Safer Internet Day 2018 Review - What worries young people about the internet.

As adults, we make decisions based on what we think is right in terms of online safety for young people. To promote Safer Internet Day 2018, Guardian Saints ran a prize draw open to all young people in care. As part of entering the draw, we thought it would be helpful to seek their views, so we asked them:

• Is there anything that worries you or issues you have experienced whilst using the Internet?
  
• If you could improve something about the internet and being online, what would it be and why?
  

The following text is exactly what the young people, who were a variety of ages, said:

“I feel that it is easy for young people to be contacted by strangers on the internet and some young people in care are vulnerable. I have experienced this and have things in place t o make me safe and it hasn't happened again”

“When I had a You Tube account I kept getting messages from strangers, this worried me so I deleted You Tube.”

‘The fact that pornography is so easily accessible, harmful content in the media that causes low se lf - esteem or hatred towards particular groups and websites that actively encourage harmful behaviour such as self - harming, anorexia or suicide. Also, cyber bullying’.

“People might try to contact you that you don’t want”

“People trying to befriend me when I don't know them and people trying to get me to send pictures of myself to them and them talking inappropriately to me..”

“The thing that worries me is how easy it Is for paedophiles to access children and also how easy it is to be hacked.”

“Predators hiding behind a computer screen and being unaware of who this person is.”

“People have contacted me and I don't know who they are. Grooming, cyber bullying…. ....via social media.”

“I don't use social media so I have no worries when using the internet”

If you could improve something about the internet and being online, what would it be and why?

“to make it safer because the internet is a dangerous place.”

“Safer search engines”

“….mostly safer sites (such as Facebook, snapchat and Instagram) on hacking accounts and making friends with potentially dangerous people (make them safer)”

“Social media companies to take more responsibility for inappropriate content on their sites.”

“That when you go social media you would have to be on a certain age to go on it and also more security online and safety”

“I would like no bullying online as there is enough in real life. I also do not like the fake people online who use the Photoshop apps to look like someone that they actually are not. I do not like the body confidence apps that change people as people believe that is what they look like and try and be like them, when actually its all fake.”

“I would improve the security of the Internet and allow the police to access everyone’s internet usage, because in the modern day paedophiles can get in contact with children quite easily.”

“If anyone does cyber - bullying, then the social media site will ban them and get them into trouble. If they do it again they won't be allowed on the site for a certain amount of time.”

“I think you should be able to know who someone is just from a message so if its someone you don’t know instead of asking who they are you can just delete them”

The final words go to a young person clearly wise beyond their years …

Please tell us why you use the internet?

“To connect with friends, family, teachers and gain an insight into the rapidly changing world. I also use it to enhance my academic grades by using online textbooks, watching videos, typing etc. As well as learning new skills such as cooking, playing the guitar and the piano. I also use it for its satnav capabilities.”

Please tell us what is the best thing for you about being able to use the Internet?

“The ability to learn easier than any other generation before me”

Is there anything that worries you or issues you have experienced whilst using the Internet?

“Although freedom of speech is something everyone should be grateful that the internet has enabled it is being abused by a minority who insight hatred. Furthermore it is scary that those viewing hatred can be pushed further down that path via surveillance assemblages that direct you onto similar content to keep one on that website. Also the rapidly developing electronic world is scary because adults often can not keep up and therefore cannot protect the vulnerable. The government at large cannot keep up with rapid changes either. Therefore allowing hackers to find more and more ways of destroying livelihoods and even the NHS. The electronic panopticon is scary as a citizen because the growing awareness that we are being watched cannot truly encourage curiosity.”

If you could improve something about the internet and being online, what would it be and why?

"The clarity around how to use it. So that most people know how to use it to its full positive potential and protect the vulnerable because of that knowledge. Also encourage people not to use it habitually and alternatively have a conversation.”

We asked participants to tell us what social media sites they used and if they did not use them, what was the reason. Just under 42% said they did not use social media almost all of whom said they were too young. Participants were able to make multiple selections and as can be seen those that did use social media used more than one platform, with Instagram and WhatsApp being the most used and Twitter the least. We also asked them to name ‘other’ social media Apps we had not listed. Of these YouTube was the most often named.