What advice should I give my students about video-sharing sites?
New technologies mean that anyone can upload and share videos on the internet .You don't even need an expensive video camera - many people post videos they have taken on their mobiles.
Did you know?
Two-thirds (66%) of 12-15 year olds in the UK have watched or downloaded video content from websites like YouTube, according to Ofcom.
Video-sharing sites, such as YouTube, have many positives, giving your students the chance to be creative, share, be entertained and stay informed.
From gigs by budding musicians to short films, many of the videos are harmless, but you need to make your students aware that video-sharing sites have some potential risks for young people.
These include viewing and sharing sexually-explicit or violent content, being the subject of a video that embarrasses or bullies them, or breaking copyright law by uploading video content that they're not authorised to use.
Reputable video-sharing websites have acceptable use policies and some have age requirements for registration. YouTube states that it is not for people under the age of 13, for example. They also work closely with law enforcement and child protection agencies to help protect their users.
Explain to your students that, while sharing videos can be fun, they must adhere to the website's community guidelines and terms of service. If they violate these guidelines, their video could be removed, they could receive a warning or their account could be terminated.
If they're worried about a video they've seen on a video-sharing site, they can take action. To report an inappropriate video on YouTube, for example, they should set up a free account and click the 'flag' link underneath the video in question. To report any abuse issues on the site, they should go to YouTube's Abuse and Policy Centre .
Where can I find out more?