SECTION 2
Starting with the positives
Before talking to children and young people about the risks of being online, itās important to recognise the positive role it can play.
What opportunities are there in positive internet use?
Children and young people often highlight the importance of their online lives, and the wonderful opportunities the internet and technology have to offer them. More than ever before, the internet is integral to the social lives of children and young people, and they are also going online to find and build communities, form connections with others, and develop long and impactful friendships.
The internet can provide young people with a space to seek out and become their authentic selves in a way they may not feel able to in their offline lives. It also offers educational and entertainment opportunities, where children and young people can explore different perspectives, learn new skills, or research topics that interest them.
Top tips to help you acknowledge the positives
- By showing interest in your childās online activities, beyond talking about the risks and harms, they are likely to feel more comfortable sharing their online lives with you.
- Making time and space for these conversations in your daily lives creates a safe space to talk about young peoplesā positive and negative online experiences.
- Remember that children and young people use the internet differently to adults, and that their internet use can be influenced by factors like new online trends, their peers, and their age and location.
- Be open to the idea that their internet use will change over time and try to remain curious and non-judgemental about childrenās use of technology. The more regular conversations you have, the less confusing these changes may seem.
- When talking to children and young people about their online interests, it is best to avoid dismissive responses or phrases that could be seen as judgemental of the apps/ games/trends that young people are engaged in. For example, phrases like, āI just donāt understand all these new apps,ā could be taken to mean you arenāt interested, or donāt want to hear about the young personās experiences.
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