If you are considering using social media to promote your organisation or to engage with the young people you work with, it is important to become familiar with the relevant safety and child protection issues.
“63% of young people say that thanks to the internet they feel part of the group and communities”
EU Kids Online: Comparing Children’s Online Activities and Risks across Europe: Hasenbrink, Livingstone, Haddon, Kirwil and Ponte, 2007.
What should you be wary of?
Many businesses, advertisers, government and voluntary and community organisations have already harnessed the opportunities offered by the new technologies to reach, communicate and engage with their supporters and the public. This includes children and young people.
The tools that they use to do this include blogs, wikis, online communities and social networking websites such as Facebook. These tools are sometimes collectively known as ‘social media’. Social media tools provides volunteers and, supporters of voluntary and community organisations the means to communicate in new ways. This means that the children and young people you work with can share and discuss their involvement in activities with others and advertise events they are doing for a charity or organisation such as a sponsored fun run.
Some of the major social networking services provide a dedicated space for voluntary and community charities and organisation to promote good causes. These include:
It is important to become familiar with a social networking provider including the safety aspects of the service first before setting up a online presence.
You may find the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit guidance
Social Networking services, social media and sport: guidelines for safeguarding children and young people a useful resource to help you set up an online presence, which also considering the safety implications for children and young people, your staff and organisation.
“25% of young people say the internet would be their first source of information or advice on alcohol, sex, drugs, finance and health.”
EU Kids Online: Comparing Children’s Online Activities and Risks across Europe : Hasenbrink, Livingstone, Haddon, Kirwil and Ponte, 2007.