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Whatsapp Parent Guide by Clearview Education

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Whatsapp Parent Guide by Clearview Education

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Did you know WhatsApp has over two billion users worldwide? The ability to easily send text, videos, photos and files, along with the capacity to make video and voice calls have made WhatsApp the world's most popular messaging platform.

What's the age rating for WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is rated 13+.

In 2024, WhatsApp lowered the age rating in Europe from 16 to 13. This change received criticism from Children's Rights Advocates, arguing that the changes expose children to potential online harms.

This change may mean that more primary school aged children are accessing WhatsApp than ever before. That's why we have put together this guide for parents, carers and teachers to understand the risks of WhatsApp and help to keep their children and young people safe.

Is WhatsApp Safe for children?

WhatsApp can be a great tool for staying in touch with family and friends. It offers children an easy way to communicate with loved ones, share memories, and even collaborate on school projects.

However, as with any online platform, there are risks to consider. Let's start by looking at the risks of WhatsApp, then explore some simple steps we can take to keep children safe on the platform.

What are the Risks of WhatsApp?

Exposure to Inappropriate Content

Because it's very easy to share content in WhatsApp through Group Chats, children may receive or come across inappropriate content.

Scams and Phishing Attempts

There have been multiple incidents of scams or phishing attempts on WhatsApp. This often takes the form of an offender posing as a friend or family member, requesting money or information.

Online Bullying

Group Chats on WhatsApp can bring about a herd mentality, something that starts as a joke can go too far and become bullying. Because of the 'always on' nature of technology, this means it can be difficult to get any time away from online conflicts or bullying.

Contact from Strangers

I f a young person is added into a Group Chat, this group may include people who they don't know. Group Chats can increase the chance that a young person will be contacted by someone they don't know.

Sharing Location

WhatsApp gives you the option of sharing your location with other users. If this feature is enabled it could potentially allow other users the ability to track a child's location or find their home address.

Excessive Screen Time

Being part of a Group Chat can create a pressure to respond quickly. Children and young people may experience a fear of missing out, and the need to read and respond to messages at all hours of the day or night. This can lead to excessive screen time that negatively impacts sleep and overall well being.

How can I make WhatsApp Safe for children?

Here are some steps you can take to help keep children and young people safe on Whatsapp:

Encourage Critical Thinking

Have a conversation with your child about treating messages with caution, particularly if they are sent from an unknown number. When we receive a message from an unknown number, we should ask the following questions:

Does this message sound like something a friend or family member would send?

Is this message asking me to share information or click on a link?

Agree with your child that if they ever have a funny feeling about a message they receive, they will tell you about it straight away.

Check Privacy Settings

WhatsApp has a range of settings to help users stay safe, so why not set these up on your child's account?

You can then select specific contacts that can add your child into groups. This can help prevent the challenge of being added into lots of different groups, sometimes with strangers.

Be a Digital Role Model

WhatsApp allows us to stay connected with our friends all the time. This is really useful, but it's also important that children and young people have down time away from being in constant contact with others.

A good way to improve habits around screen time is to look at our own habits and behaviours. We can be a digital role model by becoming more intentional about when, and how much we use our screens around the home.

To manage screen time, you could also set some clear rules such as agreeing a specific amount of time your child can spend on WhatsApp each day or agreeing on periods during the day when no one will use their smartphones, for example this could be during meals, homework time, or before bed.

Mindful Messaging

When children send messages, especially in group chats, they might not fully grasp the impact their words can have on others. It's also very easy to get swept along and join in with unkind jokes or negative comments in group chats.

Group Chats are public spaces, anything we send into the group could be shared out of context.
Here are some strategies for Mindful Messaging

Think Before You Send: Encourage the habit of taking a moment to think before sending a message. Particularly if we're feeling upset or angry, taking a moment to breathe can help us to make a better choice.

Set a Positive Example: Model mindful messaging in your own behavior. You could show your child some of the messages that you send, and how to communicate in a considerate way.

Talk About It

Open and regular conversations about your child's activity on WhatsApp are a great way to minimise potential harms and keep them safe when using the platform.

Talking with your child about what they are using WhatsApp for is valuable because it can create a safe space in which they feel comfortable in sharing any concerns they have.

Once this dialogue and trust has been established, it will make it easier for them to come to you with any issues they encounter while using WhatsApp.

At OpenView Education we support schools to provide engaging online safety education. We do this through our interactive online safety workshops for schools.

If you would like support in online safety for your school, get in touch with us here and a friendly member of our team will respond with the best options for your setting.

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What Parents Need to Know About WhatsApp - OpenView Education

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In this guide we explore the risks of WhatsApp and then share steps parents can take to keep children safe on the platform.

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'Good habits start early' Online Safety for under 5's. 

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'Good habits start early' Online Safety for under 5's. 

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Good habits start early: Online safety for under-5s | Internet Matters X EE

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Guide to Online Safety for Roblox, from Openview Education

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Guide to Online Safety for Roblox, from Openview Education

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Roblox is one of the most popular online games for children and young people. The game promotes creativity by allowing players to build their own games and custom levels that can be shared with other players. Roblox games reflect the imaginative play that you might see in the playground. Players can make up games, decide on the rules, and then change the rules as the group decides how to have fun together.

What are the age ratings for Roblox?

Because the content in Roblox is user generated, it makes classifying the age rating more difficult.

Roblox includes age recommendations on all content on the platform. These categories are:

all ages: content is suitable for everyone with only mild violence or small amounts of unrealistic blood

9+: content is suitable for everyone aged 9 and older with more instances of mild violence or heavy amounts of unrealistic blood

13+: content is suitable for everyone aged 13 and older with frequent instances of more serious violence and small amounts of realistic blood

What are some of the risks of Roblox for children and young people?

Contact with strangers

Roblox encourages players to communicate with each other. This includes a group chat feature and sending messages. This could allow children to be contacted by strangers online leaving them exposed to harassment, predators or scammers.The game does have filters, but children may also receive inappropriate messages.

Anyone can play together

Roblox is usually played on Public Servers. This means that anyone can log on to play together. Certain servers may place an emphasis on certain aspects of the game, such as direct player interaction.

Spending Money

Roblox is free to download and play, however it's possible to make In-App Purchases in the game. Players can buy Robux, the in-game currency which can be used to buy items in the game.

So what action steps can parents and carers take?

Start by setting parental controls

Take some time to set up your child's Roblox account, make sure you enter the correct date of birth as this will automatically apply filtering based on age. It's also possible to set monthly spending limits, and make sure to monitor your child's account.

Disable private messaging

As mentioned, one of the biggest risks of Roblox is the contact it allows through communication with strangers. However, Roblox allows you to turn off private messaging. Doing this means that your child will only be able to receive messages from people in their friends list. So turn off private messaging.

Develop Digital Resilience

Support your child to develop digital resilience by showing them how to block other users and talking to them about what information we shouldn't share online. Talk to them about when they should come and speak to you, and what they can do if someone online is asking them lots of questions. This will help them to learn how to communicate with others safely online.

Restrict Spending

Talk with your child about the commercial side of Roblox and how the game encourages people to spend money by buying Robux. Make sure that you password protect any credit cards that are saved on your accounts.

Play together

Put your child's devices and consoles in shared family spaces. The best way to mitigate the risks of Roblox is to try playing the game together, this will make having conversations about the game easier and can help you to identify if your child has any concerns.

At OpenView Education, we provide E-Safety Workshops for schools. If you would like to book a workshop for your school, get in touch via email at info@openvieweducation.co.uk or call us on 0207 459 4473.

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What Parents Need to Know About Roblox - OpenView Education

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Roblox is one of the most popular online games for children. But what are the risks? And what steps can parents take to keep their children safe on Roblox?

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UK Safer Internet Centre  'Tips, Advice, Guides and Resources'  

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UK Safer Internet Centre  'Tips, Advice, Guides and Resources'  

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Parents and Carers - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Tips, advice, guides and resources to help keep your child safe online

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Openview Education's Parental Guide to Online Safety for TikTok

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Openview Education's Parental Guide to Online Safety for TikTok

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Three resources giving practical tips for keeping your child safe online.

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Three resources giving practical tips for keeping your child safe online.

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Skip to content

Resources

Three resources that offer practical tips and advice on different aspects of keeping your child safe online.

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Key downloadable resources to support parents and carers.

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Limiting harm to children after seeing upsetting content. 

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Limiting harm to children after seeing upsetting content. 

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Limiting harm from upsetting content | Childnet

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Advice and activities adaptable for use with learners aged 5-11 years old about how to respond if they see upsetting content online.

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Guide to Setting up Apple Family Sharing

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Guide to Setting up Apple Family Sharing

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Firstly, you will need two things:
An Apple ID signed in to iCloud and an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 8 or later, or Mac with OS X Yosemite or later.

If you need to, you can create an Apple ID for your child, then add them to your family group.

If your child already has an Apple ID, you can add it to your family group and update their email address, date of birth, security questions, and more.
If your child is under 13, go to step 6.

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Apple's Family Sharing | Internet Matters

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Firstly, you will need two things: An Apple ID signed in to iCloud and an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 8 or later, or Mac with OS X Yosemite or later. If you need to, you can create an Apple ID for your child, then add them to your family group.

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Parental Guidance and warning

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Huggy Wuggy and Poppy Playtime Online Safety Review – Update - Safer Schools NI

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A horror game character from ‘Poppy Playtime’ named Huggy Wuggy has been raising concerns amongst parents, police and safeguarding professionals. WARNING: This contains images and details some people may find disturbing.

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A parent's guide to YouTube Restricted Mode - UK Safer Internet Centre

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In this blog we explore the safety feature 'Restricted Mode' on YouTube; looking at how it works and some things to be aware of when using it.

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Age ratings | Parent Zone | At the heart of digital family life

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You can find age ratings for social media and other online platforms in App and Play Stores – but, as mentioned, these can often differ from the platform’s community guidelines. So why do they contradict each other?

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In-Game Purchases

Fortnite is free to play, but by buying a season battle pass, costing 950 'V-Bucks' (Fortnite's in-game currency, 1000 of which cost £6.49) and lasting a full Battle Royale season (around three months), you can receive bonus rewards such as skins and extra challenges.

As mentioned, you can either purchase V-Bucks with real money or you can earn them through gameplay. Another important thing to note is that, as of 2019, Fortnite changed the way their loot boxesoperate. Rather than being entirely randomised, Fortnite allows players to see a box's contents prior to purchase.

As with all games that offer in-game purchases, make sure that you don't have any card details saved on your devices. It is also important to discuss with children how in-game purchases are designed to pressure them into spending money. However, if they are still adamant that they wish to purchase items on the game, allowing them to do so with their own pocket money can be a great way of giving a child a greater sense of independence.

The game's creators Epic recently had to issue a statement advising how users can protect their accounts. This included third-party sites falsely advertising free V-Bucks in exchange for personal information.

Excessive playing

In the wake of the vast popularity of Fortnite - averaging around 80 million active monthly users - there have been several reports calling it addictive for children and claiming that the game induces competition-related rage.

Whilst the game might not be addictive in a technical sense, its style of play certainly does encourage users to have "just one more game".

It is important to speak to children about what is an appropriate amount of gameplay, and when. It is also important to understand the immersive element of the game and to respect that they may be emotionally invested in a game. Bear in mind that multiplayer games only last up to 30 minutes, so setting suitable amounts of play is easy without pulling the plug on their game.

Fortnite videos

Fortnite videos and their respective creators have seen an equally large boom in popularity as the game has grown. Most players will stream their gameplay via Twitch or on YouTube.

The same concerns are present for Fortnite videos as they are for any video on YouTube: essentially, the use of profane language and the discussion of topics which may be age-inappropriate.

To avoid this you can turn on YouTube's restricted mode to block inappropriate content. Alternatively, you can discuss with your child what they are watching and then watch it with them so that you can decide for yourself as to whether it is appropriate or not.
Spot something that doesn't look quite right? You can email This article was last updated on 21/10/22. librarian@parentzone.org.uk to submit comments and feedback.

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In-Game Purchases Fortnite is free to play, but by buying a season battle pass, costing 950 'V-Bucks' (Fortnite's in-game currency, 1000 of which cost £6.49) and lasting a full Battle Royale season (around three months), you can receive bonus rewards such as skins and extra challenges.

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Online Safety Guide to support 6-10 year olds

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Online Safety Guide to support 6-10 year olds

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Top tips to support 0-5 year olds.

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Step by step support to set up parental controls.

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Step by step support to set up parental controls.

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Whether your child uses Apple, Android or other devices, it's important to consider the available parental controls and setting available.

Choose your child's device below to find step-by-step instructions on setting up parental controls. Manage everything from location tracking to screen time balance.

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We've pulled together some guides to show you how to put parental controls on a range of phones, tablets and other devices.

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Excellent hints and tips to keep your child safe online.

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Excellent hints and tips to keep your child safe online.

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When you visit websites, they may store or retrieve data in your browser. This storage is often necessary for the basic functionality of the website. The storage may be used for marketing, analytics, and personalization of the site, such as storing your preferences. Privacy is important to us, so you have the option of disabling certain types of storage that may not be necessary for the basic functioning of the website. Blocking categories may impact your experience on the website.

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When you visit websites, they may store or retrieve data in your browser. This storage is often necessary for the basic functionality of the website. The storage may be used for marketing, analytics, and personalization of the site, such as storing your preferences.

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Thinkuknow resource for 4, 5, 6 and 7 year olds. 

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Thinkuknow resource for 4, 5, 6 and 7 year olds. 

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Interactive online safety activities for 4-7 year olds from CEOP Education at the National Crime Agency.

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NSPCC resources and advice for keeping children safe online 

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NSPCC resources and advice for keeping children safe online 

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Campaigning for change

We fight to change laws to make society safer for children. Our Wild West Web campaign has pushed for new regulations through the Online Safety Bill to make sure websites, apps and games are safe for children to use. But the draft Bill doesn't go far enough to protect children.
Help us end the Wild West Web

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Understanding online safety is tricky for all ages - we have advice and guides to help you learn about staying safe online as a family.

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Video Games & Violence: A Parent's Guide

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Video Games & Violence: A Parent's Guide

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Video games offer experiences that reflect and draw from the full gamut of human experience. However, as with blockbuster films, many of the most popular titles fall within a narrower band and feature violence more frequently.

Chart-Track's top selling games of 2013 are littered with severe descriptions in their age ratings: "extreme violence", "multiple, motiveless killings", "violence towards defenceless people" and violence that could be "upsetting to very young children".

Although this can sound alarming, the top grossing films of 2013 also include a roughly comparable number of violence descriptors from the BBFC. The disparity comes with the number of popular games at the extreme end of this spectrum - half of the top 10 titles of 2013 included "extreme violence" only suitable for those 18 or over.

"Games deal with adult themes in the same way that films, television programmes and books do," says Do Jo Twist, CEO of the UK's games industry trade body UKIE. "The PEGI system gives an age rating and a content descriptor to help parents understand the content contained in any game and how appropriate it is for their children to play."

Games suitable for children over 3 or 7 years old have an advisory green PEGI badge. Games only suitable for children over 12 or 16 year old have an orange PEGI badge. Games for those over 18 year old have a red PEGI badge. The 12, 16 and 18 age limits are enforced by law at the point of sale.

The age rating is expanded upon by descriptors on the back of the box for Language, Drugs, Fear, Sex, Violence, Gambling and Discrimination. These signify a different severity depending on the related game's PEGI age rating.

It's at this level of detail that a full, and much less alarming, picture of violence in video-games can be seen. Many games have violence descriptors are for "implied" or "non-realistic" occurrences in 7+ and 12+ titles (556 in 2013) and fewer are labelled for the most "extreme" 18+ ratings (149 in 2013):

PEGI 3+ games won't have a violence descriptor but may contain "Tom and Jerry" slapstick violence if it is not considered disturbing.

PEGI 7+ games flagged with a violence descriptor may include "non-realistic violence towards fantasy characters" or "implied violence". (294 occurrences in 2013)

PEGI 12+ will have the Violence descriptor to signpost "violence towards human like characters" but this must be non-realistic so that bodies don't remain when killed. This may also include violent sports like boxing providing there is no blood. (262 occurrences in 2013)

PEGI 16+ games are flagged for "violence towards human characters" who react to being shot as they would in real life. This will often include blood and bodies will remain once they are dead. (211 occurrences in 2013)

PEGI 18+ games are flagged for including violence towards humans that may make you "wince" or your "stomach churn". This includes gross depictions of heads, arms, and legs being removed by way of chain-saw or shotgun. It also includes sexual violence such as rape and mass killings of civilians. (149 occurrences in 2013)

This detailed account of video-game violence actually goes further than ratings for film or music, and dispels blanket concerns by clarifying who the violence is appropriate for. It enables parents to actively curate what is played in the home and avoid these choices being snap decisions.

Once we have a clear understanding of video-game violence, attentions turn to its effect on young people. Measuring this is more difficult however because it varies from player to player. While many in the media quickly link playing violent games with violent behaviour the reality is not as clean cut.

We spoke to Andy Phippen, Professor of Social Responsibility in IT at Plymouth University. "Research is extremely patchy and inconclusive. Certainly from my own experience the vast majority of teenagers who play violent video games I have spoken with are well adjusted, likeable individuals who happen to like playing videos games." However Phippen went on to reference the importance of using PEGI ratings because "some can be badly affected [scarred, nightmares, etc] by these things".

Younger children will certainly be shocked by on-screen violence intended for adults, as suggested in the ratings. The effect on older players is more complex and needs to be distinguished from watching films or reading books containing similar scenes.

Although the graphics in video games edge closer to photo-realism, their interactive nature does more than simply intensify the experience of violence.

BBFC's 2007 "Video Games Report" highlighted that being in control mitigates the player "losing themselves" in the violence because their suspension of disbelief is constantly interrupted by the need to take action. "The victims of violence [in video-games] have rarely been brought to life, no matter how realistic they may look; they do not have any stature - they are just a threat to the gamer and an obstacle to progress."

However, there are exceptions that use violence as more than a puzzle to be solved. Games like Shadow of the Colossus and The Last of Us work harder on context and character so that older players will find an emotional response to the loss, shock and sadness of violent scenes.

"On the whole young people can differentiate between video game violence and reality but where PEGI ratings and common sense is ignored alarm bells start to ring," said Phippen.

"I have concerns when I hear primary aged children playing games like Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty. My advice would always be to check out the game prior to the child playing it to decide whether you feel it is appropriate."

Unlike film and books, video-games are a new technology that we don't yet fully understand, particularly in their potential for health or harm. That means that it is even more important for parents to accurately understand video game violence and the context in which it exists.

Playing games together as a family, stopping technology migrating to bedrooms, making use of PEGI ratings and having open conversations about these topics creates a healthy environment to maximise the enjoyment of this aspect of family life whilst avoiding potential pitfalls.

Further Reading
Ask About Games
PEGI Annual Report 2013
Safe Children in a Digital World
BBC One Show Healthier Gaming Advice
BBFC Video Games Report

What is the link between violent video games and aggression?

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Video games and violence: a parents' guide

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Video games offer experiences that reflect and draw from the full gamut of human experience. However, as with blockbuster films, many of the most popular titles fall within a narrower band and feature violence more frequently.

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Childnet keep up to speed with what children and young people are doing online

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Childnet keep up to speed with what children and young people are doing online

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Advice for parents and carers to help support children and young people in their safe and responsible use of the internet.

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Parent Zone provides information for families about parenting in the digital age. It is a useful resource for parents who are concerned about what their child is doing online.

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Parent Zone provides information for families about parenting in the digital age. It is a useful resource for parents who are concerned about what their child is doing online.

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A problem hiding in plain sight

A new report into how children are spending, making and losing money online
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Technology moves fast. We have tools and advice to help keep up.
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Every family needs support sometimes. Here's how we do it.
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Parent Zone is a parenting organisation working to make the online world a safer, more positive place for families and children. Explore the ways Parent Zone can help your family, school or organisation understand online safety.

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CEOP's Thinkuknow is a great website for parents and children. It provides practical information and educational resources to help raise awareness of all kinds of e-safety.

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CEOP's Thinkuknow is a great website for parents and children. It provides practical information and educational resources to help raise awareness of all kinds of e-safety.

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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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Many guides available for specific apps and platforms eg PS4/5, Minecraft, Roblox etc.  Browse, or search for what you need.

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Many guides available for specific apps and platforms eg PS4/5, Minecraft, Roblox etc.  Browse, or search for what you need.

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We highly recommend National Online Safety to parents and carers. You can get free information downloads from their website (www.nationalonlinesafety.com) or follow them on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube for up to date and regular advice and guidance.

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Multi-award winning online safety education for staff, pupils and parents in education settings.