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By James Saunders

TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND MISOGYNY

The internet is wonderful. It has transformed the way we live, work and interact forever. However, for all the good technology does for us there remains many risks. Understanding how to use parental-controls is one way families can keep their children safe. Another way to protect children is to engage in the conversation. With a huge increase in sales of devices (around 13 million people receive smartphones for Christmas each year) it is important to ensure that you and your children are safe when playing with new tech.

THE TECH

Most devices have controls to ensure that children can’t access content you don’t want them to. Make sure your “in-app” purchases are disabled to avoid a nightmare surprise in the new year.

Tablets are really popular with younger children, and the market has several which are geared towards child friendly content. When it comes to using them, start slowly; only download games and apps you have checked out carefully (sites such as www.net-aware. org.uk, or www.commonsensemedia.org provide useful advice!) and steer them towards age targeted content such as www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/cbeebies/ features/iplayer-kids or YouTube Kids.

If you have older children, and are thinking about getting them a new phone for Christmas, this can pose its own challenges. The old online safety message about having your home computer in a communal place becomes defunct, because phones are literally mobile computers and have the power of most traditional desktop PCs.

• not using phones and mobile devices at the dinner table - talking as a family is very important for development

• keeping screens out of the bedroom at bedtime

• talking as a family about keeping safe online

and about cyberbullying and what children should do if they are worried

• not using phones when crossing a road or doing any other activity that requires a person’s full attention

• making sure children take regular breaks from screens by getting up and being active

MONITORING VS HAVING A CONVERSATION

It is possible to install software onto devices that monitors online activity, alerts you to inappropriate behaviour, and can block access to certain content. This type of software is becoming increasingly popular, but while this might sound tempting, it does pose a number of issues around your child’s right to privacy and could have an impact upon your relationship with them. SWGfL published this blog earlier this year, which covers the subject in some detail and raises some interesting points.

The best advice we can give is to talk to your child regularly and openly about behaviour and risk, so that they know they can come to you if something goes wrong.

SWGfL also covered this in its Parenting in a Digital Age series earlier this year, in this blog. Consider setting parental controls on your Wi-Fi – you can block access to inappropriate or adult content, and set time limits which may help rein in those excessive Minecraft sessions.

GAMING

Finally a word about games. This year there are so many exciting games and consoles around, there is a good chance you might have one in your house.

Consider whether your child is mature enough to join an online community, and whether the games they are playing are appropriate. For more advice on this visit www.pegi.info or www.askaboutgames.com. Our blog from earlier this year, ‘The real cost of online

gaming’ also gives an insight into the type of things to be aware of when it comes to gaming.

With access to tech it does not take young people long to become hooked on social media.

SOCIAL MEDIA, MISOGYNY AND THE POWER OF THE ALGORITHM

Schools across the country are constantly dealing with situations in school that began outside of school. Situations such as these would not happen if social media had not been misused by children operating out of earshot late at night. Whilst we do our best to educate everyone about how to behave online and through social media it is our collective responsibility to ensure our learners are safe in their use of technology in and out of school. Parents, do you know how your children are using their technology in the evenings? Are they being ‘influenced’ by Social Media ‘influencers’? And are being exposed to, or even worse encouraging, misogynistic behaviour. Central to the way misogyny spreads is the algorithm.

On social media algorithms can be used to determine the content we see. Used positively, they can provide us with a more personalised and enjoyable social media experience based on our likes and dislikes. The darker side of algorithms is that they can be used negatively to try and manipulate someone’s views, beliefs or even their behaviour. Algorithms dictate our online experience and all too often place us in an echo chamber that distorts what is real. This simple story illustrates the power of algorithms:

I signed up for a TikTok account when I was 13. I liked the funny videos and the ones about some of my favourite sports teams. At first, I only got suggestions for sport and amusing videos but soon I was getting more and more videos from influencers. These had extreme views that were rude about women. I watched a couple but didn’t like them, however, that didn’t stop more and more weird stuff being recommended to me. I found out how to block some of the content, but other things that were similar still got through. I know that most boys and men don’t believe this stuff but it feels like we’re being bombarded with misogyny and encouraged to join in.

REDUCING THE INFLUENCE OF ONLINE MISOGYNY

• Report anything you find upsetting to a trusted adult and ask for help if you need it.

• Follow more positive accounts and unfollow accounts or people that you find offensive.

• Don’t take things at face-value or believe everything you read and see on social media.

• Avoid sharing, forwarding, liking or commenting

on misogynistic content even if you think it’s a joke.

• THINK before you post, share, like or comment on misogynistic or other potentially offensive content.

• Remember that women and girls are equals and standing up for them is a strength and a positive male quality.

It is worth reflecting on the impact our use of technology can have - adults as well as children. As a school that embraces technology it has always been our belief that educating about the risks is better than just taking action that can drive the behaviour associated with such risks underground and I would recommend that we all engage in the conversation.

Have a lovely weekend.

THANKS

James Saunders

To the following learners for supporting the Governor visit on Friday 22nd November:

Benjamin Boughtwood, Martha Camamile-Wright, Finley Doughton, Freya Gillman, Emily Katiuzhenko, Stanley Moxham, Toby Slingsby, Soha Malek, Freddie Brooks, Matilda Moxham and Freddie Estall.

Dates for the Diary

Mon 25 Nov - Fri 13 Dec C11 Mock Exams

Wed 4 Dec C10 Democracy Focus Day

Mon 9 Dec Winter Concert - 6.30pm

Fri 13 Dec Christmas Jumper Day

Wed 18 Dec C11 Macbeth screening

Thurs 19 Dec KS3 Film Afternoon Fundraiser

Fri 20 Dec Last day of term - early finish (12.55)

Tues 7 Jan 2025 All learners return to school