A new group of young people has been set up to advise politicians, regulators, parents and professionals about child safety online.
The Voice of Online Youth group consists of 15 young people aged 13-16 from across the UK. They were selected based on their passion for helping children to remain safe online.
The group will meet with decision makers across the devolved UK nations, attend events and engage in workshops to ensure that young people’s voices are heard when it comes to decisions about child safety online.
Supported by Vodafone, the Voice of Online Youth includes ten young people from England, two from Scotland, two from Northern Ireland and one from Wales to ensure a diversity of perspectives and (online) life experiences within the group.
Group gives children a vital voice in child safety online
The group officially launched last month (June 2024) while Ofcom consults on its initial plans to regulate social media and ensure child safety online under the new Online Safety Act. It is designed to give children a vital voice in the implementation of the Act.
The Chief Executive of the NSPCC, Sir Peter Wanless, said the group would provide “valuable insight and a unique perspective” to “bolster” the efforts made by the children’s charity and ensure that child safety online is prioritised.
He added:
“This group can also help shape the thinking of policymakers and regulators, who desperately need to be considering the views of those impacted by online challenges to truly understand the issues they face.
“It’s crucial Ofcom engage with young people when implementing the new online safety regulation to ensure it is effective and results in a truly safer online world which children can enjoy.”
The national children’s charity is also calling on the new government to ensure that children and young people’s voices are “meaningfully considered” as they develop and implement the new Online Safety Act.
Child safety online a “critical issue”
They have worked in partnership with Vodafone since 2023 to support young people to bring their experiences, ideas and learning to the conversation around child safety online.
Vodafone UK’s Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, Nicki Lyons, said that child safety online was a “critical issue.”
She added:
“Children are growing up in an increasingly digital world with the internet at their fingertips, so it’s vital that we listen to, and learn from, their experiences and concerns.
“The Voice of Online Youth will give these young people a voice. By making them part of the conversation, they can help inform policymakers of the issues facing them and support the development of much-needed tools and regulation.
“We’re proud and excited to be supporting the Voice of Online Youth, building on a partnership with the NSPCC that centres on ensuring all our children can navigate the digital world safety and confidently.”
Training to help safeguard children
First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.
They work with a large number of early years, schools and childcare providers, as well as colleges, youth groups and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children.
A trainer from FRT says:
“Safeguarding children now means protecting them off and online. It’s so important that we are mindful of the myriad significant harms they could be exposed to online and that there are mechanisms in place to protect them, and to offer them help and support when they need it most.
“It’s vital that anyone who works with children and young people is aware of their responsibility for safeguarding children and that they can recognise the signs that indicate a child may be experiencing abuse, and know the correct action to take in response.”
For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.