#Goldilocks: A fairy tale for the digital age
Vodafone UK and Andersen Press have launched #Goldilocks, a new book to help talk about social media with children and explore how to use it responsibly; #Goldilocks, written by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Tony Ross, is available to download for free at www.vodafone.co.uk/digitalparenting.
New YouGov research released shows that 48% of children are aware of social media and third (33%) of children say they have used or looked at social media eby the age of seven; this is often before parents have had conversations with them about how to use social media safely and responsibly. The findings also identify that parents are the first port of call for the majority of children for advice on their digital lives, with 93% of children aged six to ten saying they would speak to their parents if someone said or did something to upset them online.
The #Goldilocks book is a modern twist on the classic fairy tale and offers a fun and accessible way to discuss responsible social media use with children from the age of seven. It explores #Goldilocks getting into trouble with the three bears over her pursuit of likes on social media and aims to help educate children about the potential consequences of being unkind, getting carried away with selfies or oversharing images in a light-hearted way.
Helen Lamprell, General Counsel & External Affairs Director of Vodafone UK, said: “Social media can be a great way for young people to communicate, be creative and develop their digital skills. We know parents want to talk to their children about how to use social media safely and responsibly, but often aren’t sure how. #Goldilocks offers a fun, accessible way to start the conversation with younger children, who we know are increasingly aware of, and using, social media.”
#Goldilocks is a new resource to help parents have conversations about being kind to others on social media and asking permission before posting pictures online. The much-loved children’s tale has been reimagined for the digital age by award-winning author Jeanne Willis. In the new version, #Goldilocks gets into trouble with the three bears over her quest for likes on social media. The aim is to educate children about the potential consequences of being unkind, getting carried away with selfies or oversharing images in a fun and accessible way.
The book was produced as part of the launch of Vodafone's Digital Parenting website which offers support to parents who want to understand their children’s online world.
We would encourage primary schools to share the #Goldilocks book and supporting activity sheet with parents/carers. Teachers may also find the book useful to explore within the classroom to help stimulate discussions with lower KS2 children regarding the social media and the pressure of looking for likes online.
