Internet Matters

Last updated
Internet Matters
Company type Not-for-profit organisation
Industry Internet safety
FoundedMay 13, 2014 (2014-05-13) in London, United Kingdom
Headquarters
London
Website www.internetmatters.org

Internet Matters is a not-for-profit organisation based in London, England. Launched in May 2014 by the United Kingdom's largest internet service providers BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media, the organisation offers child internet safety advice to parents, careers and professionals.

Contents

History

Internet Matters was launched on 13 May 2014 with a launch event at the Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green, London attended by guests including Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Janet Ellis and industry experts including Sonia Livingstone. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] At the time, David Cameron described the launch as 'a significant step forward in our mission to protect our children online'. [6]

Internet Matters is supported by the largest internet service providers in the UK. Between them they have direct relationships with 90% of internet households in the UK. [7] The organisation also works closely with other child e-safety charities and industry bodies including the NSPCC, Childnet, FOSI, the CEOP, search engine Google [8] and TikTok. [9]

Partners

PartnerPartner Projects
BT, EE and PlusNet [10] Safer Internet Day
  • With support from Internet Matters, EE trained thousands of frontline staff at over 600 retail outlets to offer safety support on devices. [11]

Parental controls

  • Internet Matters hosts parental control guides for BT broadband as well as the EE mobile network and PlusNet's SafeGuard. [12]

PhoneSmart Licence

  • EE worked with Internet Matters to create the PhoneSmart Licence designed for children about to get their first smartphone. It helps children learn key safety skills before they start using their device. [13]
Sky and NowTV [14] Hosting resources
  • Sky hosted Internet Matters' resources at a 3-day onsite Code Camp for those working at Sky and NowTV. [15]
TalkTalk [16] Sharing resources
  • TalkTalk included online safety advice in welcome booklets for new customers, which outlines features such as parental controls.

Digital Heroes

  • Internet Matters helped create an award for projects that focused on empowering and safeguarding young people online. [17]
Virgin Media [18] Social promotion
  • Throughout the year, Virgin Media regularly promotes Internet Matters campaigns and controls on social media. [19]
BBC [20] BBC Own It
  • Launched in 2018, BBC Own It provided advice to children aged 8–12. As of 2022, it has switched focus to providing advice for parents of these children.
  • It launched the BBC Own It app to help children make good choices. This has been discontinued. [21]
  • Internet Matters have provided written content to provide parents on the Own It website. [22]
Google [20] Google Family Link
  • Internet Matters helped Google develop step-by-step guides for parents.

Digital Garage

  • Internet Matters supported Google's creation of their Digital Garage, which provided courses to parents to help them learn the tools to keep children safe online. [23]
Huawei [24] Research
  • Huawei sponsored Internet Matters' Living for the Future research about technology and the family home. It looked at challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies and how that intensified during the COVID-19 lockdowns. [25]
Meta [26] Connecting Safely Online
  • In 2020, alongside Youthworks and with help from Meta (then Facebook), Internet Matters launched Connecting Safely Online. This hub was designed to support young people with SEND and their parents to help keep them from 'falling through the net' on social media. [27]
Samsung [28] Staff training
  • Samsung joined other partners for Safer Internet Day in 2019 to provide training and information to its in-store staff to share online safety information with consumers.

Online safety workshops

  • Internet Matters worked with Samsung to help them deliver free online safety workshops for parents and carers to keep children safe online across Samsung devices. [29]

The Online Together Project

  • With Samsung, Internet Matters launched The Online Together Project in 2021, [30] a series of quizzes designed to challenge stereotypes and prejudice online. [31] It launched with a gender stereotypes quiz with more quizzes slated to be added in the long-term.
ESET [32] Digital Matters
  • ESET funded the creation of online safety learning platform, Digital Matters in 2022. [33] The platform is designed for teachers to use in the classroom, specifically in PSHE lessons around online safety. It is currently for students in Key Stage 2.
TikTok [34] Research
  • In 2022, TikTok supported Intentional Use: How agency supports young people's wellbeing in a digital world completed by Internet Matters. The research explored the role of agency in young people's wellbeing. [35]

TikTok Playbook

  • In October 2022, Internet Matters launched the TikTok Playbook. They worked with TikTok to create a comprehensive guide to TikTok for teachers. [36]
Supercell [37] Online gaming advice hub
  • Along with other online safety hubs, Internet Matters created their online gaming hub to offer advice to parents on video games. [38]
Electronic Arts [39] Play Together/Play Smart
  • Internet Matters and EA worked together to campaign for parents to get involved in their child's video games by playing together. The campaign featured English television and radio personality and former professional footballer, Ian Wright. [40]
  • As part of the campaign, research was carried out on how children and their parents interact with video games. [41]
  • For the 2021 festive season, Internet Matters and Electronic Arts worked with comedian Katherine Ryan to encourage parents to set up parental controls on video games consoles before gifting them to their child. [42]

Research

  • Electronic Arts and Internet Matters worked together to research the impact of the above campaigns, producing a report that showed an increase in parent engagement: "Independent research shows that 55% of parents who saw the campaign acted by switching on parental controls – a truly meaningful and significant change in behaviour. Meanwhile, a staggering 81% of parents are now more likely to talk to their children about being safe online when using their games console, while 75% of parents and carers are more likely to set up parental controls on their child’s games console before giving the console to them in future." [43]

Website

The Internet Matters online portal gives information and guidance about the main e-safety issues children might be exposed to when browsing the internet, as well as safeguarding and parental controls advice. [44] [45]

The portal contains information for parents on the online issues of cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online pornography, online reputation, online grooming, sexting, self-harm, radicalisation and more. [46] The site has published guidance to help parents understand information relevant to their child’s age, the latest in connected technologies, mobile applications, social networking and online gaming.

Connecting Safely Online

Connecting Safely Online is an initiative to help children and young people with learning difficulties tackle online safety issues. It was launched in 2020 alongside Youthworks and in partnership with Meta. [47]

Digital Matters

Digital Matters is an online safety learning platform designed for schools, parents, and children to teach children skills in online safety. It was developed with support from Internet Matters' partner, ESET, and uses manga-style art. [48]

It was shortlisted for the Teach Primary 2022 awards in the App category. [49]

Published research

Cybersafe (2013)

Cybersafe 2013 was a study commissioned to support the launch of Internet Matters. The findings of the study highlighted a clear demand for more information about the risks children face when accessing the internet, at the time of research 74% of parents surveyed stated they wanted to know more. Of the 74%, 18% wanted to learn more about filtering content and blocking access to specific websites. [50]

Back to School (2015)

Over 1000 UK parents were surveyed to identify at what age they thought a child owning a smartphone was OK. The survey revealed that the majority of parents (84.6%) would like a minimum age on smartphone ownership with 10 being the most popular age. [51] [52]

Pace of Change (2015)

Internet Matters commissioned Childwise to carry out a UK-wide study to explore the use and understanding of technology among children aged 7–17, and parents of children this age. The research revealed an increasing gap between parents and children online with the fact that children spent significantly longer online, with girls using smartphones on average 4 hours a day. [53]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parental controls</span> Software feature allowing content filtering

Parental controls are features which may be included in digital television services, computers and video games, mobile devices and software that allow parents to restrict the access of content to their children. These controls were created to assist parents in their ability to restrict certain content viewable by their children. This may be content they deem inappropriate for their age, maturity level or feel is aimed more at an adult audience. Parental controls fall into roughly four categories: content filters, which limit access to age inappropriate content; usage controls, which constrain the usage of these devices such as placing time-limits on usage or forbidding certain types of usage; computer usage management tools, which enforces the use of certain software; and monitoring, which can track location and activity when using the devices.

Microsoft family features is a free set of features available on Windows 10 PC and Mobile that is bundled with the Windows 10, Home edition operating system. On July 17, 2020, Microsoft released Microsoft Family Safety on Google Play and App Store (iOS) as well. Starting in Windows 10, a Microsoft Account is required to use the Microsoft family features. A parent can manage settings for a child if both of their Microsoft Accounts are in the same family. When parents turn on settings for their child, these settings are applied to every device that the child logs into with that Microsoft Account.

Internet safety, also known as online safety, cyber safety and electronic safety (e-safety), refers to the policies, practices and processes that reduce the harms to people that are enabled by the (mis)use of information technology.

Internet censorship in the United Kingdom is conducted under a variety of laws, judicial processes, administrative regulations and voluntary arrangements. It is achieved by blocking access to sites as well as the use of laws that criminalise publication or possession of certain types of material. These include English defamation law, the Copyright law of the United Kingdom, regulations against incitement to terrorism and child pornography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Childnet</span>

Childnet International is a registered UK charity that aims to make the internet a safe place for children and young people.

Kik Messenger, commonly called Kik, is a freeware instant messaging mobile app from the Canadian company Kik Interactive, available on iOS and Android operating systems.

The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) was set up in 2008 under the Brown Government charged with bringing together government departments, law enforcement agencies, academia, private industry and third-sector representatives such as charities and voluntary groups to collaborate on strategies to ensure child internet safety. It is a group made up of more than 200 constituent organisations with a board chaired by ministers. It collates internet safety research, conducts its own consultations, gives advice to industry providers and publishes a code of practice. The remit of the Council began with the Byron Review and the group has subsequently drawn on diverse sources including the Bailey Review and the work of Professor Sonia Livingstone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MediaSmarts</span> Canadian non-profit organization and registered charity

MediaSmarts is a Canadian non-profit organization and registered charity based in Ottawa, Ontario, that focuses on digital and media literacy programs and resources. In particular, the organization promotes critical thinking via educational resources and analyzes the content of various types of mass media.

The precise number of websites blocked in the United Kingdom is unknown. Blocking techniques vary from one Internet service provider (ISP) to another with some sites or specific URLs blocked by some ISPs and not others. Websites and services are blocked using a combination of data feeds from private content-control technology companies, government agencies, NGOs, court orders in conjunction with the service administrators who may or may not have the power to unblock, additionally block, appeal or recategorise blocked content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ByteDance</span> Chinese internet technology company

ByteDance Ltd. is a Chinese internet technology company headquartered in Haidian, Beijing and incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TikTok</span> Video-focused social media platform

TikTok, whose mainland Chinese counterpart is Douyin, is a short-form video hosting service owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which can range in duration from three seconds to 10 minutes. It can be accessed with a smart phone app.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charli D'Amelio</span> American social media personality (born 2004)

Charli Grace D'Amelio is an American social media personality. She was a competitive dancer for over a decade before starting her social media career in 2019, when she began posting dance videos on the video-sharing platform TikTok. She quickly amassed a large following and subsequently became the most-followed creator on the platform in March 2020 until she was surpassed by Khaby Lame in June 2022. With over 151 million followers, she is the second-most-followed-person on TikTok, as of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triller (app)</span> American social networking service

Triller is an American video-sharing social networking service. The service allows users to create and share short-form videos, including videos set to, or automatically synchronized to music using artificial intelligence technology. Triller was released for iOS and Android in 2015, and initially operated as a video editing app before adding social networking features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Censorship of TikTok</span> Restriction of access to TikTok by governments and organizations

Many countries have imposed past or ongoing restrictions on the video sharing social network TikTok. Bans from government devices usually stem from national security concerns over potential access of data by the Chinese government. Other bans have cited children's well-being and offensive content such as pornography.

The BBC Own It is a British information site designed to protect and support children using the Internet. While the BBC Own It app has been retired, the Own It website still provides online safety advice to children, parents and teachers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kid influencer</span> Young Social Media Influencers

A kid influencer is someone under the age of 18 who has built or is building a presence on social media platforms creating content to generate views and engagements, that is often sponsored. Kid influencers operate in a similar fashion to adult influencers; they share their hobbies and personal activities with their audiences, while also marketing products that align with their brand through paid partnerships. Many social media platforms have an age minimum requiring users to be at least 13 years of age or older to hold their own accounts. This requirement results in many of the pages being run alongside the parent/guardian of the child when they are under the age requirement.

The Age appropriate design code, also known as the Children's Code, is a British internet safety and privacy code of practice created by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The draft Code was published in April 2019, as instructed by the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). The final regulations were published on 27 January 2020 and took effect 2 September 2020, with a one-year grace period before the beginning of enforcement. The Children's Code is written to be consistent with GDPR and the DPA, meaning that compliance with the Code is enforceable under the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">YouTube Shorts</span> Short video clip sharing service

YouTube Shorts is the short-form section of the American video-sharing site YouTube. Shorts focuses on vertical videos at a maximum length of 60 seconds and various features for user interaction. As of March 2024, Shorts have collectively earned over 5 trillion views since the platform was made available to the public on July 13, 2021, which include video views that pre-date the YouTube Shorts feature. Creators earn money based on the amount of views they receive, or through ad revenue. The increased popularity of YouTube Shorts has led to concerns about addiction for teenagers.

<i>Recess Therapy</i> Web series and Instagram account

Recess Therapy is a web series produced by Doing Things Media in which host and creator Julian Shapiro-Barnum interviews children between the ages of two and nine years old playing outside in New York City. The interviews have been uploaded on YouTube and Instagram since 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libs of TikTok</span> Far-right and anti-LGBT Twitter account

Libs of TikTok is a handle for various far-right and anti-LGBT social-media accounts operated by Chaya Raichik, a former real estate agent. Raichik uses the accounts to repost content created by left-wing and LGBT people on TikTok, and on other social-media platforms, often with hostile, mocking, or derogatory commentary. The accounts promote hate speech and transphobia, and spread false claims, especially relating to medical care of transgender children. The Twitter account, also known by the handle @LibsofTikTok, has nearly 3 million followers as of February 2024 and has become influential among American conservatives and the political right. Libs of TikTok's social-media accounts have received several temporary suspensions and a permanent suspension from TikTok.

References

  1. ↑ Garside, Juliette (13 May 2014). "Internet providers urge parents to monitor children's web activity". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Online safety - ISPs launch 'Internet Matters'". London Live. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  3. ↑ Smith, Alex. "ISPs launch internet safety site: will it make a difference?". choose.net.
  4. ↑ Davies, Jessica (13 May 2014). "BT, Sky, Talk Talk and Virgin Media launch child safety online campaign". The Drum.
  5. ↑ "Internet Matters launches e-safety service for schools". saferinternet.org.uk.
  6. ↑ "Internet Matters: David Cameron talks online safety for children". YouTube. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Facts & Figures". Ofcom. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Our Partners". Google.
  9. ↑ "TikTok partners with Internet Matters". Newsroom | TikTok. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  10. ↑ "Online safety - Protecting consumers & deliverying content - Policy & regulation - About BT | BT Plc". www.bt.com. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  11. ↑ "Safer Internet Day: How to Take Control of Your Child's Digital Safety". EE Community. 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  12. ↑ "Broadband & Mobile Network Parental Controls". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  13. ↑ "Get your PhoneSmart License". About The PhoneSmart Licence and EE. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  14. ↑ "Sky partners with Common Sense Media to bring peace of mind to parents". www.skygroup.sky. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  15. ↑ "Sky - Internet Matters Founding Member". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  16. ↑ "TalkTalk in partnership with Internet Matters". TalkTalk Help & Support. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  17. ↑ "TalkTalk - Internet Matters Founding Member". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  18. ↑ "Surf the web safely with Internet Matters". Virgin Media. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  19. ↑ "Virgin Media - Internet Matters Founding Member". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  20. 1 2 "BBC & Google joining Internet Matters to help keep kids safe online". www.primarytimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  21. ↑ "The BBC Own It app is being retired". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  22. ↑ "4 tips to help your child cope with cyberbullying". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  23. ↑ "Google - Internet Matters Member". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  24. ↑ "Huawei in Partnership with Internet Matters - Huawei United Kingdom". huawei. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  25. ↑ "Research report - Living the future: The technological family and the connected home". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  26. ↑ "Facebook - Internet Matters Corporate Partner". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  27. ↑ "Connecting Safely Online - A new online safety hub for vulnerable families". Internet Matters. 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  28. ↑ "Samsung joins forces with Internet Matters to help keep children safe in the Connected Home". news.samsung.com. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  29. ↑ "Samsung - Internet Matters Corporate Partner". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  30. ↑ "Creating respectful relationships online: The Online Together Project- in Partnership with Internet Matters | Samsung United Kingdom". Samsung uk. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  31. ↑ "The Online Together Project created by Samsung and Internet Matters". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  32. ↑ "Our Partners | Safer Kids Online". saferkidsonline.eset.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  33. ↑ "About Us". Digital Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  34. ↑ "TikTok partners with Internet Matters". Newsroom | TikTok. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  35. ↑ "How agency supports young people's digital wellbeing". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  36. ↑ "The TikTok Playbook for Teachers". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  37. ↑ "Be Safe & Play Fair × Supercell". Supercell. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  38. ↑ "Gaming Advice Hub - Internet Matters". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  39. ↑ "EA and Internet Matters launch Play Together/Play Smart campaign". GamesIndustry.biz. 2021-08-03. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  40. ↑ "Advice to help kids game safely and responsibly | Electronic Arts & IM". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  41. ↑ "Gaming research infographic Play Together / Play Smart". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  42. ↑ "EA encourages parental controls this festive season". Internet Matters. 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  43. ↑ "EA encourages more parents to set up parental controls". Internet Matters. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  44. ↑ "Information, Advice and Support to Keep Children Safe Online". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  45. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Janet Ellis launch Internet Matters child internet safety portal | Virgin Media". www.virginmedia.com. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  46. ↑ "Online safety issues - advice to support children". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  47. ↑ "Connecting Safely Online - A new online safety hub for vulnerable families". Internet Matters. 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  48. ↑ "Digital Matters - Online Safety Platform for Schools & Families". Digital Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  49. ↑ "Teach Primary and Teach Secondary Awards shortlist 2022 announced". Teachwire. 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  50. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/InternetMatters (2013-09-21). "Cybersafe Research to Support a Safer Internet Campaign". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2023-08-21.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)
  51. ↑ Gill, Emma (2 September 2015). "When is the right age to give your child a smartphone?". Manchester Evening News.
  52. ↑ "Children under ten 'should not own smartphones'". The Telegraph. 3 September 2015.
  53. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/InternetMatters (2015-10-13). "Children leaving their parents for digital dust - Research". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2023-08-21.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)
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