SECTION 6
Finding the words
Talking about life online is great, but finding the right words can be challenging, especially when young people may have their own slang and terminology.
Children and young peopleâs language
Children and young people often have their own expressions, idioms, and terminology that they use throughout their lives, including to talk about and describe their online activities. The form and content of these communications can depend on several factors, including online trends, location, age group, and wider interests.
Because of the evolving nature of children and young peopleâs language, attempts to define key terminology will often go out of date quickly after being written. Regular conversations with a child or young person may help to understand their language more clearly, and sometimes asking what a term means is all you need.
Clear communication about online risks and harms
The language that we use changes all the time, especially when talking about an online world that is constantly evolving. When talking about online risks and harms with anyone (adults or children), itâs important to use understandable language and terminology, which is respectful, promotes dialogue, and avoids judgement.
Using the correct language, and being able to explain why itâs important, also demonstrates that you know and understand the subject well and are therefore well placed to provide help and advice. However, simply having those conversations, and enabling them to take place, is of primary importance here.
FOR EXAMPLE
For example, âchild pornographyâ is sometimes used to describe child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Child pornography is not an acceptable term, and using such language acts to legitimise images which are not pornography, rather, they are permanent records of children being sexually exploited and abused, and as such should be referred to as child sexual abuse material, to reflect the seriousness of the offence that has taken place.
For more information about recommended terminology, turn to page 15.
Tips for finding the right words
- If youâre unsure whether a child or young person is familiar with the topic you want to talk about, it can be helpful to start by asking how they describe it. E.g., while an adult might talk about âsexting,â a young person might know that as âsending nudes.â
- Use age-appropriate language. When talking to younger children about online risks and harms, it can be helpful initially to talk around the subject rather than naming it, as this could scare them. For example, instead of talking about the risks of âgrooming,â a more age-appropriate conversation would be discussing who we trust and how we know who to trust.Â
- As children get older, using more specific terminology can become both useful and appropriate. In incidences of online bullying, it can be useful to help children or young people be specific in their language, for example if the online bullying becomes online sexual harassment.
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- Avoid jargon or very technical terms in conversation without clarifying exactly what behaviour or risk youâre describing.
In the case that a child or young person uses terminology that could be problematic, you should:
- Take time to research the appropriate language to use, and the reasoning behind its importance, so that your own understanding is up to date.
- Avoid showing anger, disapproval, or judgement. Instead, use the situation as an opportunity for open and constructive conversation.
- Explain to them clearly why it is important to use one term over another. For example, âWe use______ , because the term______ could mean______.â
- Approach children and young people with open-ended questions such as, âWhat do you think the differences are between the two terms?â or, âHow might using one term over another make someone feel?â
- Be mindful of the context of the situation. Some terms, such as âvictimâ and âsurvivor,â can be personal to individual people. If you are speaking to a victim or survivor, try sensitively asking them what term they prefer to use. Make sure to then use this term moving forward, and ensure others do the same.
- Remember that encouraging young people to use the correct terminology for genitalia, from the earliest age possible, can also help avoid confusion and misunderstandings in the case of child sexual abuse.
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