This page brings together key information, resources and guidance that members may find useful to support best practice around online safety in their schools. 

The law

The Online Safety Act 2023 (the act) is a new set of laws that protects children and adults online. It puts a range of new duties on social media companies and search services, making them more responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms.

The strongest protections in the act have been designed for children. Platforms will be required to prevent children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content and provide parents and children with clear and accessible ways to report problems online when they do arise. 

UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC)

As the partnership behind Safer Internet Day, UKSIC is dedicated to helping children and young people stay safe online.

Its website hosts research around internet safety, links to training and an abundance of free online safety resources and guides that are relevant to all ages and audiences, from children and young people to school staff and governors, parents and carers. There are also dedicated sections around online issues, including gaming, online bullying and social media.

Social media

Social media is any website or app that enables users to communicate and engage with others online. Users can share information such as posts, pictures, or videos, and users can respond through varying levels of engagement such as comments, reactions, or ‘likes’.

UKSIC recommend best practice for schools and professionals to support children and young people staying safe online when using social media, including:

• understand the apps, know which are the most popular and are actively being used by your pupils. Know where to report content online and understand what safety features are available – there are checklists available on the UKSIC website
• ensure the school community are aware who to report to in your school or organisation if they have concerns about a social media incident. This may be a head of year/department, a member of the senior leadership team, or the designated safeguarding lead.

Financially motivated sexual extortion 

There continues to be an increase in reports of children and young people (particularly teenage boys) being victims of financially motivated sexual extortion, often referred to in the media as 'sextortion'.

This is a serious form of blackmail involving the exploitation of nude, explicit or sensitive images or videos (either genuine or synthetic) to coerce victims into unwanted actions such as sharing further explicit imagery or paying perpetrators to prevent further sharing. 

The National Crime Agency's CEOP Education has issued an alert to education settings across the UK in response to this threat, to help professionals:

• recognise and understand financially motivated sexual extortion
• raise awareness and help-seeking behaviours amongst children and young people
• give suitable messaging and support to parents and carers
• support victims of financially motivated sexual extortion.

The film ‘Exploited’, aimed at young people aged 14+, is available to download with associated lesson resources from the CEOP website.