Young people are growing up in a world where technology has always been present for them, and this can have both a positive and negative impact on their lives. On the one hand going  online can mean being connected to friends, sharing experiences and learning new things, but all of these experiences can also pose challenges for young people. With the online world being such a huge part of young people's lives, it's very important that we help them to understand how to use it safely, sensibly and with an awareness of how it can impact them.

Many parents think about online safety being about stopping children from online bullying or from dangerous adults, but it's also about protecting them from the pressures of growing up in today's world. There are links below which give advice about all of these things, but watch this video and think about your child's view of the world...

TikTok App

At the moment, lots of our children, particularly those in Y6, are using Tiktok. Tiktok is a video sharing app; children have to confirm that they are 13 or older to sign up.

• TikTok is a social media app that allows users to film videos that are 15 seconds or less
• Lip-syncing, dancing, and acting out comedy sketches are some of the most popular types of videos on TikTok
• Built-in editing tools make it easy for users to edit their videos without any additional apps
• Similar to Snapchat, or Instagram Stories, TikTok users can add filters to their videos
• Like most social media platforms, users earn likes and comments on their posts
• Songs, effects, or sound bites can be added to the videos
• TikTok incentivizes collaboration by allowing users to “duet” with each other, which encourages audience reactions
• Users can follow others on the app without posting their own content but there is no way to browse content on the app without setting up an account
• The app boasts an “endless stream” of content for users to watch which can promote addictive behavior in students

Unfortunately there are several reports that discuss the dangers of TikTok, from predator concerns to collecting data on minors without parental consent. We want parents to be informed before they give their student access to this app. Check out the poster about the dangers of Tiktok.