Internet Matters
![]() Logo used from 2022 | |
Company type | Not-for-profit organisation |
---|---|
Industry | Internet safety |
Founded | May 13, 2014 (2014-05-13) in London, United Kingdom |
Headquarters | London |
Website | www |
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.
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
Partner | Partner Projects |
---|---|
BT, EE and PlusNet[10] | Safer Internet Day
Parental controls
PhoneSmart Licence
|
Sky and NowTV[14] | Hosting resources
|
TalkTalk[16] | Sharing resources
Digital Heroes
|
Virgin Media[18] | Social promotion
|
BBC[20] | BBC Own It
|
Google[20] | Google Family Link
Digital Garage
|
Huawei[24] | Research |
Meta[26] | Connecting Safely Online
|
Samsung[28] | Staff training
Online safety workshops
The Online Together Project
|
ESET[32] | Digital Matters
|
TikTok[34] | Research
TikTok Playbook
|
Supercell[37] | Online gaming advice hub
|
Electronic Arts[39] | Play Together/Play Smart
Research
|
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]
References
- ^ Garside, Juliette (13 May 2014). "Internet providers urge parents to monitor children's web activity". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "Online safety - ISPs launch 'Internet Matters'". London Live. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ Smith, Alex. "ISPs launch internet safety site: will it make a difference?". choose.net.
- ^ Davies, Jessica (13 May 2014). "BT, Sky, Talk Talk and Virgin Media launch child safety online campaign". The Drum.
- ^ "Internet Matters launches e-safety service for schools". saferinternet.org.uk.
- ^ "Internet Matters: David Cameron talks online safety for children". YouTube. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Facts & Figures". Ofcom. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "Our Partners". Google.
- ^ "TikTok partners with Internet Matters". Newsroom | TikTok. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "Online safety - Protecting consumers & deliverying content - Policy & regulation - About BT | BT Plc". www.bt.com. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Safer Internet Day: How to Take Control of Your Child's Digital Safety". EE Community. 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Broadband & Mobile Network Parental Controls". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Get your PhoneSmart License". About The PhoneSmart Licence and EE. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Sky partners with Common Sense Media to bring peace of mind to parents". www.skygroup.sky. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Sky - Internet Matters Founding Member". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "TalkTalk in partnership with Internet Matters". TalkTalk Help & Support. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "TalkTalk - Internet Matters Founding Member". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Surf the web safely with Internet Matters". Virgin Media. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Virgin Media - Internet Matters Founding Member". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ a b "BBC & Google joining Internet Matters to help keep kids safe online". www.primarytimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "The BBC Own It app is being retired". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "4 tips to help your child cope with cyberbullying". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Google - Internet Matters Member". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Huawei in Partnership with Internet Matters - Huawei United Kingdom". huawei. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Research report - Living the future: The technological family and the connected home". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Facebook - Internet Matters Corporate Partner". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Connecting Safely Online - A new online safety hub for vulnerable families". Internet Matters. 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Samsung joins forces with Internet Matters to help keep children safe in the Connected Home". news.samsung.com. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Samsung - Internet Matters Corporate Partner". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Creating respectful relationships online: The Online Together Project- in Partnership with Internet Matters | Samsung United Kingdom". Samsung uk. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "The Online Together Project created by Samsung and Internet Matters". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Our Partners | Safer Kids Online". saferkidsonline.eset.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "About Us". Digital Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "TikTok partners with Internet Matters". Newsroom | TikTok. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "How agency supports young people's digital wellbeing". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "The TikTok Playbook for Teachers". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Be Safe & Play Fair × Supercell". Supercell. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Gaming Advice Hub - Internet Matters". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "EA and Internet Matters launch Play Together/Play Smart campaign". GamesIndustry.biz. 2021-08-03. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Advice to help kids game safely and responsibly | Electronic Arts & IM". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Gaming research infographic Play Together / Play Smart". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "EA encourages parental controls this festive season". Internet Matters. 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "EA encourages more parents to set up parental controls". Internet Matters. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Information, Advice and Support to Keep Children Safe Online". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Janet Ellis launch Internet Matters child internet safety portal | Virgin Media". www.virginmedia.com. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Online safety issues - advice to support children". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Connecting Safely Online - A new online safety hub for vulnerable families". Internet Matters. 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Digital Matters - Online Safety Platform for Schools & Families". Digital Matters. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Teach Primary and Teach Secondary Awards shortlist 2022 announced". Teachwire. 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/InternetMatters (2013-09-21). "Cybersafe Research to Support a Safer Internet Campaign". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ Gill, Emma (2 September 2015). "When is the right age to give your child a smartphone?". Manchester Evening News.
- ^ "Children under ten 'should not own smartphones'". The Telegraph. 3 September 2015.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/InternetMatters (2015-10-13). "Children leaving their parents for digital dust - Research". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
{{cite web}}
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External links
- Internet Matters
- Back to School (2015)
- Pace of Change report (2015)
- Cybersafe (2013)