Back to School: Online Safety Guidance for Parents and Carers
As children and young people across Argyll and Bute return to school, many will be adjusting to new routines, classmates, and year groups. For parents and carers, this can be a time of mixed emotions – from pride to anxiety. While mobile phones are a vital way for young people to stay connected, they also bring potential risks that families should be aware of.
This month’s Cyberbyte focuses on mobile phone use and online safety. Group chats on platforms such as WhatsApp are increasingly common among young people, but they can present challenges such as:
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Sharing personal phone numbers without consent
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Exposure to inappropriate or distressing content
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Increased risk of peer pressure and cyberbullying
Parents and carers are encouraged to have open conversations with children and young people about safe online behaviour and to explore the resources available from trusted partners, including:
👉 If you or your child are concerned about online behaviour, remember that you can report non-emergency crimes to Police Scotland on 101.
We encourage parents, carers, and communities to read this month’s Cyberbyte in full and share the guidance to help keep children and young people safe online.