New apps parents should be aware of  

Since the introduction of mobile phones to children it seems that sharing apps have been developed at a rapid rate with more of them popping up all the time. We now know that many children are not only being influenced online but some of the behaviour is impacting their wellbeing. 

Sometimes it can be hard to keep track of what is safe and what is helpful for learning when children are using their phones constantly and as a parent you may be unaware of what they are viewing or using.

In this article by Martine Oglethorpe of the Modern Parent, she explores the newest app we should be aware of - Tellonym. Other apps she highlights are Omegle, Yolo, Ask.Fm, Qooh.me, Yik Yak and Sarahah.

In the article, Martine explains, "When educating parents about the new apps making their way onto the devices of young people, I always stress that it is not simply the app itself that makes something dangerous, but it’s the behaviour of those using the app that determines its safety and whether one’s experiences on the app are positive."

The role of parents in providing positive examples and having conversations with our children about responsible use of apps and what children should be aware of, are critical. With so much content being available and children's frequent use of phones, it's not always possible to supervise our children's every move online. It is, however, imperative they understand the risks and what red flags to look for.

Having conversations about taking responsibility and sharing any concerns they have, rather than laying down the law and banning mobile phones is more beneficial for children. Through calm conversations, they learn the right and wrong way to behave online. The way children socialise now is often online so with a healthy balance of online and offline interactions, they become more self aware and understand they can come to you if they have any concerns.

Sharing family photos safely online

There are many parents who love to share photos of their children online or share family holiday photos for relatives and friends. But how do we really know who is seeing the photos and what we are exposing our children to?

Want to share holiday pictures with friends online, but keep them private from strangers? From cloud drives to social network options, messenger apps and new platforms, here's how to privately share photos online.

In this article by Victoria McIntosh, she shares some tips on how to keep your images more private online so there is no danger of strangers viewing your private photos.

Some tips include:

• Setting up a shared cloud folder
• Setting up closed or secret Facebook groups
• Using privacy settings
• Using private photo sharing apps
• Using private texts offline

If privacy is of major concern to you, you can also avoid posting photos online altogether and perhaps organise a slideshow for family and friends to share photos the old fashioned way!

Office of the esafety Commissioner - resources for parents

There really is no shortage of information and resources for parents about how to manage social media usage and how to have conversations with children about online behaviour and responsibilities.

The Office of the esafety Commissioner website has a huge section for parents with many topics explored including:

• Basic online safety
• Creating good habits
• How to tell if your child is old enough to be online
• Having difficult conversations with your child
• How much time to allow your child to be online
• Online safety guide available for download in different languages