Safeguarding Children Essay

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This essay will look at what the digital world is and how child welfare can be safeguarded in a world with increasing digital usage. The digital world has expanded in the twenty first century and it is changing the way the world lives. New technologies are opening many opportunities and have many benefits for children and young people, however, they can also present some risks, and with The Office for National Statistics (2013) finding that 97 per cent of households with children now have access to the internet, it is more important than ever to look at safeguarding children and young people. ‘New technologies are integral to the lives of all children, young people and their parents. They inspire children to be creative, communicate and learn. …show more content…

Some concerns talked about in ‘Bringing up Britain: Digital Kids’ (‘Protecting Children in a Digital Age’, The Open University, 2016), include the ability of young children to model behaviours based on who or what they see as well as the children’s ability to cope with experiences which digital technology offers, that is above their level of understanding. There is a generational divide between children and young people and adults and a moral panic is being created through what adults are hearing on news reports. Contemporary families are changing and not all are living under the one roof and as such, with a growing responsibility on families to reduce online risk, it is important to ensure that all parties involved in the family unit are aware of such risks and measure. Policies are put in place to ensure the safety of children and young people is being met by their families, and by adults in children’s services. The Byron Review, Safer Children in a Digital World (DCSF, 2008), was written to look at the risks children face on the internet and with video games. Key issue areas of focus were the concerns for access to inappropriate material and individuals or organisations taking advantage of children and young people, due to the freedom of the internet. Children and young people should need the opportunity to learn how to stay in control and know what to do and who to go to if they feel at risk

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