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  • Changing conversations: Empowering vulnerable children in a digital world

Changing conversations

Empowering vulnerable children in a digital world

Research shows that vulnerable children experience significant benefits from being online. However, they are also more likely to experience online risks. As such, they require very specific support to develop digital resilience to benefit safely.

Changing conversations explores the current approach to online risks faced by vulnerable children and how regulators, professionals and parents/carers can change these practises to better support these children.

 

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Changing conversations: report summary

Key findings

Professionals struggle to support vulnerable children in their connected lives

Professionals who work with vulnerable children tend towards resistant and reactive support. Children are set rigid and inflexible rules about how they use digital technology, which often results in restricted or removed use of devices.

Professionals often solely focus on risk in digital technology

Many professionals lack the right resources, training and supportive environment to find the right balance between what is beneficial device use and what is harmful risk.

Professionals risk providing less support to the most vulnerable

Vulnerable children need more support than their peers, so they need tailored and flexible learning opportunities when it comes to digital technology. This learning also needs to be practical. Unfortunately, many are not receiving this.

Where digital resilience is embraced, vulnerable children can thrive

Vulnerable children need to have the opportunity to try, fail and learn when it comes to their use of digital technology. Just like riding a bike, continuing to use their devices with advice and support is how they will build the skills and relationships they need to overcome obstacles in their connected lives.

Read the full Changing Conversations report. Also, for advice see our guide for professionals working with vulnerable children.

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More to explore

See related advice and practical tips to support children online:

  • Advice for 0-5 years
  • Advice for 11-13 years
  • Advice for 14+ year olds
  • Advice for 6-10 years
  • Socialising online safely
  • Support wellbeing with tech
  • Vulnerable children

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  • Online issues
  • Cyberbullying
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  • 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
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  • My Family’s Digital Toolkit
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