Welcome to Online Safety, Respect, and Responsibility!

The internet is an amazing playground and learning space! We use it to play multiplayer games, chat with family, watch fun videos, and discover fascinating facts for school projects. But just like crossing a busy road or playing at a park, we need to know the rules of the road so we can keep ourselves and our friends safe and happy.

Don't worry if all of these rules seem like a lot to remember at first. In these notes, we will break everything down step-by-step with fun tips, everyday examples, and simple tricks to help you become a superstar digital citizen!


1. The Big Three: Safe, Respectful, and Responsible

Everything we do when using computers, tablets, and phones connects back to three core ideas:

1. Staying Safe:
This means keeping your private personal details safe, protecting your devices from bugs or viruses, and guarding yourself against upsetting or dangerous interactions online.

2. Being Respectful:
This means treating everyone online with the same kindness and empathy you would use on the school playground. It means using polite words, never taking part in cyberbullying, and always asking for permission before sharing photos or videos of someone else.

3. Acting Responsibly:
This means taking ownership of what you do and post online, leaving a positive trail behind you, respecting the work created by other people (copyright), and telling a trusted adult if you see something wrong.

Key Takeaway: Think before you click, post, or share! Ask yourself: Is it safe? Is it kind? Is it responsible?


2. The "4 Cs" of Online Risks

Sometimes things online can make us feel uncomfortable, confused, or upset. To help us recognise risks, experts group them into four simple categories called The 4 Cs:

C is for Content:
This is what you read, see, or hear online. Sometimes you might bump into upsetting pictures, mean words, violent videos, or false information (disinformation) that isn't true.

C is for Contact:
This is who you interact with online. It includes messages from strangers, people pretending to be someone they are not, or people trying to pressure you into doing things you do not want to do.

C is for Conduct:
This is how people behave online—including you! Examples of bad conduct include trolling, teasing, leaving players out of an online game (griefing), or writing mean comments.

C is for Commerce:
This is about money, scams, and buying things online. It includes sneaky pop-ups trying to make you buy in-game items, fake competitions (phishing), and hidden advertisements from online influencers.

Memory Trick: Just remember the 4 Cs — Content (what you see), Contact (who you meet), Conduct (how you act), and Commerce (buying and spending).


3. Personal Data and Your Digital Footprint

What is Personal Identifiable Information (PII)?

Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is any piece of information that someone could use to find out who you are in the real world. You must keep this information private!

Examples of PII you must NEVER share publicly online:
• Your full name (first name and surname)
• Your home address or postcode
• Your date of birth
• Your telephone number
• The name of your school (or photos showing your school uniform/badge)
• Geotagged location data (which shows exactly where a photo was taken)
• Your secret passwords

Building Strong Passwords

A password is like a key to your front door. You wouldn't give your house key to a stranger, and you shouldn't share your passwords either!

How to make a super-strong password:
• Combine three or more unrelated, random words together (e.g., PurpleElephantJump)
• Add numbers and special symbols (e.g., PurpleElephantJump92!)
• Use different passwords for different websites and apps
• Keep it secret: never share it with friends (only your parents or trusted carers should know it!)

Your Digital Footprint: The Muddy Boots Analogy

Imagine walking across a clean kitchen floor with muddy boots. Every step leaves a footprint behind that is very difficult to wash away completely. Online, you leave a digital footprint every single time you search, upload a picture, post a comment, or play a game.

Your digital footprint stays on computer servers for a very long time and can be seen by others. Always aim to leave a positive, kind trail behind you!

Key Takeaway: Keep your personal details locked down like treasure, and make sure your digital footprint is something you can be proud of.


4. Acceptable vs Unacceptable Online Behaviour

Schools and online platforms have rules called Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) to keep everyone safe. Here is how to tell good behaviour from bad behaviour:

Acceptable Behaviour (Do this!):
• Being supportive and writing friendly comments on friends' work
• Working together kindly on shared school projects
• Asking for permission (consent) before snapping a photo or recording a friend
• Respecting other people's privacy and boundaries
• Using the report button if you see bullying or unkindness

Unacceptable Behaviour (Avoid this!):
• Cyberbullying: Sending mean, threatening, or hurtful messages repeatedly
• Exclusion: Deliberately leaving people out of group chats or multiplayer games to make them feel bad
• Impersonation: Pretending to be another person or creating fake profiles
• Sharing without consent: Posting photos or videos of others when they haven't said it's okay
• Spreading gossip or untrue rumours

Key Takeaway: Treat people online the way you would like to be treated face-to-face. Kindness counts everywhere!


5. What to Do If Something Goes Wrong: Reporting Routes

If you see something upsetting (bad content) or someone makes you feel uncomfortable or worried (bad contact), remember: it is never your fault, and you do not have to deal with it alone.

Step 1: Tell Someone You Trust

• At school: Tell your teacher, a teaching assistant, or your school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
• At home: Speak directly to a parent, carer, or another trusted adult in your family.

Step 2: Use Built-in Digital Tools

Most games, apps, and websites have handy safety buttons built right into them:
• Block: Stops an unkind or unknown person from messaging you or seeing your profile.
• Mute: Hides their messages so you do not have to read them.
• Report: Sends an alert to the platform moderators so they can investigate and remove bad content or ban bad users.

Step 3: National UK Helplines and Support

If you need extra help outside of home or school, there are special UK organisations set up just for you:

• Childline: You can call them anytime on 0800 1111. It is completely free, private, and confidential. You can talk to them about any worry, big or small.
• CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command): A police organisation where you or an adult can report suspicious adults or dangerous online contact.
• Report Harmful Content (SWGfL): A website that helps remove harmful online material if a platform has failed to take it down.

Did you know? Reporting bad behaviour is NOT "telling tales" or "snitching". Reporting is a brave, responsible action that protects you and your friends!


Is Everything Online True?

No! Anyone can create a website or write a blog post. Search engines (like Google) use computer formulas called algorithms to order results. They show results based on keywords, popularity, or paid advertisements—not because the information is guaranteed to be factually true.

Top tips for searching smartly:
• Look out for the word Sponsored or Ad next to top search results—these are paid promotions.
• Check more than one reliable website to see if they agree on the facts.
• Ask a teacher or adult if you aren't sure whether a website is trustworthy.

Digital Copyright and Ownership

When an artist draws a picture, an author writes a story, a musician records a song, or a programmer writes code, they own that work. This legal protection is called copyright.

• Just because an image or video is on the internet does not mean it is free to copy and claim as your own.
• Always give credit to the original creator when using their work in school projects.
• Never copy someone else's work and pretend that you made it.

Key Takeaway: Check your facts using multiple sources, and always respect the hard work of creators by crediting their work.


7. Common Online Myths Busted!

Myth 1: "If I have chatted with someone in an online game for months, they are my real-world friend."
Fact: People online can easily hide their true identity or pretend to be someone of your age. An online contact is still an online stranger. Never agree to meet up in person or share private info with them.

Myth 2: "If I delete a photo or send a disappearing message, it is gone forever."
Fact: Other people can take screenshots or save images in seconds. Also, computer servers store copies of data. Once something goes online, you lose control over where it travels.

Myth 3: "Using 'Incognito' or 'Private Browsing' mode makes me invisible."
Fact: Private browsing simply stops your computer from saving your history on that specific device. Your school, internet provider, and the websites you visit can still see what you do.

Myth 4: "Copyright only applies to real objects in shops, like books or boxed board games."
Fact: Copyright protects digital creations too—including internet photos, YouTube videos, digital art, code, and music.


Quick Review Checklist

Ask yourself these quick questions before using technology:

✔ Are my passwords strong, unique, and kept secret from friends?
✔ Am I keeping my full name, address, school, and location private?
✔ Am I treating other gamers and online users with kindness and respect?
✔ Did I ask for permission before taking or sharing someone's picture?
✔ Do I know who to tell (Teacher, Parent, Childline on 0800 1111, CEOP) if something makes me feel unsafe?

You are now ready to explore the digital world safely, respectfully, and responsibly!