Online Safety for Schools Online Safety Magazine for Schools | Page 24

24
Online Safety & Social Media Issues
&
The Online ‘Challenges’ That Seek Online Validation
& Online Badge of Honour
Having worked extensively in UK Schools, International Schools in Europe, Middle East and Far East Asia
and I have a deep knowledge of the technological context in which international schools work and
therefore have a unique insight into international schools specific context and always tailor my approach
accordingly (no other Online safety supplier provides such expertise in this bespoke setting). Being a
qualified and experienced trainer, I always focus on the practical application of Online safety & Social
Media Training that is up to date, current, relevant and specific. This allows for the exploration of the wide
range of Online Behaviour and gives delegates the most current 'Online Safety message', not simply
standard, ad-hoc 'E-Safety' Advise
Whilst I spend my time speaking to students, parents, teachers and child safeguarding professionals on
Online Safety, specifically highlighting how children and young adults behave online, and how this can
result in online exploitation, online Challenges and online validation is also an area to be aware of. Online
validation invariably involves online broadcasting using social media eg You Tube, Instagram, Facebook,
Periscope and Badoo (there are others). Therefore parents, carers, professionals and students should be
informed in advance about the purpose and audience of any broadcast.
Challenges;
Warnings about Momo Challenge, Deleted, Tide Pod, Deodorant & Blue Whale Challenge have proved far
more viral than the challenges themselves, anything that puts suggestions & images of self-harm & suicide
in front of children who are already vulnerable to self-esteem and other psychological issues (including
suicidal tendencies) can carry dangerous potential. One of my biggest concerns about rumours like Momo,
Deleted and Blue Whale Challenge is the risk of suicide contagion, which could turn these challenges into
reality for a small number of vulnerable youth. “Suicide contagion is real, which is why I’m concerned
about it,” (M Gould). When Online Challenges become widely popular you cannot prevent the desire of
some teenagers to exploit them to scare peers or younger kids. Whether we 'adults' like it or not Momo -
Deleted - Blue Whale Challenge phenomena exist to prey on the minds of the vulnerable especially
children with low self-esteem and/or other pre-existing psychological condition. So, to call them all
'Hoaxes' is very inaccurate and dangerous. If a child or young person is identified as having pre-existing
psychological issues then the parents need to know about Online Challenges & the possible self-harm
motivation, justification & validation they pose.
Online Challenges are not new, and more and more we see individuals creating online challenges, filming
themselves completing them and then ‘challenging’ others (sometimes online contacts or friends). These
challenges can be to pouring salt in their hands and hold ice until it burns, dousing themselves in rubbing
alcohol and set themselves on fire or biting into colourful liquid laundry detergent packets. The fact that
these completed challenges are filmed and posted adds to the fact that these challenges are designed to
reinforce Online Validation, and perhaps would not be as possible if they were not filmed and posted.