Barry high school pupils have been taught how to stay safe online over the summer holidays.
Barry high school pupils have been taught how to stay safe online over the summer holidays.
A group of Year 9 students at Whitmore High School had the chance to share their concerns about online safety with Education Secretary, Lynne Neagle.
The Pupil Voice group at Whitmore aim to be proactive in responding to emerging issues such as sextortion, online bullying, sexual harrassment and the growth of AI.
During a series of lessons, pupils also studied the impact of social media content from controversial influencers such as Andrew Tate.
The bespoke lessons were drawn up after surveys were carried out to discover the topics that concerned pupils the most.
Feedback was shared by the Pupil Voice group along with suggestions on future topics they wanted to discuss.
Lynne Neagle said: “Social media places extraordinary pressure on young people today. From online bullying to the impact on self-esteem and body image, we must listen to our young people, if we are to truly tackle these challenging issues.”.
“It is encouraging to see this approach at Whitmore High where learners are invited to contribute their views and ideas and influence the school's online safety provision."
"This can make a real difference in equipping our young people with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, as well as having the confidence to speak up when something doesn't feel right.”
The evolving nature of the online world brings with it new risks from harmful content on social media or gaming - which can sometimes lead to long-lasting impacts on children's safety and well being.
According to figures, two thirds of children aged between 3 and 17 use social media apps and children aged between 8 and 17 spend on average between 2 and 5 hours online each day.
The numbers are growing - and with the summer holidays underway, online risks can increase with young people more likely to spend time online, on their phones or gaming.
Henriette Bertheux, associate assistant head at Whitmore High School, said: "The Pupils Voice Group here at Whitmore have been talking about the impact of social media on their mental health in the lesson today."
"Enabling young people to speak about the digital well-being issues that are of greatest concern to them, is one of the best ways to safeguard our young people by raising awareness, education and listening to their views."
The Welsh Government says its Hwb website includes a section on Keeping Safe Online with practical help and support for teachers on emerging, high priority issues and information on current trends in online behaviour among children and young people.
It also offers support for parents and carers such as an overview of the latest apps for social media and gaming and a guide on how to discuss a sensitive issue with a child.
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