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Social media advice hub | Internet Matters

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Get expert advice to help pre-teens and teens stay in control of their social media use and navigate the risks and the rewards it can offer safely.

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In collaboration with Common Sense Media, 826 National is excited to announce the publication of True Connections: Teen-to-Teen Advice About Social Media and the Digital World, a collection of first-person essays written by teens about growing up as digital natives. True Connections features narratives from students across the 826 Network and beyond as they explore their relationship with the internet, social media, and the digital world. From refreshingly raw essays about internet addiction to eloquent explorations of digital disconnections, True Connections gives young writers the chance to ask big questions about what it means to strike a balance between real life and online life, and how to remain true to oneself in both. Joel Arquillos, 826LA's Executive Director, edited the book and put together a list of things he's learned from our young authors.
Top 10 Things Adults Can Learn from Teens about Social Media
By Joel Arquillos

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Joel Arquillos is the Executive Director at 826LA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Prior to his role with 826LA, Joel was the founding Director of National Programs for 826 National and a social studies teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District at Galileo Academy of Science and Technology.

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I get to learn amazing things from young people every day. I run 826LA, a nonprofit writing and tutoring organization that provides students ages 6-18 with writing support. Recently, I embarked on a project with 826 National, Common Sense Media, and The Hawkins Project to hear from youth around the world about their experiences navigating the internet. Their stories were meant to teach the next generation of youth about the pitfalls and possibilities of digital space, but I believe what they recount in the pages of the book, True Connections: Teen-to-Teen Advice About Social Media and the Digital World , could be helpful to all of us in many ways. As adults, we tend to think we know best, but young people have a way of distilling essential truths. If we're smart, we'll listen to their wisdom.

Here are the top 10 things I learned:

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Order the Book Today.
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How often have you found yourself tweeting about politics or making fun of an opposing sports team on social media using language or snarkiness you would never use with your friends, family, or coworkers? You do realize this is public record, yes? It's now common for employers to Google job applicants. And if you do a bit of social media reconnaissance before a date, you can bet your possible-future-partner is doing the same. So be careful when you post pictures from your friend's bachelor party or make rude comments about some celebrity who just had a meltdown. Take Meredity's advice, and be more professional and vigilant in all you do, but especially online.

But you probably think you know all of this already, and you may say "But I have First Amendment rights!" And you do, but if you're only reaching those who already agree with you, plus a few trolls, is taking a crude or aggressive stance worth it? Editing your online persona may just help you figure out what values you want to take a stand for, and what's more trouble than it's worth. Why not just be your best self all the time?

So instead of just looking for the latest gossip on Twitter during your break (or during regular work hours...) or posting selfies you've filtered so much you appear younger and better looking than you actually are, take Gracie's advice and do something good instead. Focus on reposting positive stories or ideas that are genuinely going to help others. There's plenty of sadness in the world and way more terrible news than we ever need or want to hear. Challenge the norm and yourself and put good out into the world. It may change you and those who follow you. But most of all, it might change you in a way that Instagram filters may never be able to.

If you're like me and you grew up as a Gen Xer, sarcasm and irony were how you learned to cope with your emotions. Having grown up in the immediacy of the internet, Generation Z knows how fast things can get ugly. Take a page from our Gen Z brethren, who have a very healthy outlook and positive view of humanity. It doesn't take much to rewrite that scathing knee-jerk remark-which is probably a result of years of unhealthy, trauma-inducing relationships that became emblazoned onto your psyche- with a productive and life-affirming tone. It can be transformative and can lead to less stress. So I'm told.

I used to teach Social Studies, and the one thing I tried to make clear to my students is that there are many sides to a story, and that we need to ask the right questions in order to find the truth. Young people today are very critical thinkers. I've had great conversations with students at 826LA who are not fooled by the many one-sided views being pushed by media outlets, and don't allow themselves to be locked into one way of thinking about our current political debate. Fake news is especially concerning since so much of it is put out there by entities and "bots" beyond our control. It's more important than ever to continue to question the sources of information you read online and please, don't share anything ridiculous that is clearly just clickbait. No one benefits from it. Just read Shailaja's amazing essay about it in True Connections and you'll understand.

You may believe you no longer care about how many "likes" or followers you get, but please be honest with yourself. I have many friends who regularly assess their worth based on their social media likes. And yes, I've done it too. It's very common. And definitely don't reveal personal information that could be used against you or yours. If you have children, like I do, ask their permission if you'd like to post something about them online. Or better yet, don't. And like many of you, I've also had to witness my own parents become social media users in the last few years. It has been a bit challenging to count them among my "followers." It's especially hard when my own mom disagrees with a political opinion of mine and takes it upon herself to troll me. It's embarrassing to say the least.

"Social media has become a tool for speaking without hesitation and eradicating listening." - Madelyn Furlong, Montgomery, AL

When you read something that agitates you, it's tempting to fire off a comment, a reply, a subtweet, or a rant of your own. But here's an experiment: Just listen. Absorb what the person said. Take a walk and think about it (we could use the exercise anyway). Ask yourself where that person is coming from. Maybe you'll still disagree, even vehemently, but you'll create space for the person's humanity, and you'll be better for it. Maybe you'll think, "My Tía Linda gets her news from the worst sources! But she's probably also full of anger because her car broke down last week, so maybe I should just text her to see how she's doing."
I admit it, 5% of the time, the first thing that comes to my mind could be great material to share, but that leaves me with 95% of potentially dangerous and irresponsible thoughts that should not be put out into the world. There are some very famous people (whose names I'd love to mention here and castigate for their very irresponsible use of social media, but will not mention because that would go against what I'm trying to learn myself through this piece) who spend a lot of time on their devices and as a result, forget the norms and decency of good and ethical communication. Remember to breathe when reading and responding to content you disagree with. Where does your anger or disagreement come from? Are you sure there's no middle ground? Be diplomatic if you can.

Okay, I need to say more about those well-known folks who spend most of their days on their devices churning out damaging content for the pure joy of it or to help a cause they support. It's truly mind-boggling to me that there are adults in this world who get up every day and put hateful messages out there. Who are these folks who find joy in menacing and hurting others they disagree with? Many of these people are paid individuals who do it to hurt a cause or to lobby an opinion, while others just seem to get pure joy from being on the side of hate and repression.

There are those who are seriously in need of help but don't know how to ask for it. They see lashing out as the only way to release their anger and frustration. But lately, in response to some of this online aggression, I've witnessed people using empathy and sincerity as a way to combat negative content (read Sarah Silverman's response to an angry follower and Patton Oswalt's incident as well, ). And it has worked beautifully. Even to the point where the instigators apologized for their comments. Let's cultivate more of that.

There's nothing more annoying than spending time with friends while they spend more time on their phones. Has this happened to you? Or have you seen a couple at a romantically-themed restaurant with candles and expensive meals who are more engaged with their phones than in dinner conversation? What's that all about? Or have you woken up in the middle of the night or stayed up late like Paolo to take in the light of your device and get absorbed by the internet? I'm told we need at least eight hours of sleep a night to live productive lives. Please sleep.

I've been hearing a lot of talk lately about families taking a "sabbath" day off from their tech tools. A day where folks just spend the day playing board games, talking, and not once picking up a device. It's scary to think we've become so addicted to social media and our phones that the completely normal act of connecting with other people has to be planned out in advance now. But, alas, that's the world we're living in and if we want to reconnect with ourselves and those we love, it's not too hard to stop and take one day a week off and focus instead on being face-to-face with other humans and sharing stories, live! Or maybe take a hike with a friend and check out some of the wonder nature holds for us.

It's true, many of us feel more comfortable and even safer interacting with others from our computers or devices. In many of the essays collected in True Connections , you'll find stories about young people who felt it was easier to come out and be their true selves online before being open to others in their local community. You'll also come across stories of youth dealing with trauma who found others online dealing with similar problems. One of the essays is about an autistic young man who had trouble navigating social environments, but by building up his confidence through interactions online, he was able to grow and feel better about engaging with people outside his home. The authors in True Connections make it clear that the internet can be and is an amazing resource for all of us as long as we use it wisely.

The world has undergone a tremendous change this past decade and we are still trying to understand the effects of social media on all of us. But one thing is certain: We are all responsible for what we say. We need to make room for more voices and not just create a bigger rift between our opposing views. But don't take it from me. Read about it in the pages of True Connections and learn from the voices of the next generation trying to make sense of the world they inherited. We can be better. We all just need to listen more, post thoughtfully, and grow.

- Joel Arquillos

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Top 10 Things Adults Can Learn from Teens about Social Media - 826 National

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Joel Arquillos, 826LA Executive Director, shares 10 things he's learned from teens about social media in 826 National's newest publication True Connections. Adults Can Learn from Teens about Social Media Continue reading →

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Our checklists cover safety tips and privacy features for the four most popular social media platforms - Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Netflix and Instagram. The most up to date resources...

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Read age-appropriate app reviews for kids and parents written by our experts.

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Sonia Livingstone: Parenting in the digital age

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How can parents ensure their children have a healthy relationship with technology? Social psychologist Sonia Livingstone suggests that the key lies in embracing technology alongside children -- and lays out a practical roadmap for how to get there.

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This Online Safety Resource is designed to empower learners to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world.

These free materials developed by South West Grid for Learning and supported by the Welsh Government, are based on Common Sense Media resources from the United States. With 5 individual lessons for every year group from Foundation Phase to Key Stage 4 and beyond, you can find the resources that are just right for your classroom.

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Online Safety Resource for Wales - Keeping safe online - Hwb

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This Online Safety Resource is designed to empower learners to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world. These free materials developed by South West Grid for Learning and supported by the Welsh Government, are based on Common Sense Media resources from the United States.

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Supporting professionals working with children and young people

Co-funded by the European Commission, The Professionals Online Safety Helpline (POSH) was set up in 2011 to help all members of the community working with or for children in the UK, with any online safety issues they, or children and young people in their care, may face. So if you work with children and young people, we're here to help you.

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Designed and Developed by Will Earp, South West Grid for Learning Trust Ltd

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POSH, from SWGfL and the UK Safer Internet Centre, is here for professionals working with children and young people in the UK, to support with online safety.

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Designed and Developed by South West Grid for Learning (http://swgfl.org.uk/)

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Report Harmful Content - We Help You Remove Content

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We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

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Are you being bullied? If you are being bullied, or you are not ready to make a report to CEOP, you can talk to Childline anonymously online or on the phone - No worry is too big or too small. Visit Childline

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Resources for 11-19s - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Experiencing cyberbullying? Confused about sexting? Worried about a friend online? Take a look at our resources for 11 -19 year olds

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After having this training, planning a lesson for my peers and attending two webinars I can certainly say that being a Digital Leader has taught me a lot. Not only about the internet, but it has helped me develop my presentation skills and I have learnt how to engage people as well as help and support them.

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Access information and resources for parents and carers on keeping your child safer online including conversation starters and video guides.

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For young people / I Pobl Ifanc

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Your home for the latest news, guidance, resources and training on a range of online safety, cyber resilience and data protection issues to help you, your school and your family stay safe, secure and savvy online.

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Your home for the latest news, guidance, resources and training on a range of online safety, cyber resilience and data protection issues to help you, your school and your family stay safe, secure and savvy online.

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Internet Safety: How to Stay Safe Online (BSL) | Childline

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An online safety teaching toolkit for educators to deliver with young people in KS3 and KS4

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Internet Safety: How to Stay Safe Online (BSL) | Childline

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Back

Primary target audience: Deaf young people

A flyer for secondary school age children, full of ideas and suggestions for using the internet and social media safely. It signposts to support for children and young people who are experiencing cyberbullying or have concerns about content they have found, or people who are contacting them, online.

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How to be safe and smart online | Documents and resources

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Back Primary target audience: Deaf young people A flyer for secondary school age children, full of ideas and suggestions for using the internet and social media safely. It signposts to support for children and young people who are experiencing cyberbullying or have concerns about content they have found, or people who are contacting them, online.

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Secondary Age Guide

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BSL language version - Parent and Carers sharing images (secondary)

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Primary Age Guide

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BSL language version - Parent and Carers sharing images (primary)

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For young people/ i pobl ifanc

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For young people/ i pobl ifanc

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Be Aware Of Your Online Safety: Tips To Keep Safe

Don't worry! We're not here to tell you that the Internet is bad and that social media is the devil - here at Meic we're big fans of the Internet and social media. Being online is great. It teaches us, entertains us and allows us to be social and keep in touch, much more than we'd be able to otherwise. But with this comes a responsibility to protect yourself and others from the negative side of being online.

This article is also available in Welsh - I ddarllen y cynnwys yma yn Gymraeg - clicia yma

This isn't a blog to discourage you from having social media accounts and chatting online. We're here to help you take steps to keep yourself safe and make good decisions about the stuff that you share online.

Think Privacy

Your privacy settings is the most important tool you have to keep yourself safe online. If you've never been a victim before then it's easy to think that nothing bad will happen to you. But it's much better to protect yourself just in case something bad happens rather than deal with the consequences of it afterwards.

Keep your information private - set your privacy settings so that only your friends can see information about you. Don't share details like where you live or what school you go to. Make sure that you keep your passwords to yourself - you don't need to share these with your friends.

SWGfL have a set of downloadable checklists for different platforms to guide you through your profile settings on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Roblox and Tik Tok.

You don't have to share everything

Think about the things that you share. Would you be embarrassed if your parent/grandparent/teacher saw it? Would you say that thing you said in front of someone in real life? If your answer is no, then it's probably best not to share it. Just because it's online doesn't mean it doesn't have an effect on your real life offline.

Think about reputation. It might not seem important now, but anything you post could stay online forever. People can quickly lose control of their own posts when people start sharing. Think about your situation in 5 or 10 years time. Would you want your future employer seeing some of the things you've posted?

Why do you really need people to see where you are at all times? The safest and smartest thing to do is switch locations off on your phone and apps so that people can't keep track of where you are if their intentions aren't good.

If someone asks you to share any inappropriate images or comments privately with them, think about how you'd feel if those were shared publicly. Once you hit send you've lost control of that image. You might have 100% trust in that person you've shared it right now, but what happens if you fall out? It's also really important for you to know that sharing any sexual images of yourself or others if you're under 16 is illegal and can get you and the person who receives that image into trouble with the police. Even if someone you really like has asked for a photo you should be strong and say "NO". If they really like you then they will respect your choice.

Be picky about your friends

Try to only add friends that you know in real life, don't start adding people because they're a friend of a friend. You don't know who they are or what they are like in real life. Imagine that the 14-year-old girl you're talking to is really a 50-year-old man. If you only add people that you know then you're protecting yourself.

This is true on gaming platforms as well, not just social media. Don't share personal information and block, report and mute people that you don't feel comfortable with. Childline has some safety advice about online gaming.

Think about your online life like your offline life. Would you start talking to some randoms in the street and tell them all kinds of private things about yourself?

Seeing something bad

Have you seen something you don't like or makes you feel uncomfortable? Is someone saying things to you that you don't like or isn't appropriate? Are you concerned about your safety, or someone else's?

If you're not happy with something you see online then tell someone you trust and/or report it to CEOP. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, if it's abusive or you know it shouldn't be shared online then report it. Social media platforms have their own reporting function too that may link directly to CEOP. You should also use this if you're concerned about someone else online.

Don't forget the unfriend, unfollow and blocking options. Losing a friend or follower really isn't as important as your safety - it's not always about numbers. It's much better to keep yourself safe.

Social media detox

Try to have some time away from the screen. We know the thought of this might be horrendous, and that your phone is your connection to everything and everyone in your life, but just try to set some time away from your devices once in a while. Do things with your family. Get creative. Go outside into the fresh air. You might find it does some good to have a break every now and then.

If anything makes you feel uncomfortable or in danger then tell someone straight away. If you don't feel you can talk to a family member, teacher, youth worker etc. then you can always contact Meic for free. It's a confidential helpline service that's here to listen and offer advice and guidance. And don't forget to report any concerns about online safety to CEOP.

Contact Meic

If you're worried about anything then Meic can help, with information, advice and advocacy on any issue. We're here to listen and to work with you to find a way forward. Meic is anonymous and free to contact on the phone, by text or online chat from 8am to midnight, every day of the year.

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Be Aware Of Your Online Safety: Tips To Keep Safe - Home - Meic

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This article is also available in Welsh - I ddarllen y cynnwys yma yn Gymraeg - clicia yma This isn't a blog to discourage you from having social media accounts and chatting online. We're here to help you take steps to keep yourself safe and make good decisions about the stuff that you share online.

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Resources for professionals

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For young people/ i pobl ifanc

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Family activity sheet

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Sharing images and videos staying safe online 

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Sharing images and videos staying safe online 

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Family activity sheet

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Family activity sheet

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Family activity sheet

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Parents guide to staying safe watching online videos

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Parents guide to staying safe watching online videos

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Resources for professionals

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Click on the links below for each activity pack. Every link contains two 15-minute activities to do with a child:

Home activity pack 1 - an activity exploring the impact of school closures and introducing the 14+ Thinkuknow website.

Home activity pack 2 - a writing and vlogging activity providing advice to young people.

Home activity pack 3 - an activity explorng the opportunities and challenges of the online world, and advice for young people video chatting during lockdown.

Home activity sheet 4 - two activities exploring the sharing of nude images, covering issues such as how to say no, and the non-consensual sharing of nude images.

Home activity pack 5 - two online activities exploring different support services for young people on issues such as relationships and sex.

Home activity pack 6 - an activity exploring healthy and unhealthy online relationships, and a chat log activity exploring the sharing of nude images.

Home activity pack 7 - a quiz activity exploring live streaming apps, and a creative #hashtag activity exploring advice for young people if they feel under pressure when live streaming.

Home activity pack 8 - one video activity explorng warning signs when chatting to others whilst gaming, and one creative activity exploring new and innovative safety features for gaming developers.

Home activity pack 9 - two creative activities exploring the positives and potential risks to socialising online.

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Click on the links below for each activity pack. Every link contains two 15-minute activities to do with a child: Home activity pack 1 - an activity exploring the impact of school closures and introducing the 14+ Thinkuknow website. Home activity pack 2 - a writing and vlogging activity providing advice to young people.

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Resources for professionals

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Click on the links below for each activity pack. Every link contains two 15-minute activities to do with a child:
First to a million film 11-13s Powerpoint presentation containing First to a million film 11-13s Home activity pack 1

Activity 1: Watch the First to a million film

Activity 2: First to a million - What happened next?

Home activity pack 2

Activity 1: Children's right to privacy

Activity 2: First to a million - consent and the right to privacy

Home activity pack 3

Activity 1: First to a million - nudes being shared without consent

Activity 2: Nudes being shared publically without consent

Home activity pack 4

Activity 1: Things that get shared online (understanding what should and shouldn't be posted online)

Activity 2: Things that get shared online part 2

Home activity pack 5

Activity 1: Friends, frenemies and fakers (identifying healthy and unhealthy friendships)

Activity 2: Online friendships

Home activity pack 6

Activity 1: Sending nude selfies

Activity 2: Pressure to send nude images

Home activity pack 7

Activity 1: Safe live streaming

Activity 2: Dealing with pressure on a live stream

Home activity pack 8

Activity 1: Online gaming features and risks

Activity 2: Online gaming safety tips

Home activity pack 9

Activity 1: Evaluating social media experiences

Activity 2: Staying safe on social media

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Click on the links below for each activity pack. Every link contains two 15-minute activities to do with a child: First to a million film 11-13s Powerpoint presentation containing First to a million film 11-13s Home activity pack 1 Activity 1: Watch the First to a million film Activity 2: First to a million - What happened next?

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The affects of social media on the brain

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The affects of social media on the brain

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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5 Crazy Ways Social Media Is Changing Your Brain Right Now

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Resources for professionals

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The rise of social media has meant that people are more connected than we have ever been in the history of time. But our reliance on social media can have a detrimental effect on our mental health, with the average Brit checking their phone as much as 28 times a day.

While social media platforms can have their benefits, using them too frequently can make you feel increasingly unhappy and isolated in the long run.

The constant barrage of perfectly filtered photos that appear on Instagram are bound to knock many people's self-esteem, while obsessively checking your Twitter feed just before bed could be contributing towards poor quality of sleep.

Here are six ways that social media could be negatively affecting your mental health without you even realising.

We all have our fair share of insecurities, some that we speak about openly and others that we prefer to keep to ourselves.

However, comparing yourself to others on social media by stalking their aesthetically perfect Instagram photos or staying up to date with their relationship status on Facebook could do little to assuage your feelings of self-doubt.

A study conducted by the University of Copenhagen found that many people suffer from " Facebook envy ", with those who abstained from using the popular site reporting that they felt more satisfied with their lives.

"When we derive a sense of worth based on how we are doing relative to others, we place our happiness in a variable that is completely beyond our control," Dr Tim Bono, author of When Likes Aren't Enough explained in Healthista.

Becoming more conscious of the amount of time you spend scrolling through other people's online profiles could help you focus more on yourself and boost your self-confidence.

As human beings, it's so important for us to be able to communicate and forge personal connections with one another.

However, it can be hard to do so when we're glued to rectangular screens, becoming more acquainted with our friends' digital facades than their real-life personas.

Stina Sanders, a former model who has 107,000 followers on Instagram, explained how social media sometimes makes her feel like she's being left out.

"I know from my experience I can get FOMO when I see my friend's photos of a party I didn't go to, and this, in turn, can make me feel quite lonely and anxious," she told The Independent.

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology that assessed 5,208 subjects found that overall, regular use of Facebook had a negative impact on an individual's wellbeing.

Social media can be great for looking back fondly on memories and recounting how past events occurred.

However, it can also distort the way in which you remember certain tidbits from your life.

Many of us are guilty of spending far too much time trying to take the perfect photo of a visual marvel, all the while not actually absorbing the firsthand experience of witnessing it with your own two eyes.

"If we direct all of our attention toward capturing the best shots for our social media followers to admire, less will be available to enjoy other aspects of the experience in real time," said Dr Bono.

"Spending too much time on our phones will detract from those other aspects of the experience, undermining the happiness we could be gleaning from them."

Having enough sleep is of paramount importance.

However, many of us use our phones too soon before choosing the hit the hay, making it harder to doze off.

"Getting worked up with anxiety or envy from what we see on social media keeps the brain on high alert, preventing us from falling asleep," explained Dr Bono.

"Plus, the light from our mobile device just inches from our face can suppress the release of melatonin, a hormone that helps us feel tired."

Try setting yourself a strict rule of not going on your phone for at least 40 minutes to an hour before going to bed, and see if that makes a difference to the quality of your sleep.

It's not just your subconscious brain that you need to worry about, but also the extent to which your brain is able to fully concentrate when you're awake.

While it's incredible to consider the amount of information readily available at our fingertips thanks to social media, it also means that people have become far more easily distracted.

"Social media has provided a means of constantly giving into the temptation of instant, easy-access entertainment," said Dr Bono.

If you're unable to not check your phone for at least a few minutes, then you'd do well to practise exercising your willpower on occasion.

Not only has social media been proven to cause unhappiness, but it can also lead to the development of mental health issues such as anxiety or depression when used too much or without caution.

In March 2018, it was reported that more than a third of Generation Z from a survey of 1,000 individuals stated that they were quitting social media for good as 41 per cent stated that social media platforms make them feel anxious, sad or depressed.

Ben Jacobs, a DJ who has more than 5,000 followers on Twitter, decided to go on a hiatus from the platform in January 2016 and has found the break really beneficial.

"Twitter did indeed make me feel anxious from time to time as it slowly dawned on me I was concerning myself with the feelings of the thousands of strangers I followed, while they didn't necessarily know who I was," he said.

"Since my Twitter hiatus, I have had a clearer head with plenty of time to devote to other things such as waking up in a cold sweat at 3am and reading a book instead."

While you don't necessarily have to quit social media for good, if you feel like it's beginning to bog you down, why not consider allocating social media-free time slots during your daily routine? The slight change could do you a whole lot of good. [This article was originally published in October 2020]
If you are in need of mental health support, you can contact the free Samaritans helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.

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Six ways social media negatively affects your mental health without you even knowing

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The rise of social media has meant that people are more connected than we have ever been in the history of time. But our reliance on social media can have a detrimental effect on our mental health, with the average Brit checking their phone as much as 28 times a day.

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For young people/ i pobl ifanc

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Dangers of Social Media For Teens Video | RaffertyWeiss Media

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For young people/ i pobl ifanc

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How to Stay Safe on Facebook [STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE]

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Relationships online and staying safe / perthnasau arlein 

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Relationships online and staying safe / perthnasau arlein 

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Information and advice for young people aged 11 to 18 about sex, relationships and the internet from CEOP Education at the National Crime Agency.

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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Most websites have a way for you to ask them to remove 'content' - like videos, pictures, comments or profiles - that upset you or a friend. This is called making a 'report'.

It's important to know that making a report doesn't mean the content will definitely be removed.

Just like in school, most websites have a set of rules e.g. 'Terms of Use', which they expect people using their site to obey. Websites will only take content down if they break these rules.

If you want to have something taken down from a site you should check to see if it breaks one of their rules.

Facebook calls their rules 'Community Standards', YouTube's rules are called 'Community Guidelines' and other sites like Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram have their own sets of rules and ways to report.

Before using any website you should read them to learn what is, and what isn't, acceptable on the site. You should also learn how to report content to the site.

Here's where to find the rules of some of the most popular sites and apps and how you can make a report:

Snapchat
Read Snapchat's rules Report to Snapchat Snapchat Safety Centre
Facebook
Read Facebook's rules Report to Facebook Facebook Help Centre
YouTube
Read YouTube's rules Report to YouTube YouTube Safety Centre Read Instagram's rules Report to Instagram Instagram Safety Centre
Twitter
Read Twitter's rules Report to Twitter Twitter Safety Centre
Tik Tok
Read Tik Tok's 'terms of use' Report to Tik Tok Tik Tok's Support Centre
Yubo
Read Yubo's 'Community Guidelines' Report to Yubo Yubo's Safety Centre
Reporting to CEOP

CEOP helps young people who are being sexually abused or are worried that someone they've met is trying to abuse them.

If you've met someone online, or face to face, and they are putting you under pressure to have sex, you can report to CEOP.

This might be someone:

Making you have sex when you donʼt want to

Asking you to do sexual things on webcam or over a live stream

Asking for sexual pictures of you

If this is happening to you, or you're worried that it might be, report to CEOP.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Most websites have a way for you to ask them to remove 'content' - like videos, pictures, comments or profiles - that upset you or a friend. This is called making a 'report'. It's important to know that making a report doesn't mean the content will definitely be removed.

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Resources for 11-19s - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Experiencing cyberbullying? Confused about sexting? Worried about a friend online? Take a look at our resources for 11 -19 year olds

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How to secure a private snap chat account 

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How to secure a private snap chat account 

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How to Make Your Snapchat Account Private (4 Simple Ways)

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For young people

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Resources for professionals

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Social media and online safety | NSPCC Learning

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Guidance for organisations and groups about communicating with children and young people online and through social media

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kahoot online safety quiz / Cwis cadwn saf ar-lein

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kahoot online safety quiz / Cwis cadwn saf ar-lein

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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For young people / I pobl ifanc

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