What advice should I give my students about reporting any concerns they might have about social networking?
According to Ofcom, the most common use of social networking sites among young people in the UK is to talk to existing friends and family members; only one in 10 young social networking users say they talk to strangers online.
Despite this, your students might have concerns about something that has taken place on a social networking site so encourage them to talk to you or their parents. They might feel embarrassed or worried that you won't take it seriously, so it's your job to reassure them that they've done the right thing by letting you know and to suggest that they also speak to their parents about their concerns.
All the leading social networking providers have reporting mechanisms and contact details on their websites so, if you think someone has broken the terms of service of a particular website, don't hesitate to report what has happened.
Breaches of a social networking provider's terms and conditions might include sending offensive or bullying messages; posting embarrassing images; posting inappropriate content; or setting up fake profiles.
In some cases, you might also be required to report it to law enforcement and other agencies - you can find further information here.
Click here for our tips on privacy and personal safety.