“What do you meme?” Keeping up with children and young people online

23 April 2025 @ 10:30 am - 3:30 pm

Date: April 23, 2025
Time: 10:30 – 15:30
Cost: BSA Full Member – £175, BSA Affiliate Member – £ 250, Non-member – £350
Audience: All practitioners working with children and young people
Platform: Zoom (online)

Course outline:

In today’s digital world, it is crucial for boarding staff and education practitioners to stay informed and connected with the online experiences of their students. Do you feel ready to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of internet trends, and understanding the cultural language associated with the digital space? If not, don’t worry: this webinar has you covered!

During this insightful and up to the minute session, delegates will delve into the fascinating world of common digital use for children and young people and be provided with practical strategies to engage with young people in a way that resonates with and recognises their online experiences. This webinar will equip you with the understanding and confidence to foster stronger connections with your students and be better engaged with their online experiences and behaviours.

Training topics will include:

Current digital trends
Cultural and social phenomenon: new language, emerging behaviours, and social expectations
Social norms online
Navigating online trends and promoting digital wellbeing and safety.

Learning outcomes:

Valuable insights into the online world of children and young people
Develop a deeper understanding of the impact and significance of online trends
Increased confidence in engaging young people and discussing digital wellbeing and safety.

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Speaker:

Karl Hopwood is an independent online safety expert. He is a member of UKCIS (UK Council for Internet Safety) and sits on the UKCIS evidence group, education working group and the early warning group as well as on the advisory board for the UK Safer Internet Centre. He also sits on the Roblox trust and safety board where he represents the Insafe network. He was recently part of an expert steering group with TikTok looking at harmful and dangerous online challenges.

Karl has worked for a number of key players in the UK and abroad including CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre), BECTA (British Educational and Communications Technology Agency), the European Commission, the UN and several Local Authorities within the UK and in Europe.

As an ex primary headteacher, he continues to work closely in schools across Europe with children, young people, parents, teachers and governors to develop safer online behaviours and the promotion of digital literacy. Karl has been employed for the last 16 years as an in-house consultant for INSAFE which is the coordinating node of the EU Better Internet for Kids programme where he is responsible for the coordination of safer internet helplines across Europe. Karl was the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Marie Collins Foundation for 7 years, a charity which supports young people who have been sexually abused and exploited online and is Chair of the board of trustees of Childnet international and Chair of the executive committee of SACPA (Safeguarding and Child Protection Association). Karl has recently worked with a team developing a national online safety strategy in Rwanda and chaired the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) working group to re-write their Child Online Protection Guidance.