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  • Vulnerable children in a digital world report

Vulnerable Children Report

Highlighting online risks vulnerable children may face and the support they need

This report provides insight into the online world of the UK’s most vulnerable children highlights the potential online risks that different groups of vulnerable children may face online, such as pressure to be sexting, cyberbullying, cyber scams, or seeing content promoting self-harm, anorexia and suicide.

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Vulnerable Children in a digital world

What’s inside the report?

This report also offers guidance on ways to support vulnerable children emphasising the introduction of specialised training and tools across all sectors to draw on the ability to identify the most likely online issues facing the highest risk children and trigger early intervention.

The study, in partnership with Youthworks and the University of Kingston, used a robust dataset of vulnerable young people’s online experiences to identify how they might be more likely to encounter certain online risks.

 

Foreward

Carolyn Buntin, CEO, Internet Matters provides a brief insight into why the research was carried out:

“This report takes the conversation on – to challenge and inspire all of us; parents, teachers, frontline service workers, and corporate parents to ask better, more nuanced questions, of ourselves and the children and young people in our care.”

It is also supported by quotes from the Children’s Commissioner For England Anne Longfield, Javed Khan, Chief CEO, Barnardos and Roy McComb Deputy Director, Vulnerabilities Command National Crime Agency

Unequal online

An outline of the changing landscape of the online world with a focus on it’s impact (positive and negative) on vulnerable children’s digital lives.

About the Study: Methodology

Find an outline of the methodology used and what research evidence prompted the work.  The study was based part of the Cybersurvey annual survey of young people’s views and online experiences run by Youthworks from 2008 -2018. Currently, 38,000 young people have participated. This research study explored responses from  2,988 of these young people aged 10 to 16.

Results: Vulnerability predicts risk

A summary of research findings outlining what young people’s offline vulnerabilities tell us about the risks they are more likely to face online. By looking at each vulnerable group in turn the chapter explores what is known about these young people that might explain their online experiences of risk categories.

What should be done?

Provides insights and guidance for parents, educators, services, safeguarding, and industry on ways to support vulnerable people online. It also offers next steps on what is needed to ensure young people who are vulnerable offline are given relevant, proactive and nuanced education and support to help them stay safe online.

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More to explore

See related advice and practical tips to support children online:

  • Parental controls
  • Vulnerable children

On site links

    • How can we support vulnerable children in the digital world?
    • Vulnerable children in a digital world infographic

Related Web Links

Children’s Commissioner’s – Report on Vulnerability

Parent info – What can make young people vulnerable online?

  • Online issues
  • Cyberbullying
  • Inappropriate content
  • Sexting
  • Self-harm
  • Screen time
  • Radicalisation
  • Online grooming
  • Online pornography
  • Online reputation
  • Privacy and identity theft
  • Advice by age
  • Pre-school (0-5)
  • Young children (6-10)
  • Pre-teen (11-13)
  • Teens ( 14+)
  • Setting controls
  • Smartphones and other devices
  • Broadband & mobile networks
  • Gaming platform & other devices
  • Social media privacy guides
  • Entertainment & search engines
  • Connecting Safely Online
  • Resources
  • My Family’s Digital Toolkit
  • Online gaming advice hub
  • The dangers of digital piracy
  • Digital resilience toolkit
  • Social media advice hub
  • Guide to apps
  • Accessibility on Internet Matters
  • Digital Matters
  • Schools resources
  • Early years resources
  • Primary school resources
  • Secondary school resources
  • Parent pack for teachers
  • News & opinion
  • Our expert panel
  • #StaySafeStayHome support for families
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