SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICES, SUCH AS INSTAGRAM AND WHATSAPP

 

Dear Parents

 

In light of unrelated incidents that we are aware of involving our children I feel compelled to seek your support in a matter.

 

As a school we are being made aware of inappropriate language and conversations via platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp amongst our pupils.  We are also aware that some pupils are in group chats on these and possibly other social media services. All happening outside of school.

 

On a very simple level, this should not be happening as such services are all clear in their terms of use that users must be 13 years or over, in the case of WhatsApp this changed in May 2018 to 16 years or over.  Our children at Planatation are not old enough to have these accounts and not old enough to be using these services.  Any such accounts are clearly a breach in those terms of use.

 

While I understand there may be a conversation at home from your child saying things such as “Everyone else has it!”, and the pressure of wanting your child to not be left out; I would like more and more of our parents to have a united voice in this with our children and say no to such requests.  I would like any child who has taken up an account without your permission to be challenged and the account reported and deleted.

 

There is much in the media about the social and emotional issues that social media services may be causing in society, particularly amongst teenagers.  We see the impact of this as a school with our young people – children aged 11 years and under.

 

I am sending this note out to state that not all children have it.  If you weren’t aware already, all pupils at Plantation are clearly too young to conform with the terms of use of these sites.  Armed with both these facts I ask you to have a conversation with your child about social media if you deem it necessary.  I also ask, if your child has a social media account to close the account, and if your child is asking to have one say no.  Please check your child’s devices to ensure they have not set one up without your permission and if they have report it and delete it.

 

If more and more of us as adults can take these steps with our children then it will help.  It will break down the pressure for us as parents and for our children.  We will continue to talk to our pupils about esafety and the age restrictions of social media but we need you as parents to take the next step and stop your child accessing these services.  As a parent myself and as your child’s Headteacher your support will mean a lot.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Mr S Hanley, Headteacher