Active Digital Partnership with Internet Matters
Active Digital is delighted to announce a brand new partnership with the online safety organisation, Internet Matters to support parents and caregivers to guide children and young people safely through the digital world. There can be no doubt of the significant change connected technology has had on the day to day lives of children and young people, and the speed at which the technology they are using develops is moving at such a fast pace. A key part of our role as an independent telecommunications provider is to educate and advise our customers on keeping children safe online.
Launched in May 2014 by founding partners, BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media, Internet Matters is an independent, not for profit organisation which helps families keep their children safe online. Internet Matters understands the challenges parents and carers face in navigating the ever-changing digital landscape, collaborating with industry leaders such as Meta, Samsung and Roblox, along with experts, government and schools.
Whether your child is taking their first steps online or you need guidance on a specific issue, the Internet Matters website offers a host of information, resources and advice to keep your child’s online life fulfilling and, above all, safe. “My Family’s Digital Toolkit”( My Family’s Digital Toolkit – tailored online safety advice | Internet Matters ) offers personalised online safety advice based on a child’s age and the apps and devices they use, to help parents quickly and easily set up online safety features to protect children.
In recent months there has been a significant amount of media coverage focused on keeping children safe online, including campaigns promoting a smartphone-free childhood. Some parent groups have been campaigning for an outright smartphone ban for children under 14.
Similarly, groups have also called for a ban on social media for under-16s. These campaigns come from a real place of concern for parents. Many worry that use of smartphones correlates to mental health problems. While parents want to limit the risks of smartphones, Active Digital also recognises their need to keep in touch with their children. This is especially true as children grow and become more independent. Additionally, there are social pressures to think about. Many children use the digital space to socialise with friends. So, taking away smartphones or apps their friends use, means there’s a risk of social exclusion.
Jo Wimble-Groves, Active Digital Business Director, said, “As part of this initiative with Internet Matters, we will be sharing their resources to help our customers understand how to protect themselves and their children online. Because of the opportunities offered by technology, it is important that everyone is enabled to make use of it safely and our association with Internet Matters will allow us to equip our customers with the knowledge and tools they need”.
Does your child’s school allow mobile phones?
In February 2024, the government issued guidance to schools to prohibit the use of mobile phones during the school day.
In Primary Schools
While the guidance is non-statutory, 3/4 of primary schools already ask children to hand in phones. Students then collect them at the end of the day.
In Secondary Schools
For secondary school children, the picture is more complex. This is because many schools use online systems to manage schoolwork, and most children have their own school email. So, they will probably need some way to access these systems — whether that is through a phone, laptop or tablet.
On a final note, Guy Copitch of Internet Matters commented, “we are pleased to have onboarded Active Digital as a new supporter, after working together previously on a collaborative project. Internet Matters wants every child to safely benefit from connected technology, and this relationship will help to equip more parents and carers with the knowledge and confidence to minimise the risks of their families experiencing online harms.”
About Internet Matters – www.internetmatters.org.
Internet Matters is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping parents keep their children safe online, offering advice, resources, and tools to navigate the complexities of digital parenting.
Talk to us about organising a webinar for your company parent network, or a community you work with. Ask us for advice on using the Internet Matters digital toolkit, Kent parent coffee meetings and much more.
