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Murder Games – help your children stay safe online
Last night saw the first airing of a gripping and heart-wrenching BBC Three TV docu-drama about the life and death of Breck Bednar, a 14-year-old Surrey schoolboy who was lured to his death after being groomed online. I’d urge all parents to make time to watch the TV programme; it’s incredibly insightful and will open…
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Fighting the Online Bullies
At our Internet Safety School events we typically talk about online bullying as something that only schoolchildren do to each other. But, with ever-widening access to technology, adults are increasingly using digital platforms to troll, abuse and intimidate others. In Brazil, Criola, an organisation that works to defend black women’s rights, decided to fight back by putting…
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Is Your Chosen Career Heading for Extinction?
A question from the future: “Grandad, is it really true that people used to fly planes and work in shops? We’re learning about it at school.” Change is everywhere in a technology-charged world. Many of the jobs people do have changed or disappeared completely in recent years, and some will be barely remembered a few years…
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How to Live Without a Smartphone
A recent camera fault on my HTC One M8 called for a warranty repair which—horror of horrors—meant I would be without my smartphone for a week. It turned out to be quite a sobering experience, and one that I’d recommend many people give a try. It’s only when you are confronted by life without your…
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The Home Wi-fi for Safe Internet Access for Kids
At Internet Safety School we’re always on the lookout for simple ways that parents can help their children live their digital lives to the full, while staying safe and secure. So we’re excited to be a backer of an innovative new product called Kidokey (also the first—and long-awaited—product we know that rhymes with okeydokey!). Kidokey…
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Sexting and Young People
As part of our Internet Safety School community initiative here at Wild Orange Media, we’ve been delving into new research to examine some of the challenges facing young people online. The selfie is now a mainstay of our digital lives. But for some young people it can stray into darker areas where they may be encouraged to…
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Make Marketing Noble, Keep Social Honest
I’ve been banging on for ages about the importance of making marketing an honourable, noble profession. And I’m delighted that my friends at the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) have picked up this mission with their latest campaign entitled ‘Keep Social Honest’. From research carried out in March and April this year by YouGov across…
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Wi-fi Security 101 – secure your router from outsiders
Here’s a top Internet Safety tip: Don’t put your wi-fi router in the window with the wi-fi access code visible from the outside. Blindingly obvious perhaps, but it’s surprisingly easy to spot homes and businesses who fail this most obvious security test.