A new survey of 2,000 UK secondary school students from safeguarding solutions provider, Impero, has found that more than a quarter (27%) have successfully bypassed internet filtering systems in order to access prohibited online content.

Around half of pupils have used messaging apps (54%), social media sites, (50%), and listened to music or watched music videos (50%) during lessons, while a third (32%) admit to online gaming – and a similar number (30%) have accessed AI sites like ChatGPT in lessons, to help with their work.

The survey also found that students are demonstrating increasing awareness, though perhaps not understanding, of complex online concepts, including cybersecurity threats.

Over half (56%) said they were aware of the dark web, though this awareness may not mean they are aware of how to access the dark web.

Research also shows that most children (54%) have some understanding of generative AI, though this may also be limited to ChatGPT. Children may also struggle to grasp the concept of generative AI as well as its associated dangers.

Interestingly, 40% of schoolchildren also say they have a knowledge of social engineering, a term for a number of tactics used by threat actors to conduct cybercrimes like phishing.

Perhaps because of the high-profile targeting of public figures and celebrities, 39% of children said they knew about deep fakes as well.

The research comes as the UK government has called on school headmasters in England to introduce a blanket ban on mobile phones in schools.

The survey found however, that a majority of students (83%) said their school already has at least one type of ban on personal devices, with just under half (46%) prohibiting mobile phones. Yet this is not proving effective in stopping students from accessing ‘inappropriate’ content while as school.

The research also comes not long after the Online Safety Bill was passed in Parliament, which introduces new rules surrounding the protection of children from harmful online content.

Most children now are referred to as ‘digital natives,’ growing up with knowledge and access to the internet and to smart devices.

Recommended reading

• Controversial Online Safety Bill is Passed in UK Parliament
• Internet Ad Regulations Tighten in a Bid to Protect Children
• Schools Minister Calls for Ban on Mobile Phones in Classrooms

With the new academic year in full swing, Sam Heiney, VP of product at Impero has provided five tips for implementing effective internet filtering systems in schools.

1. Build a safeguarding-centric approach with flexibility: Internet filtering should be viewed as a safeguarding solution, focusing on student wellbeing rather than just an IT measure. Leverage digital IDs to tailor filtering based on age groups and specific educational needs. This approach allows for more flexibility while maintaining a strong safety net.
2. Create integrated safeguarding solutions: Develop an integrated stack of safeguarding solutions that include internet filtering, monitoring, student wellbeing reporting, classroom management, and secure remote device access. By concentrating on the free-flow of data between these systems, it will help create a more holistic view of student safeguarding across different tools. Having this fuller picture then enables early intervention in potential safeguarding concerns.
3. Establish comprehensive filtering: Ensure robust internet filtering for all devices, including personal ones, while connected to the school network. Take regional requirements into account, such as blocking specific regional sites and detecting region-specific keywords or slang to address local concerns effectively.
4. Produce customised reporting for stakeholders: Tailor the types of reports generated by your internet filtering system to suit different school stakeholders’ needs. For instance, safeguarding leads might require reports on visited sites, IT teams may need network performance insights, and school leaders and administrators might want reports that provide an overarching view of online safety.
5. Ensure universal compatibility: Make sure your internet filtering system is compatible with all types of internet-connected devices commonly used in schools, and that it works with older models, so you support access to online safety measures for all students.