A podcast for anyone who supports young people - Youth worker Louisa Street talks to Professor Andy Phippen about the issues young people face online, from harassment to too much porn, from managing your digital footprint to dealing with trolls. We focus on building resilience in young people, rather than a simple 'online safety' approach. We use the Headstart Online Resilience tool (and supporting training) to inform our discussions - you can find it at www.headstartkernow.org.uk/digital-resilience.
In this episode Andy and I discuss some of the issues raised by the Netflix drama Adolescence.Andy mentions that he was on national radio recently, if you want to hear him, you can find it here - Andy's section starts about an hour in.I reference a number of previous episodes of the podcast - these are: Ep 35 - Interview with Maddy Street about Online MisogynyEp 29 - Online Hate Harm ReductionEp 26 - Risk tolerance vs risk aversionEp 20 - Curating your feedEp 16 - BullyingEp 12 - Reporting Hate SpeechEp 10 - Talking to young people
In this episode Andy and I talk about age restrictions on social media and the current discussions about whether the minimum age should be increased to sixteen. We also talk about a range ways to support your child if you're concerned that they're having issues linked to social media, and consider how these might not be all that different to issues parents may have had when they were teenagers. I also mention a previous podcast about how to start these conversations with young people, if you want to listen back, it was Episode 10. There's lots more resources available to support parents on the Headstart website, so check it out if you want to know more: https://www.headstartkernow.org.uk/parent-digital-offer/
In this episode we talk about recent media stories about Roblox and what parents really need to consider if their children are Roblox fans. We have a chat about age ratings, and how to respond to 'pester power.' We finish up with a chat about whether gaming is addictive, and what to do if you're worried your child is spending too long playing games.
In this episode Andy and I talk about the Dark Web. We explain the difference between the dark web and the deep web, and how they are different to privacy tools you may use at work, such as VPNs. We then go on to talk about the importance of privacy, and why keeping too close a watch on your child's digital world might push them to use the deep/dark web.
In this episode we talk about parental controls and ask if they are effective. We discuss the various problems with using parental controls, especially with older children. We also chat about what the benefits of using various controls are. I mention a survey which talks about young people's online experience, if you want to know more about it, you can find out here.
In this parent's podcast we talk about whether parents need to worry about giving their child a smart phone, whether 'dumb phones' (like the old Nokia phones) are a good alternative and what parents can do to help their child learn to use a smart phone safely. Andy mentions a piece he wrote for the Conversation recently, which you can read here.
Welcome to the first episode of our new mini-series for parents! Today, we're diving into a topic that might seem tricky: sexting. We talk about the law affecting under 18s and share some friendly tips on how to discuss this with your teenagers. We'll also go over common pitfalls and how to steer clear of them. If you're a parent of a teen—or if you know someone who is—give this episode a listen, share it with others, and remember, as we always say here: Don't Panic!
In the latest episode of the podcast we talk to Dr Laura Higson-Bliss, Lecturer at Law School at Keele University (and one of my PhD supervisors) about online self-harm content, whether it can be regulated, and if so, whether it should be. As always, we include some practical advice for anyone supporting young people. Laura also mentions some training she did with Mind, you can find details of their training here. I also mention the Youth Mental Health First Aid training, which you can find out more about here.
In this episode Andy and I chat with Jen Persson from Defend Digital Me about all things Data Privacy. We cover everything from the data that schools collect about students, to the ways they do it and the mysterious process of developing the technology that is used in schools to scan children's finger prints, blood vessels and faces. Andy and Jen mention the case of Robbins v Lower Merrion School District, in which schools accessed the webcams of their students outside of school hours to monitor their behaviour. You can read more about that here. Jen also mentions Pippa King, if you want to know more about her work, you can watch her TedX Talk here. I also mention my website, Packshare, which you can find here.
In this episode we interview another Street - this time a relation - my amazing sister Maddy Street, who works for Prevent and developed some educational resources about tackling misogyny. Maddy shares her experience of talking to young people about the subject, including the highs and lows, along with some great advice for anyone thinking of broaching the subject with groups of young people. Maddy mentions a few places you can find great resources to discuss misogyny in the classroom, these are: Votes for Schools - in particular this blog Facing history and ourselves ADL (anti-defamation league) You can also read my short blog on the topic here.
In this episode, Andy and I chat to Johnny Hunt - sex education specialist and senior lecturer in childhood and youth studies. We talk about a range of issues related to sex education and the digital world, including what young people want to know about, what parents and professionals need to know to have conversations about sex with young people and how to discuss the nuance around consent and related subjects. Johnny mentions a number of resources, the Hedge Porn article is here: https://inews.co.uk/opinion/hedge-porn-stories-vanish-historical-records-1525771 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwvrxVavnQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1n9Jly3CQ8 https://theconversation.com/how-to-have-sex-why-using-films-to-teach-about-consent-risks-misunderstandings-224677
In this episode Andy and I continue our series of chatting with people from across the Online Harms world. Today we talk to Georgia Street (no relation), from the Revenge Porn Helpline and the Professionals Online Safety Helpline, both run by South West Grid for Learning. If you want to get in touch with either helplines, their details are below: Revenge Porn Helpline: call 0345 6000 459 or email help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk Professionals Online Safety Helpline: call 0344 381 4772 or email helpline@saferinternet.org.uk
In this episode, Andy and I chat with Ken Corish about Project Evolve. Ken mentions a couple of reports which you might want to check out: Ofcom - Online Nation Report, 2023 Department for Education - Generative AI in Education
In this episode we give our usual brand of straight forward harm reduction advice, this time about gaming. We talk about managing frustration, how worried you should really be about gaming with strangers and whether there's any truth in the idea that staring at a screen will give you square eyes. If you have any questions about the Digital Resilience project, you can contact me or Andy: Louisa - louisa.street@packshare.org Andy - aphippen1@bournemouth.ac.uk
In this episode we discuss the pervasive belief that your phone is listening to you - we tell exactly why your phone doesn't need to listen to you, and give you some tips if you find yourself constantly telling other people that their phones aren't listening to them!
In this episode we talk about responding to online hate and conspiracy theories using the harm reduction approach. I mention an article in the Conversation which suggests a number of ways to challenge people who believe in conspiracy theories in a supportive way. You can find it here. I also mention an episode of one of my favourite podcasts: Revisionist History, which is highly recommended if you want to brush up on your debating skills. Andy talks about a great article by Emily Setty about online misogyny influencers which you can read here. And finally Andy also mentions a book called The Other Pandemic.
In this episode we're giving practical advice on how to use a harm reduction approach when talking to young people about sexting. We discuss talking about sexting in the context of consent, rather than as a stand alone issue, and explain why that matters. We also mention a couple of resources in this episode, the first is a brilliant book called Sexting Panic which makes for really interesting reading if you deal with issues around sexting regularly. Andy talks about the South West Grid for Learning resource 'So You Got Naked Online', which is a really useful resource which you can use with young people. Information and Support is available at the Professionals Online Safety Helpline, if you're dealing with an issue and need advice. And lastly, I mention the podcast Hot Money which is a great listen and gives a real insight into how the porn industry works!
In this episode we talk about what the term 'legal but harmful' means in relation to online content, why you might have heard it, and what sort of content it's referring to. We also discuss potential responses to legal but harmful content, and what advice to give parents who are concerned about their children being exposed to this sort of content.
In this episode Andy and I discuss our approach to the risk young people face online, and respond to concerns that we are too risk tolerant. We talk about why this may seem to be the case, the importance of dealing with the issues in front of you (rather than policy issues) and why it's important to be specific about the age of children and young people we're talking about. Andy mentions that we're alway happy for people to get in touch if they have any concerns about online risk, including how worried to be about issues. You can email us at the below addresses: Louisa - louisa.street@packshare.org Andy - aphippen1@bournemouth.ac.uk
In this episode Andy and I talk about some interesting approaches to discussing porn with young people, including what is and isn't real about porn - whether it's acting, lighting or body types, and what our experience of talking to young people about porn has been. If you're a teacher, social worker, youth worker or anyone who works with young people, this podcast can help you tackle the subject of porn! I mention a podcast called Hot Money which you can access at: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/hot-money-who-rules-porn/id1621757273 I also mention a TikTok creator who talks about her experience of working in the porn industry - you can find her at: @alisonreyx
In this episode we discuss the Principles of Harm Reduction, which we've pinched from substance use and applied to digital behaviour. You can find the Principles at harmreduction.org. Building on our previous episode which introduced the idea of Harm Reduction, we're getting into detail about what harm reduction from a digital resilience perspective looks like and how you can ensure you're using a harm reduction approach, rather than scare tactics - if you're not sure about the difference, scare tactics tend to lean on ideas like 'it's illegal/it's dangerous and if you do it something awful will happen'.
This is the final re-record episode, this time looking at Not Harmful Behaviours. We discuss what to do if a young person is sent a nude that they didn't ask for, how to discuss the law around sexting, using filters and creating content. We've deliberately chosen some of the more complicated Not Harmful behaviours from version 2 of the Digital Resilience Tool as hopefully most of them are fairly self-explanatory. Don't forget, you can find the Digital Resilience Tool at https://www.headstartkernow.org.uk/digital-resilience/ and if you have any questions about any of the behaviours you can email us: Louisa - louisa.street@packshare.org Andy - aphippen1@bournemouth.ac.uk
We've re-recorded our episode on Potentially Harmful Behaviours, partly to replace the not-so-great sound quality of the original, and partly because we've got some new behaviours in version 2 of the Digital Resilience we wanted to explore. In this episode we talk about children knowing passwords to parental devices, or how to bypass parental controls, what the risks of accessing the deep web are and issues around digital consent. We also mention the amazing Project Evolve, where you can see their brilliant lesson plans mapped onto the Digital Resilience Tool here: https://projectevolve.co.uk/about/partners/
If you're a long time listener, you'll know that the sound quality has got much better since we recorded the first batch of episodes back in the summer of 2020. Back then, I promised that we'd re-record the worst of them - well I'm pleased to say we've finally done it! Here is the first, and better than just a simple re-record, we've actually taken the opportunity to discuss some of the new behaviours in the new version of the Digital Resilience Tool, available on the Headstart website (headstartkernow.org.uk/digital-resilience/ We also remind everyone that if you're having a difficult time identifying a behaviour and want some advice about how best to respond to it, you can always contact us: Louisa: louisa.street@packshare.org Andy: aphippen1@bournemouth.ac.uk
In this episode Andy and I discuss how you can curate your social media feed, and how you can support young people to do theirs. Whether you're a teacher, youth worker or family support worker, this information can help you teach young people to manage what they see on social media. We don't focus on any specific platforms, but do give advice relevant to Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, whilst also mentioning ways to help young people curate or manage their feed in any platform. We also talk about what algorithms can and can't do and why people think AI is more advanced than it is. I mention that you can see what google has assumed about you by looking at your google ad settings, you can access yours here: https://adssettings.google.com/
In this episode Andy and I discuss teaching resources available to help you deliver lessons about risks and issues young people face online - in particular those made by Project Evolve (which can be accessed at projectevolve.co.uk). We look at common myths professionals might inadvertently be passing on, such as suggesting that gaming causes young people to be violent or that looking at a screen all day will damage your eyesight. We also discuss whether young people are really concerned about pornography. We talk about questions you should be prepared for, and how much you really need to know about this subject to deliver a really great lesson. It's not all about being in the classroom though, we talk about how this is relevant in informal settings (such as youth clubs) as well. We mention a mapping document linked to the Headstart Online Resilience tool, if you would like to get a copy of this, please email me at louisa.street@packshare.org.
In this episode we talk about what the Metaverse is, and what the risks to young people who access it (or any form of virtual reality are). We discuss a recent BBC article which suggested the Metaverse is incredibly high risk for young people, and what professionals can do if they are concerned about those risks, for example what measures can be taken to supervise children and young people who are using VR headsets. We also discuss the likelihood of VR technology becoming mainstream, considering recent examples of technology which didn't take off and whether VR is likely to go the same way as Google Glass, or 3D movies. Andy wrote an article in The Conversation about this, which you can read in full here: https://theconversation.com/protecting-children-in-the-metaverse-its-easy-to-blame-big-tech-but-we-all-have-a-role-to-play-177789
In this episode we talk about how to take a harm reduction approach to young people's online behaviour, and why this is better than an 'online safety' message. When we talk about 'Online Safety' we often aim to prevent or prohibit young people from accessing certain parts of the online world, and whilst we may have the best possible reasons for wanting to do this, it means that if young people decide to engage in the behaviour anyway, they have no understanding of what the risks might be or how they could reduce them. We talk about how we can apply a harm reduction ethos to all interaction with young people in relation to online activities, and what harm reduction might look like in specific cases. A key element to remember with harm reduction is that it doesn't mean we can't say 'this is risky, and the best way to stay safe is not to do it' it just means the conversation doesn't end there.
In perfect time for Anti-Bullying week, Andy and I discuss what constitutes bullying in an online context and why we don't use the term Cyberbullying. We also talk about what professionals (youth workers, teachers, social workers and the like) can do if they are aware that a young person is being bullied through digital technology. We talk about the potential problems that professionals might face when issues arise in young people's digital worlds, such as parents becoming involved and how online and offline bullying should be dealt with in the same way.
In this episode we talk all things Youtube - we'll be considering the benefits of Youtube, considering how young people use Youtube and how that might be different from our experiences of media, but that doesn't necessarily mean harmful. We'll then go on to talk about using parental controls, how they work and what the potential pitfalls of relying too heavily on them can be. We also discuss how to manage suggested videos, and how if a young person is seeing a great deal of harmful or upsetting content this can be edited to show less of the stuff you don't want to see. We specifically talk about Squid Game and how even young children have been able to watch some of this, very violent show, through Youtube when their parents would not allow them to watch on Netflix. Similar to Grand Theft Auto, if everyone is talking about a show (or game) children and young people will inevitably be curious and are therefore likely to seek out clips on Youtube.
What will the Online Safety Bill mean for professionals? Should you do anything differently? In this episode we discuss what the Online Safety Bill actually means for teachers, youth workers, social workers or anyone else working with young people. We'll talk about the potential issues with the bill and what you should do in the meantime.
Have you heard politicians saying they're going to make the internet safe for our children and wondered what that means? In this episode Andy and I talk about the Online Safety Bill, what it aims to do, what it might actually do well, and what it definitely won't be able to do. This episode will give you a run down of everything you need to know about the Online Safety Bill if you work with or support young people. We also talk about some if the potential problems with the planned bill for the wider population, and why we should be concerned about them. The next episode will look at how it specifically relates to young people and what you will need to know if you support young people. Andy uses the acronym ISP in this episode, which refers to Internet Service Providers.
What can you do if you see something racist or homophobic online? What if a young person says they've seen something offensive or upsetting online? In this podcast we talk about the issues around hate speech online, whether reporting actually works and what follow up support you might need to offer. Andy mentions 'Incels' this refers to people who consider themselves 'Involuntarily Celibate', it is typically men who are unable to engage in romantic or sexual activity with women, despite wanting to. It is an emerging form of extremism and often young men aregroomed into it online. I also mention a podcast called Be AntiRacist, by Ibram X Kendi, which you should be able to find wherever you listen to podcasts.
Do you know what your digital footprint is? Or how you can manage it? Could your digital footprint affect your ability to get a job? Is everything you've ever put online still out there somewhere? To help you navigate some of these questions, in this episode we discuss digital footprints, what problems it can cause and how you can manage those problems. This isn't just an issue for young people, anyone who uses the internet leaves some sort of record of what they've done. Some of that record might be harvested to target advertising at you, and some of it might be available for anyone out there to see. So if you want to know what you can do if you find something about yourself online that shouldn't be there, we'll tell you how to get it removed - and we'll also discuss how you can do the same for any young people you support. I mention an article about the 3 Ps - Private, Personal and Professional - it can be found here: http://thempra.org.uk/downloads/Social%20Pedagogic%20Concepts.pdf
Talking to young people is our bread and butter, right? In reality a lot of professionals have told us they struggle to start conversations with young people about their online lives, and that even if they do, the young people in question are often very cagey and unwilling to talk openly about what they enjoy doing online, let alone things they might be worried about. In this episode we discuss a variety of approaches to talking to young people about what they do online, whether that's gaming, messaging or creating content. We'll talk about how to keep the conversation open, how to encourage young people to come to you about issues they might face online and what you should avoid. If you're worried that a young person you support may be facing bullying or harassment online, or just want to know more about what they're actually doing on Snapchat - this podcast will help you!
In this episode Andy and I discuss Only Fans, a porn site. As such there is a frank discussion of pornography. I mention a sex worker friendly, pay-what-you-can, counselling service, it can be found here: pineapplesupport.org/pineapple-support-therapists/ We also talk about the Professionals Online Safety Helpline, which can be accessed here: www.saferinternet.org.uk/helpline/professionals-online-safety-helpline
What is encryption and why is everyone talking about it? In this episode we talk about why people are worried about end to end encryption. We consider the right to privacy versus the risk of privacy. We talk about the four horsemen of the infocalypse - aka the scare tactics governments use to get us to agree to hand over all our data. Why does it matter when it comes to young people? Well, the right to privacy is enshrined in the UN convention on the rights of the child. But how do we keep children and young people safe online if we can't see everything they do online? We talk about the reasons for this right and how we can manage the right to privacy alongside our safeguarding responsiblities.
What is a troll? If you support young people who might be victim to trolls, or who might sometimes troll others, this episode is here to help! You might have heard of the Blue What Challenge, Momo, The RoRo challenge and be at your wits end of how to broach the topic with young people. We myth bust these 'digital ghost stories', with some ideas for how to fact check, how to avoid spreading panic and why some people want to spread that panic in the first place! We also talk about the ways that celebrities engage in trolling, trumpeting extreme opinions to stir everyone up and get themselves trending on twitter. Trigger Warning - in this episode we discuss self harm and suicide.
Sexting, sending nudes, naked selfies - all professionals worry about young people sending them. But are they really forever? And how can we ensure young people get the help they need if they've lost control of a self generated image? In this episode Andy and I discuss how professionals can best support young people, using case studies from our own experience.
In this episode we talk about not harmful behaviours and how they can prompt positive conversations with young people about their online world.
In this episode Andy and I discuss potentially harmful behaviours and how to respond to them. If you would like to know about the training for the Online Resilience Tool just go to https://www.headstartkernow.org.uk/digital-resilience
This episode looks at the Harmful Behaviours from the Online Resilience Tool and uses some case studies to highlight particular issues, such as when something might initially appear to be a Harmful Behaviour but with more information may be less concerning, when to involve other professionals and how our personal values may affect our understanding of young people's online behaviour. I mention a video about ways we teach children that consent doesn't matter - you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/FDSu2tyxmKE The audio in this episode isn't great - we'll re-record it when lockdown is over!
This episode of the Online Resilience Tool is aimed at parents. We discuss issues around screen time, the futility of tracking apps and the importance of setting boundaries that the whole family can keep to.
This episode introduces the tool, how the idea of it came about and how it works. Discussion ranges from screen-time to the dark web and how navigating this as a professional can be challenging. Andy and Louisa share ideas on approaching the subject with young people, things you don't need to know in order to talk to a young person about their online life and how your skills and experience enable you to support young people (even if you feel like a luddite!)
Hi - this is the Headstart Online Resilience Podcast where I talk to Professor Andy Phippen about all things to do with young people's online lives and how you, as a professional can best navigate the tricky world of young people's online activities to help them understand the risks and stay safe. We talk about everything from how to report hate speech online, to what OnlyFans is and how we should respond if young people say they're using it. So if you work with children or young people - whether as a teacher, social worker, school nurse, youth worker, TA or anything else - and want to know what you need to know, then give us a listen - and if you like what you hear, why not share us with your colleagues and friends!
A shorter version of the Healthy/Not harmful behaviours episode if you don't have time for the full version.
A shorter version of the Potentially Harmful Behaviours if you don't have time to listen to the full version.
This is a short version of the Harmful Behaviours episode with only the discussion of case studies - great if you don't have time for the full episode!
In this episode Andy and I discuss some of the behaviours in the 16-18 year old section of the Parents Guide.
In this episode Andy and I discuss some of the behaviours in the 13-15 year old section of the Parents Guide.
In this episode Andy and I discuss some of the behaviours in the 9-12 year olds section of the Parents Guide.
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