Dear Parent’s and Carers,
As the Easter holidays are nearly upon us I thought it may help to have an online safety update to help with any holiday online issues.
As a school we have also been made aware that some of our pupils are playing inappropriate aged games online. It is important to remember that age settings have been made to keep children safe from seeing unsuitable and upsetting content. I have included some information to help parents with setting restrictions on these games from National Online Safety community.
Grand Theft Auto (GTA) Age 18 years and up
Grand Theft Auto: game where you explore a fictional city as the central character, Carl. This game is for over 18s and contains adult themes, including violence, sex and drug use. For these reasons, we wouldn’t recommend it for any under the age of 18.
Fornite: Age 13 years and up
The game is violent, it is a battle to the death, but the violence is bloodless and rather cartoon-like.
Text chat cannot be turned off, and there are no filters for voice or text, which may be concerning to parents. There’s nothing to stop an adult from saying lewd things to a younger player, or to stop other children from being rude to each other.
There is an internet matters app which helps parents and carers discuss online content and issues with their children. It also provides parents with advice on how to set controls on games which will help your child stay safe when gaming.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding. I hope you enjoy a peaceful Easter break,
Mrs Houghton
Online Safety Co-ordinator
