The internet is central to our everyday lives and those of our children. It can be a positive, fun place to interact with the world, with endless possibilities for learning and socialising. However, in enjoying the internet, we must also be aware that there are individuals and organisations that take advantage of the relative freedom the online environment provides, and that sadly, irresponsible and inappropriate use of the internet can often place children and young people at risk of harm.
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that our children and young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. Equally, we want to make sure that we improve the life chances of those children and young people in our communities who are at risk. So while we want young people to enjoy the internet and all that it has to offer, we also want them to stay in control and know what to do and who to go to if they feel at risk.
To this end, the Scottish Government recently launched Scotland's Child Internet Safety Action Plan [ Scottish Action Plan]. The Plan sets out what action we are going to take, together with partners, to help make the online environment a safer place for our children and young people.
Simultaneously, Ministers launched the Internet Safety Competition. The competition has now closed and the winners have been informed. A massive thank you to all of you who took the time to enter. We received some excellent entries from all ages, and in lots of different formats - posters, raps, films, animations, plays, poems, stories and songs. Everyone that entered the competition has helped spread the message about how we can all stay safe and continue having fun online.
Congratulations go to our winners.
Category A - A resource for primary school children
1st Prize Winners - Rebecca Miller and Abbie Higgins from Mount Pleasant Primary School
Highly Commended - Zenib Butt from Our Lady of the Missions School
Commended - Morwenna King from Towie School and Helen Cunningham from Killermont Primary School.
Category B - A resource for secondary school children
1st Prize Winners - S2 ICT Group from Mid Yell Junior High School
Highly Commended - Ben Blair from Annahill Primary School
Commended - Aimee, Emma and Nicola from Woodfarm High School
Category C - A resource for parents and grandparents
1st Prize Winner - Cameron Dobie from Our Lady of the Missions School
Commended - Annalise Bateman from Lochnell Primary School
Category D - A resource deigned by adults for children and young people
1st Prize Winners - Louise Jones and Lynn Johnson from Highland Council HQ
Commended - Dave Calder from Grantown Grammar School
A second part of the prize was for the winning resources to be shared with other children and young people in Scotland, to help spread the message about internet safety. We are currently considering how best to design a resource pack that would include all of the winning entries from the competition. In the meantime, we will be putting up all the winning entries on this website as a way of celebrating everyone's achievements and showing others the high quality work that we received.
Find out more...
- More on the Digital Code and advice for anyone concerned about internet safety for young people is available at the One Stop Shop website
- Young Scot has information on internet safety aimed at 11-26 year olds, including links to further resources, games etc
- Adults concerned about 'cyber-bullying' (bullying behaviour via mobile phone or over the internet through emails, instant messaging and social networking websites), can access advice from RespectMe, Scotland's anti-bullying service