out and about and parents need to know that using a public Wi-Fi network won’t expose them to pornography. So it’s very reassuring for parents to know that when they see the ‘Friendly WiFi’ logo they can allow their children to go online in safety. However, as with any filtering measures it’s vital not to be complacent and we urge parents to talk to their children about what they get up to online and what to do if they have any concerns.”

Many high street names have become Friendly WiFi accredited including Tesco, Samsung and Starbucks. These WiFi venues can be identified by the Friendly WiFi logo. The logo will reassure consumers that the most worrying internet content for children, including pornography, will have been placed behind filters and so unavailable to users.

More information can be found at the Friendly WiFi website.

Meet us at the Exa Education Conference - 10th October 2013

We are delighted to be supporting the Exa Education Conference, where we will be able to share our thoughts on the latest e-safety issues faced by teachers today. This will also be a great opportunity to meet with teachers and also find out more about the latest practices, innovations and technologies available to schools.

Ian Pringle, CEO of Kodo Education will be presenting on the day and will also be available to talk to about e-safety issues throughout the event. Here is an outline of the presentation he will be making:

Communications technology has and continues to have a profound effect on all aspects of society, from politics and international trade through to personal relationships. The speed of information transfer and related decision making puts strain on traditional customs, morals and behaviors, exposing and magnifying both the highs and lows of the human experience.

This talk will highlight some of the concepts which must be considered to ensure contemporary on-line safety and also outline some dangerous assumptions which must be addressed if we are to ensure we prepare our children for a safe and positive technological future.

Click here to register for the Exa Education Conference

In the last few weeks we have had news about internet filtering to block adult content, celebrities falling victim to ‘sexting’ and yet more stories about students and teachers suffering from cyber bullying via social media platforms. Add to that the plethora of new sites appearing that encourage participation from young people, and you can begin to see the enormity of the e-safety risks children face.

As teachers, there is a responsibility to safeguard pupils inside and outside the classroom which can be achieved with lessons and assemblies on e-safety, as well as enabling students to help the school develop and deliver the e-safety policy. But should it stop there?

The Guardian recently reported that research by Plymouth University showed that while parents appear to be confident about how safe their children are online, they are avoiding the difficult conversations about ‘sexting’, cyber bullying and so on. "There is a disconnect between how safe parents think they can keep their children online and their actual ability to do that," claimed Andy Phippen, professor of social responsibility at Plymouth University.

It’s easy to understand why parents may find this a difficult topic, not least because of the new language and internet slang which has developed with the increase in online participation. But there is also the issue of privacy – in research carried out by mobileinsurance.co.uk, 60 % of parents of children as young a 6 do not check mobile phone use for fear of invading their privacy. It goes without saying that parents need to help in the campaign to make sure children are safe in any environment and that includes online. First, however, it seems that we may need to educate them too.

If you would like to share your thoughts or tips on involving parents in e-safety education, please use the comments section below. Alternatively visit the E-safety Support Parents Pack for more information.