As the range of digital activities—whether for leisure or study—has expanded, concerns about children’s safety have also grown. The United Kingdom has created a “Children’s Code,” consisting of 15 guidelines to ensure that platforms and apps do not pose a danger to young people.

“We want to make the internet safer, so that children are protected but not excluded,” explained Julia Cook, an advisor at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the British authority responsible for promoting freedom of information.

Among the guidelines, some relate to physical safety—such as prohibiting the tracking of users' locations—while others pertain to mental health. One of the recommendations is to display alerts such as “Wouldn’t you like to take a break?” after certain uninterrupted periods of use.

According to Ger Graus, a member of Betta’s global education council, society as a whole has a duty to protect children. “I often wonder what it was like when the first crosswalk was painted. How long did it take for everyone to take on their responsibilities—for families, drivers, and children to learn how to use it? It’s not the responsibility of just one side, ” he noted.

However, Graus argues that schools play a central role in leading the effort to ensure safety. “Children are exposed to more dangers online when they are not at school, but we have to teach them to always stay safe. For a 9-year-old, I’m sure that child listens to and trusts their teacher more than their parents,” he said.

In addition, schools are the heart of the community and play an educational role that must extend to families. “Assuming that parents love their children, if you explain things to them, they’ll work together,” he assured.

This content is brought to you by Red Balloon English School in partnership with Bett Brasil. Registration for the conference and accreditation to visit Bett Brasil 2022 are now open. Additional updates will be shared leading up to the event and will be announced on the website brasil.bettshow.com and the official social media channels @bettbrasil.