IT and New Media Blog Articles

Safer Internet Day 2024

Safer Internet Day will take place on the 6th of February 2023, organised by the UK Safer Internet Centre. The theme this year is: ‘Inspiring change? Making a difference, managing influence and navigating change online’…

The Importance of Netiquette

We all spend a fair amount of time online, whether this is for school, work or for social reasons. Usually it is beneficial and we gain much from our use of IT and new media. However, sometimes things do not go too well, often due to…

Communicating Effectively Online

In today’s technological world, we live much of our life online. We communicate online, work online, study online and find information at the touch of a button…

Want to Talk About it? Making Space for Conversations About Life Online

Safer Internet Day will take place on the 7th of February 2023, and once again it is coordinated by the UK Safer Internet Centre. The theme for 2023 is: ‘Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online’…

The Internet Watch Foundation

I first came across the Internet Watch Foundation (www.iwf.org.uk) in 2006 when I was reading an article about child sexual abuse, and I have followed their work ever since. At one time, I even contemplated applying to work for them…

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a crime. It occurs when someone steals personal or financial information to commit fraud. This can include making unauthorised purchases and transactions, obtaining credit fraudulently or stealing money…

Being Respectful Online

The theme of Safer Internet Day 2022 is: ‘All Fun and Games? Exploring Respect and Relationships Online’. Showing respect online to individuals or groups of people is different from showing respect in person…

Online Grooming

As part of our series for Safer Internet Day 2022, this blog will examine online grooming and the problems it can lead to…

All Fun and Games? Exploring Respect and Relationships Online

Safer Internet Day is organised by the UK Safer Internet Centre and the theme for 2022 is: ‘All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online’…

International Literacy Day 2021

International Literacy Day takes place on the 8th September 2021. This topic has had little attention of late. However, this year it is especially important due to the recent pandemic, which led to the education of huge volumes of…

Safer Internet Day 2021

This year’s Safer Internet Day is once again coordinated by the UK Safer Internet Centre. This year’s theme is: ‘An internet we trust: exploring reliability in the online world’…

Australia Tackles Harmful Online Content

The Australian federal government has proposed new cyber safety laws which will lead to huge fines for internet service providers, social media companies and other online platforms if they do not remove harmful…

Life in a Digitally Divided World — We Can Make a Difference

According to recent estimates, there are approx 1 million children, young people and families across the UK without adequate access to new technology or the internet at home. The BBC have recently been highlighting the issue in their Make a Difference campaign where they are encouraging people to donate devices to those who need them…

How to Be Financially Secure Online

We live in a time where nearly everything can be purchased online. Personal banking, bill payments, holidays, food shopping — they can all be done online. There is no need to have access to cash when out shopping because contactless cards along with Apple Pay and Android Pay have become the norm. Such advances in technology are amazing and extremely convenient, but there is also a danger…

Tackling Harmful Online Content

Back in mid-January 2020, the Royal College of Psychiatrists called on ministers to put pressure on social media firms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to release data concerning users and the content they are viewing. The RCP stated this data was vital as part of a strategy to reduce suicide among young people and children…

Safer Internet Day 2020

Safer Internet Day is coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre and in Ireland by the PDST Technology in Education and Webwise.

This year’s theme is: “Together for a better internet” and as usual the focus is on making the internet as safe and secure as possible for all users, particularly young people…

Suicide and Social Media

The recent story of the death of the YouTuber ‘Etika’ to suicide has been truly shocking not only to his subscribers and fans but to the social media community as a whole. His tragic death, and the recent suicides of reality TV stars, has led to increased media awareness of suicide and suicide prevention. Many questions have arisen including…

Social Media and its Negative Effects on Body Image

Never before has the focus on body image been as prevalent as it is today. We live in an age of social media with an abundance of Instagram stories, Snapchat filters, Twitter feeds, Facebook threads… the list goes on. Sadly a large number of the pictures and images posted on social networks focus on body image and the pressure for people to resemble their idols and those they follow…

Media Literacy Education

Never before has it been so important to ensure young people understand the world around them and the messages they are bombarded with via the media. Our children are constantly showered with information via the internet (in the form of videos, social media, video games, forums etc) as well as TV, radio, newspapers and magazines. It is vital that they learn to discern where these messages…

Safer Internet Day 2014

Safer Internet Day is organised in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre.

The internet is a valuable tool, and young people need to be taught how to use it wisely so that they stay safe. There are lots of things parents and teachers can do to ensure young people are safe online…