Advice to your children when using camera phones
Safe use of camera phones
Increasingly today’s mobile phones can be used to send and receive colourful photos and videos. The vast majority of people enjoy using their camera phones safely and responsibly. But as with any technology, care needs to be taken, particularly where children are concerned.
In this section you’ll find practical information for children using camera phones.
Think before you send. Digital technology means that photos can be forwarded or posted onto the internet in a flash. Be careful about what you send and to whom. A picture sent to several friends could end up being circulated more widely, and even being made public on the web.
Protect your identity. Take care when you send a picture or video to somebody you don’t know well. Apart from not being sure what they will do with it, a picture may contain something which could help them trace you or find out more about you, such as a number or front of a house, or a street-name lurking in the background.
Respect others. Pictures can be very powerful and stir up strong emotions. We strongly advise all our customers to make sure the pictures they send are not offensive in any way. Sending obscene, indecent or menacing pictures is illegal.
Guard your privacy. Children can be photographed by others – sometimes by their friends and sometimes by strangers – in inappropriate situations and places. It’s possible to take photographs of unsuspecting children at the swimming pool for instance, which could then be posted on the web or widely distributed. And, just as you would guard your own privacy, it’s important to also respect the privacy of others.
Stay alert. Watch out for anyone you think might be misusing their camera phone. It’s not always obvious because the phones are so small and simple to use. But, if you do spot something and feel concerned, report it to an adult straight away.
Tell others immediately if you ever receive scary or offensive picture messages or videos. If you can, try and hold onto them, as we may be able to trace them.
Protecting our children from ‘happy slapping’
'Happy slapping' is a term used when people send video recordings or photos of a violent act from their phone.
What to do if your child is affected
If a child receives an unpleasant video message, or has been the direct victim of a potential offence recorded on a camera phone, you should immediately contact the Gardai. 'Happy Slapping' is a serious offence. It's a good idea to make sure your children are aware that its illegal for people who receive such messages to forward them onto others. If you suspect that the image may be illegal, such as child pornography, please report it to Hotline.ie as well as the Gardai
