Welsh students reveal online safety concerns

On a visit to an online safety lesson at Whitmore High School in Barry, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, had the chance to hear from pupils about the latest online concerns and the support in place to help.

Lynne Neagle met a Year 9 Pupil Voice Group at the school who are proactive in responding to emerging online issues to help create a resilient culture across the school. They gave feedback on previous online safety lessons and shared their views on future topics they would like to discuss.

Topics under discussion included AI, online bullying, sextortion, sharing nudes and sexual harassment. In one lesson pupils explored the impact of social media content from online influencers such as Andrew Tate and were given the opportunity to play a positive role in identifying problems with misogynist beliefs.

Cabinet Secretary Lynne Neagle said: "Social media places extraordinary pressure on young people today. From online bullying to the impact on self-esteem and body image, we must listen to our young people, if we are to truly tackle these challenging issues.

"It is encouraging to see this approach at Whitmore High where learners are invited to contribute their views and ideas and influence the school’s online safety provision. This can make a real difference in equipping our young people with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, as well as having the confidence to speak up when something doesn’t feel right."

Two thirds of children aged 3 to 17 use social media apps and children aged 8 to 17 spend on average between two and five hours online per day, according to Ofcom. These numbers are growing so understanding how to help young people use social media safely is vital.

The Keeping Safe Online area of Hwb has all the latest support and practical help for teachers on emerging, high priority issues and information on the current trends in online behaviour of children and young people.

As well as resources for schools, Hwb provides support for parents and carers including an overview of the latest social media and gaming apps and a guide on how to have a conversation with a child about a sensitive issue.