Glossary

Creeping

 

• To follow someone’s social network profile closely: to an excessive degree. Can be known as ‘Facebook stalking’. It is not as sinister as it may sound, often creeping is done to catch up with friends, to reminisce about past posts or older content, or to find out more about a friend in whom a person has a romantic interest. This is not always solitary: it can be done by friends viewing and gossiping about another friend’s past posts or content.

 

Cuff or Cuffing

• Cuff is the slang term for being tied down into a relationship and telling the whole world that he or she is yours.

 

Cyber aggression

• Online aggression that isn’t always viewed as bullying. It can include insults or threats due to appearance, race, religion, sexuality, gender or disability. Or threats to harm a person or their family.

 

Cyberbullying

• Bullying behaviour which takes places through the use of electronic means, such as through e-mail, mobile phones or posts on a social network. Read more.

 

Cyberstalking

• Stalking someone online. May involve harassment but the victim may be unaware that they are being stalked online.

 

Deepfakes

• Deepfakes are an artificial intelligence that can place someone’s likeness (including appearance and voice) over someone else. It can make people appear to say something they never said much like Photoshop can alter an image.

 

 

Down App

• Previously called ‘Bang with Friends’, Down is an app that allows users to find which of their Facebook friends are local and available to meet up.

 

Doxxing

• Doxxing is when someone on the internet (the doxxer) posts personal information about someone else (the victim) for the world to see. This information is sensitive, meaning it can be used to figure out who someone really is, where they live and how to contact them. Learn more here.

 

Dubsmash App

• Dubsmash App is meant for users who are aged 18 and older or 13 and above with parental permission. Like Musical.ly, people utilize this app to create simple videos that show them lip syncing short movie and song soundbites. This is a highly entertaining app for teens and celebrities have been known to use it as well. Find out more at Dubsmash.

 

 

Flaming

• Sending an offensive or aggressive message to a specific person over the internet.

 

 

Foursquare

• A location-based social networking site for mobile devices, which enables users to find out where their friends are. Locations can be posted publicly which could be risky for children as it allows other users to see where they are.

 

 

Frag

• Used in gaming to describe damaging or destroying something.

 

 

Grooming

• When a stranger tries to start a relationship with a child for unlawful purposes; this can happen online or offline. Read more.

 

Hypebeast

• Someone who follows trends and is constantly getting new clothing/accessories to fit in

 

Inappropriate content

• As children become more active online at a younger age, the possibility and probability that they’ll see something inappropriate all depends on what they’re doing online. Whether it’s an explicit pop-up ad on a free game, videos showcasing children’s cartoon characters in adult situations, or a forum promoting self-harm, an innocent search can expose children to content that can make them feel upset and confused. Read more.

 

Incognito browsing

• Incognito browsing is a mode in Google Chrome which allows you to browse without creating a browsing and download history. It also prevents cookies being stored. It is only recommended that children use this on public computers or on any computer they use away from home.

 

Jail bait

• Someone who is under the age of consent but who dresses, acts and appears as if they are over the age of consent and who does nothing to correct that impression.

Kuddle App

• Kuddle is a photo editing and sharing app that combines social media with ‘netiquette’ and educational information about online behaviour and risks.

 

MeowChat App

• Dubbed pen pal for the internet generation, the MeowChat app’s distinctive look includes cartoon cats and allows users to send texts, images or audio clips. Chatrooms can contain bad language and invitations to private chats with strangers.

 

Online grooming

• Some people use the internet to exploit young people for sex; visiting social networks, games and chat rooms as a way of getting close to children so that they can exploit them or even blackmail them for sexual purposes. Befriending a child in this way is called grooming. Read more

 

Phishing

• Pronounced ‘fishing’, this is an attempt to trick people into visiting malicious websites by sending emails or other messages which pretend to come from banks or online shops. The emails have links in them which take people to fake sites set up to look like the real thing, where passwords and account details can be stolen.

 

PopJam App

• Described as a ‘creative community for kids aged 7-12’, this app aims to build a digital community where children can share art, stories, games, photos and contests that they’ve created with other like-minded children. Working in a similar way to Instagram, children can follow friends, other PopJam accounts and their favourite band, artist, or author.

 

Reddit

• Reddit is a social network of communities where people can dive into their interests, hobbies and passions. Users must be 13+ to join.

 

Sadfishing

• Sadfishing is a growing social trend where young people make exaggerated comments about their emotional issues to get sympathy from others. It also means that those who are experiencing real emotional distress may be accused of sadfishing and dismissed by their peers without getting the right support.

 

Secret App

• An anonymous messaging app, users are encouraged to share their secrets that are divided into categories ranging from ‘popular’, ‘funny’, ‘dating’ and ‘food’ to trending topics that are often current affairs and latest news items. Posts can be liked but the user generated comments on posts appear to be unregulated and the anonymous nature could encourage people to post nasty comments.

 

Sexting

• The term ‘sexting’ is used to describe the sending and receiving of sexually explicit photos, messages or video clips. They may be sent to and from mobiles, via instant messages or email, or posted online on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Snapchat and YouTube and others such as WhatsApp, Instagram and BBM. Read more.