Please find below the Online Safety Newsletter for July:
Online-Safety-Newsletter-Primary-July-2025_Newdale_30-06-2025
This month, it includes information on: Nintendo Switch 2, Omegle and online challenges.
The Nintendo Switch 2 (released last month) introduces a new feature called ‘GameChat’ which allows up to 12 users to voice or video chat and share screens whilst gaming. This feature is part of the Nintendo Switch Online membership and includes parental controls. Parents can manage ‘GameChat’ access through the free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, which also tracks gameplay time and restricts messaging and game access based on PEGI age ratings. It’s important to note that PEGI ratings do not cover user-generated content or in-game chat.
Ofcom’s 2025 report shows 68% of children aged 3-17 watch funny videos, pranks, or challenges online. Although much of this content is harmless, some online challenges can be dangerous, and there have been tragic cases of children being harmed or killed while attempting them. Since children may not yet have the critical thinking skills to recognize unsafe content, it’s important for parents to have regular, open conversations about what they’re watching. Rather than naming specific harmful challenge (which could spark curiosity) parents could talk about online challenges in general, emphasising that threats tied to these challenges are not real. For guidance on how to approach these conversations, you can visit How to prevent harm from online challenges | Internet Matters.
There is also an additional resource to support transition with children that are moving to secondary school- it helps children to understand the possible risks and benefits of going online.
Moving to secondary school: Online safety guide | Internet Matters
If you need more support or guidance with online safety, please contact a staff member or send us an email.
Email: newdale.primary@taw.org.uk