Social media, gaming and apps
Resources, guidance and information for education practitioners, learners, and families on social media gaming and other apps.
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What you need to know
Social media, gaming and apps have become integral in our day to day lives. Using social media, gaming and other apps can be beneficial to children and young people as a way to keep in touch with friends, stay entertained or be informed about the latest news.
Generative AI (GenAI) can be used to generate text, images or other media, making it increasingly prevalent in social media, gaming and other apps. The more data an app collects on a user, the more personalised the experience. It is important that children and young people understand that their interactions with GenAI may be monitored or exploited for targeted advertising or other purposes.
While apps have become a user friendly way to communicate and access the internet through different devices, it's essential to know how to use them safely.
It is important to be aware of what sort of content they include and what safety features are available for children and young people to report or block users or content and control their privacy.
Welsh Government guidance
Training
Social media training for schools
This 10 minute video is designed to help schools understand relevant guidance to help develop social media policies and practice.
App guides for families
'In the know'
Designed and created specifically with parents and carers in mind, this collection of guides equips you with the key information you should know about the most popular social media and gaming apps to help your child navigate their digital journey safely.
View from the experts
The complexity of being a digital citizen
Helen King, Director at Praesidio Safeguarding
Helen discusses the complexity for children and young people growing up in a space where digital technology is omnipresent.
The impact of social media on self esteem and how to help
Stephanie Hoffman, Head of Social Action at ProMo-Cymru
Stephanie discusses the impact of social media on self-esteem. She highlights a number of calls by young people to the Meic helpline and how they were resolved.
A review of harmful content online
Jim Gamble QPM, Chief Executive Officer of the INEQE Safeguarding Group
Jim talks about the impact that harmful behaviours exhibited by online personalities or influencers can have and provides advice on how to support someone who has been exposed to or is engaging with harmful content.
Keeping your social media experience positive
Stay true to yourself online
Sometimes we can feel under pressure to create the best impression of our lives online. Here are some tips to help you keep your social media experience positive.
In-game spending
Don't let spending be the game
Spending money while gaming is an area of growing concern, particularly in games aimed at children and young people.
Influencers
The 'influencer' effect
Social media offers the potential to capture the attention of a large audience and people can become overnight celebrities or outright brands, known as ‘influencers’.
