1.7 Digital safety
We want children who use our services to feel safe and valued and so we must understand the risks and issues associated with children and young people being online and apply this to our context. We recognise that children can be at risk of harm when they use technology. This could include:
This requires the University to scrutinise specific safeguarding considerations for children and young people across communications, digital systems, and behaviours.
Social media and technology evolve rapidly and this guidance has been developed to educate students in the safe and constructive use of digital technologies, and model best practice to ensure our University is operating in line with our values and the within the law of how we behave online.
Online networking has transformed communicate with others, enabling us to communicate one to one or on a platform amongst large groups of people, increasingly from personal devices. Social media apps, networking sites, chatrooms, blogging, vlogging, instant messaging and video calls allow us to communicate remotely with many people many of whom we do not know or even see and sharing personal information.
Children and young people may expose themselves to danger, intentionally or unknowingly when using the internet, social media, and other technologies.
Non-contact abuse can take place online, for example, grooming for the purpose of sexual abuse. Some young people may find themselves involved in inappropriate or illegal activities.
This can include cyber-bullying or ‘sexting.’ Young people who send naked or inappropriate photos of themselves are sending child images, which is a criminal offence. Taking or sharing images of themselves or others can lead to disturbing consequences which may have a long-lasting impact, including blackmail, bullying, unwanted or public attention and emotional distress. This has serious implications if considered to constitute the sexual exploitation of children under the age of 18 through prostitution or pornography, as set out in the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005.
Any kind of abuse can have impact on a victim, for example, it may lead to victimisation and online hate content, which is also potentially illegal. Extremists use social media effectively to target and influence vulnerable individuals and spread ideologies that can lead to radicalisation.
This list is not exhaustive.
We produce guidance for staff to support the safe use of digital platforms and video calls.