Let's talk the risks of digital piracy with Internet Matters - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

When you can’t access the TV shows or films you’d like to watch it can be tempting to illegally stream them online - but doing so could introduce your family to a dark corner of the web involving viruses, disturbing pop-ups and unexpected pornographic content. Though Digital online piracy is often recognised through dodgy websites and Kodi boxes, it can also occur through any number of apps on mobiles or tablets. Internet Matters would like to hear your thoughts on digital piracy and the associated risks for your children, and how you would speak to your children about digital piracy.

Here’s what Carolyn Bunting, CEO of Internet Matters has to say: “We’re concerned that millions of parents don’t realise the amount of inappropriate, even pornographic, content children can find or stumble upon unexpectedly when watching TV and video content that is streamed illegally online. This issue has been growing for some time and we want to try and address the problem and highlight the risks parents are unknowingly taking when their children use open source media players, like Kodi boxes, to stream content illegally.”

Perhaps you’re completely in the dark about digital piracy? Perhaps you think the risks are worth it? Are you concerned about your child accidentally or even intentionally accessing illegal or even inappropriate content while watching cartoons, kids shows and films through open source media players? We’re interested in getting your thoughts about digital piracy and any tips you have for other parents speaking to their children about it so that they understand the risks.

All who post below will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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@Jocelynne123. All state-maintained schools must teach Computing and the statutory programmes of study are laid down from KS1-4, including use of the internet. The relevant excerpts from the programmes of study are:

KS1: use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies

KS2: understand computer networks, including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the World Wide Web, and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration
-use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
-use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact

KS3: understand a range of ways to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and securely, including protecting their online identity and privacy; recognise inappropriate content, contact and conduct, and know how to report concerns

KS4: understand how changes in technology affect safety, including new ways to protect their online privacy and identity, and how to report a range of concerns

If your children’s school is a state-maintained one and isn’t doing this, maybe you should ask why?

I think you have to talk about this as much as you can. Let your child watch the news when they understand probably age 8. Discuss what could happen online we talk as much as possible. Don't hide information from your children and don't leave this to the school. We are the parents we need to scare our children and let them know what's happening. You wouldn't put a blind fold on a child and ask them to cross the road.

I do think this needs to be taught from primary years onwards to raise awareness in young children.

Definitely need education in schools. I had no idea!

My kids are a little young at the moment to be trying to explain this to them, especially regarding pornographic adverts etc.

In regards to piracy, I have downloaded films myself before and I can certainly see why a lot of people do this. The cost of a trip to the cinema for a family to watch a new film is totally ridiculous these days.

When I have downloaded films I have ensured I have anti-virus etc. running and do download rather than stream the film to avoid the annoying pop-ups etc.

Most teenagers are able to easily obtain free music, tv, films online. Me, I haven't a clue and even if I could access would worry about the implications of malicious websites as well as the moral question. My 11 year old is always pushing to sign up to dubious sites but he knows he must ask and we have so far avoided but as he gets older who knows. My 13 year old is happy with netflix and YouTube and playstore for her film and music. They get Google and iTunes vouchers as gifts but lots of their friends laugh that they could just get the downloads free elsewhere.

It seems like a continual game of catch up to keep pace with the tech world.

How can you police it? It's so massive it is going to be impossible to regulate as it is pandemic and millions of devices owned by millions of people worldwide have been targeted by pirates. My kids get pop ups after going on sites to get free music downloads, and again you cant police illegal downloading of music either. Who is going to arrest millions of teenage and pre teenage kids who are doing it. Its a bit late to think about stopping piracy now. Too little too late.

An open an honest discussion with them, making it clear that they should ask questions or talk about anything that they've seen, is the best way forward - coupled with restricting the unsupervised access available to children when they're younger.

The easiest way is to be the best example for your children and openly discuss which content is legal and which isn't. We also subscribe to streaming services, so our kids are aware that we pay for the content and convenience.

I think both many schools and parents are aware of the problems related to digital piracy and do their best to address these but human nature being what it is they face an uphill struggle. Teenagers especially will rebel. Its what teenagers do!

I have never illegally downloaded films from websites as I am aware of the viruses and such that are there to corrupt your computer. I think that children should be monitored on computers as they are on TV watching, it is tantamount to the same thing.

My daughter is very aware and even has put a sticky plaster over her camera on her laptop.

Parents have the responsibility here. We can't put everything on teachers shoulders. Monitor your child's internet use. Educate them yourself about these issues.

My children are too young at the moment but this has made me realise that I need to educate myself about piracy for when the time comes to talk to my children.

I am unsure about how this all works and would need to educate myself before I talked to my kids

We are very lucky that we have a local cinema which shows the latest films for 2.50/3.50 each, this means we can get to see new films easily and cheaply. I do understand stand how and why people do use internet for pirated films, but have explained to the kids why we don't.

At the end of the day, it is theft. One of the most important things we can warn children against. If they get the message that this is ok, it blurs the lines for other forms of theft/crime. It is hard because it is so easy to do, but the darker risks, from pop up sites should be warning parents to educate their children against this.

I obviously know that the internet is a dangerous place for little ones but hadn't appreciated the dangers around digital piracy. I will definitely be doing some more research and having a conversation, particularly with Piper who is 10. Piper already posts on instagram and other sites and I often have to remind her of the dangers. I can imagine her finding a way to download something she wants to watch if the standard way of accessing it isn't available.

Tell them to be very careful what they download

We stick with now tv and similar and avoid any if the illegal ways to watch a film. I think it is totally wrong and results in people who are respecting the legal ways to watch things in having to pay more. I haven't had to discuss it with my children yet but they have strong ideas about write and wrong and following rules so would fully understand if I explained to them that it was illegal.

The biggest issue is just how prevalent a lot of the dodgy sites are on google. Type your favourite show into google and it's not far down the list before you start getting the option to enter the piracy world.

They should be working to make it harder to access to remove the temptation or accidental access.

Apps are an issue, there's a lot of dodgy TV/Film apps that are so easy to download and use that most people wouldn't even think it's wrong.

Parental controls on the PC are a must to help stop the little ones accessing the dodgy sites.

If you do talk to the little ones about it - just don't call it piracy. The boys LOVE pirates and if they thought this was the way to become one, they'd definitely try to do it.

My DD aged 7 likes to go on YouTube and I worry about her coming across dodgy downloads and pirates content. I do try to explain that she needs to be careful, and have parental controls in place, but I will speak to her in the very near future about what piracy is.

I think legitimate sources like YouTube are just as not more likely to wander into inappropriate content. Having a system to cope with that is important.

The secondary school my children attend run regular information days where they cover issues like piracy, downloading stuff, cyber bullying and avoiding inappropriate content which is fairly helpful. I try to keep an eye on what my children are doing and talk to them about the issues, but unfortunately it's a minefield out there even if you put all the appropriate restrictions on your home network - some of mine are very IT savvy and find ways around my blocks all the time. I'm always trying to stay one step ahead of them and not always succeeding. I worry how much junk they see watching so called You-Tube stars and celebrity lifestyles. Kids are too vulnerable to online peer pressure and unsuitable online content.

Until kids get older I think most internet providers have good parental locks and safety settings to protect children, but once they hit their teens I think most kids will try it. With the amount of films coming out all the time and the costs of going to the cinema or buying the films it gets to expensive for most families to see all the films they would like, so piracy is going to become much more mainstream as time goes by. Mine are too young but when they are older I will talk to them about it, what I say will depend on what the laws are at that time.