What is Chatroulette, and why should you care?

A new website called 'Chatroulette' is fast becoming popular amongst teenagers and young adults.

The site is based on a simple concept, and the name is a big clue.

It works literally like roulette.  The user connects their webcam, logs on, starts a "game" and is instantly connected to another person.  The site displays the image from their webcam, the image from your own webcam, and a "chat" room on the right-hand side.  The person you are connected to could be anybody, of any age or any sex, from anywhere in the world.  

Facebook revamps 'Safety Centre', stops short on panic button

Following a meeting between the UK Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) and Facebook, Facebook has agreed to a raft of measures to protect young people from predators on it's site, but crucially stopped short of installing the much-debated CEOP 'Panic Button' on every page.

The social network has been under increasing pressure from the UK authorities to add the CEOP 'Panic Button' to each user's profile but has continually resisted. Instead of the button, Facebook users in the UK and under the age of 19 will be able to click on a 'Report abuse' link on each page which will subsequently provide the option to report abuse to CEOP or Facebook themselves.

Man jailed for grooming girl, 12, online

A 37-year-old man has been jailed for two years for grooming a 12-year-old girl online.

Timothy Fullard used the alias 'Dom' to contact the girl at her home using an (unnamed) internet messaging system, and later by text message.  Prosecutors described the conversation between the girl and Fullard as 'particularly intimate'.

Facebook branded 'arrogant' and 'complacent' towards paedophile threat

A child-protection expert has branded Facebook 'arrogant' and 'complacent' despite an in increase in reports of paedophile activity on the site.  

A Mother Warns: "Be aware of the online dangers that children face."

The mother of a young girl abused by a teacher over MSN Messenger warned parents:

"Be aware of the online dangers that children face." 

The stark warning came as Ian Goy, of Thornton Clevelys, Lancashire, was jailed for 26 weeks for 'inciting an under-age girl to engage in sexual activitity, whilst in a position of trust'.  Goy had denied the charge but was found guilty by a jury in less than 3 hours.

Predators on Facebook: Should you be worried?

 

In the wake of the shocking rape and murder of teenager Ashleigh Hall, who was ‘groomed’ by predatory paedophile Peter Chapman on Facebook, the British press have been quick to point the finger of blame at Facebook.

In an unbelievably sensationalist article on the Daily Mail website, Mark Williams-Thomas, a ‘vastly experienced’ consultant in child protection and a former police detective, paints a terrifying picture of hundreds of men waiting to groom and abuse young women online.  Mr Williams-Thomas set up a profile purporting to be a 14-year old girl and, apparently, simply waited for the indecent proposals to flood in.

Today is Safer Internet Day - Think B4 U Post!

Today, 9th February 2009, is Safer Internet Day 2010.  The worldwide initiative is organised each year to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology, particularly amongst children throughout the world. 

The message which Safer Internet Day is promoting this year is Think B4 U Post!

Click Read More for more information, and to view a video about this year’s Safer Internet Day message.

‘1 in 4’ Children sent Pornography by E-Mail

According to research carried out by telephone provider TalkTalk and reported in the Telegraph today, one in four children have been sent inappropriate material, including pornography, by email.

The internet at home... a few facts and figures

Today we thought we'd present to you some facts and figures, which we've collected from various sources on the internet, which demonstrate the way in which children and young people use the internet and the way in which parents deal with their children's internet use. 

We don't seek to be "scaremongers". 

Here, we present the facts, so that you can make up your own mind...