Zeeko Advice Hub

Learn how to help young people to safely benefit from the Internet and technology

Tips for Raising Digitally Literate Kids

  One of the core principals of our work at Zeeko is to help kids to become good digital citizens, in other words to develop the skills to make smart choices when they are online and to know how to be savvy when they are operating in the digital world. These skills can also be…

The Momo Challenge: What Parents Need to Know

  It’s highly likely that you have heard of an online challenge known as Momo over the last few days. So serious are the concerns about this that the Gardai have issued advice to parents in relation to it. The Laois Offaly Division of the Garda Siochana issued the following statement via Twitter in relation…

Sharing Live Content Online: How to keep your child safe!

  Does your child enjoy spending time using apps that have a ‘live’ element to them? This live element is known as streaming. It usually involves creating short videos and sharing them with friends via an app. It can also refer to communicating via video with other users of the app. These are not always…

How to Help Your Child Deal with Obscene Content Online

  We have all received emails with content that shocks us, be that it contains pornographic material or uses provocative images and language. As adults we have the maturity to be able to know when content is inappropriate or indeed sinister. Absolutely understandably children are still developing the skills to be able to differentiate between…

Safer Internet Day 2019: Together for A Better Internet!

In case you missed the memo today marks Safer Internet Day 2019! The theme this year is Together for A Better Internet, it’s essentially a call to action to all stakeholders to come together and play their part in creating a better internet for everyone! Needless to say, we are fully behind this initiative! Anything…

Creating a Digital Contract with Kids: All You Need to Know!

It may sound very formal, but have you considered creating a digital contract with your child to help manage things like the use of technology, screentime and time spent communicating with their peers using apps? A digital contract can be a great way for all the family to feel part of the decisions that are…

Zeeko Tips for Starting the Conversation About Staying Safe Online!

Are you finding it a challenge to start having a conversation with your child about the importance of staying safe online? Have a read of our simple tips to help you get started! Open Communication is the key: The most effective tool you have as a parent is communication! By having an open communication style with…

Social Networking: How to Keep your Child Safe!

  Are you constantly hearing reference to Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram and lots of other social networks from your child and their friends? It’s likely the answer is yes! If your child is active on any of these platforms, then they are engaged in what is termed social networking. Today’s kids embrace social media and technology,…

Screentime: The Research Proves it's All About Balance!

    It’s likely you have seen coverage in the media in the last few days about a new angle on the management of screentime. It’s certainly one of the biggest challenges facing parents, how to manage their kids use of screens. It’s a question we are asked regularly when we meet parents at our…

Make Staying Safe Online an All Year Round Resolution!

  Make staying safe online an all year round resolution by following these simple tips! Start and keep the conversation going: Talk to your child as much as possible about how important it is to stay safe when they are online. It is never too early to start this conversation. The internet is undoubtedly a…

Smartphones and Kids: How to Stay Safe!

Did a smartphone enter your house this Christmas? Read on for some advice on helping your child manage the use of their phone! Smartphones are now seen as an almost essential component in the way we communicate with each other and the world around us, and that’s just for the adults! An increasing number of…

Tips for Helping Teens to Safely Navigate Social Media

  Does it feel like your teenager is constantly attached to a device and seems more engaged with social media than with you? Here are some tips to help your child to stay safe on social media!   -Take every opportunity possible to remind teenagers that what they see when they are using social media is only a snippet of people’s lives…

Live Streaming Apps: Keeping your Teen Safe!

  It’s likely that your teen will experiment with live streaming on any new technology they may have received this Christmas. Read on for some advice on how to ensure that they stay safe. Live streaming apps like Facebook Live and Periscope are becoming increasingly popular among teenagers. Apps like these offer an opportunity to…

Buying Technology for your Kids in the Sales? Think Safety First!

  There’s no doubt there are some great bargains to be had in the January sales! Technology is a particular arena where there are often big reductions! If you are considering purchasing a new digital device, it’s a good idea to bear the following tips in mind. Take into account what age the child you…

Spending some time Unplugged this Festive Season!

  The festive season can be a demanding time and one where families can be literally snowed under by the amount of technology that suddenly surrounds them! It really is important to spend some time unplugged over the festive season! Here are some tips to help you create a balance and spend some time unplugged…

Managing Screentime over Chirstmas!

  Over the Christmas holidays it is likely that your family will be spending more time than usual on screens particularly if digital devises have been given as gifts! It’s a good idea to bear the following advice in mind, from The American Academy of Paediatrics, who in late 2016 released updated guidelines on screentime.…

Staying safe on games consoles this Christmas!

Is Santa due to deliver a games console to your house?  If so, what can you do to help ensure that your child stays safe while playing on a console? The first thing to do is to check out what parental controls are available with the console and to activate these. Parental controls are of…

Technology at Christmas: Keeping your Child Safe!

  As the Christmas season is now in full swing it’s a good time to remind your children whether they are young or a little older about the importance of staying safe online over the next few weeks. It is highly likely that Santa is going to deliver smartphones and/or digital devices in all their…

The TikToc App: What is it and why am I hearing so much about it?

  Another day, another app to try and wrap your head around! TikTok is the latest addition to the ever growing stream of social media apps that are worth knowing about. If you have a young person in your life that is smartphone-savvy, there’s a good chance that they are using this app already. We…

Staying in Touch with What your Child is Doing Online

  Do you find it challenging to keep up with what children are doing when they are online? This concern is totally understandable as parents lead increasingly busy and demanding lives. It can undoubtedly be a juggling act to keep on top of routine daily tasks in addition to keeping a watchful and informed eye…

Age Ratings on Online Games: What Parents Need to Know

  As you have probably seen in the media recently, our team at Zeeko released results of research we conducted that found that 1 in 3 boys aged 8 are playing over 18’s online games. It’s certainly a scary statistic. In light of these findings here is some useful information on age ratings on games.…

Snapchat: What Parents Need to Know

  Snapchat, it’s definitely a popular way of ‘chatting’ in the digital world. From our research conducted with kids in schools throughout the Country Snapchat consistently proves popular. In fact, in our most recent research it is in the top 3 of the most popular apps used by children at primary level and its popularity…

Children and Online Gaming: How to Keep your Child Safe!

Does your child like to spend time playing games online? Are you considering buying some online games for your child this Christmas? Children may start playing using a smartphone, Tablet, or iPhone and then move on to the digital devices that have become household names. Devices, like the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and the Nintendo Wii are designed…

A Digital Detox for Kids: How to Make it Happen!

  In a world surrounded by technology it is always a good idea to build in a regular digital detox and that’s not just for the younger members of the family! With all the demands on everyone’s time it can be real challenge to find the time to implement a detox of any kind. Here…

Creating a Digital Contract with your Kids

  A digital contract can be a really great way of working collaboratively with your child to help them achieve a balance in their use of technology. Here are some things to bear in mind when creating a digital contract. -Make it a fun activity: Obviously the reasons you are creating a digital contract as…

Helping Children Manage Screentime and Technology

With  the most recent findings of the Growing Up in Ireland Study showing that nearly a quarter of nine-year old’s have an online profile and that the time spent on screens is significantly impacting levels of exercise among kids, our blog this week offers tips on managing screentime and creating a balance in the use…

Zeeko Top Tips to Keep the Whole Family Safe Online!

  Given the recent findings from the Growing Up in Ireland Study that almost a quarter of nine-year olds in the country have an online profile, have a read of our Zeeko Top Tips to help keep the whole family safe online! Use technology in communal spaces: We know that this is not always possible…

The Zeeko T-Shirt Rule on Sharing Content: What Parents Need to Know!

You may have heard your child talk about the T-Shirt rule, well you have Zeeko to thank for that!  When we visit schools all over Ireland to talk to kids about staying safe online, one of the topics that gets the biggest reaction is when we ask how careful children are, about what the kind…

Explaining Digital Footprint to Children

    If you asked a group of adults what they understand by the term digital footprint it’s likely that they would struggle to give an answer! So, it is little surprise that children struggle to grasp this concept. Most kids, understandably, don’t think of the long-term implications of what they are sharing today i.e.…

Catfishing: What Parents Need to Know

  Catfishing, it’s a phrase that most people associate with the hit MTV Show ‘Catfish’. In terms of online safety catfishing is a serious concern in particular for the parents of teenagers. Our most recent research at Zeeko found that, students in secondary school had more contacts with strangers online, specifically: 50% of male and…

1...567...10