The Digital Safety "Supporter" Toolkit

The Digital Safety "Supporter" Toolkit curates resources to empower University staff and students to support their peers, colleagues, and their wider community with their digital safety and wellbeing.

About the Toolkit 

The Digital Safety "Supporter" Toolkit is intended to support the following members at the University:

  • staff involved in student support, such as academic advisers, wellbeing advisers, student experience teams;
  • students involved in peer support such as peer group mentors, cohort representatives, Student Union representatives, student society leaders;
  • staff and students who are parents or carers, and
  • other individuals within the University community who have a keen interest in promoting digital safety by disseminating information and fostering a culture of digital citizenship. 

It aims to equip staff and students with the necessary knowledge and tools, raise awareness about potential digital safety threats, and develop a framework for effective and empathetic responses to digital safety incidents.

To Understand the Digital Safety and Harms Landscape 

  • PEN America, an American organisation championing free expression, has put together the Online Harassment Field Manual, which includes a glossary of the wide range of behaviours under the umbrella of online abuse.

The Online Harassment Field Manual by PEN America   

  • This page, from RMIT University’s online course on Safety by Design on FutureLearn, puts together a typology of online harms.

Online Risks and Harms: Overview of Online Harms and Risks by RMIT University on FutureLearn

To Initiate Conversations around Digital Safety

Initiating conversations about digital safety and wellbeing is a crucial step towards supporting the members of our community in the digital realm. Whether it is sharing information, offering support or discussing sensitive topics, using safe and clear communication is key.

When you share these resources or initiate a conversation to understand someone’s digital safety experiences and to support them further, remember to

  • practice active listening by reflecting on what they are saying,
  • ask clarifying questions,
  • show empathy to build a connection,
  • encourage them to share their experiences and to ask questions without the fear of judgement,
  • emphasise the importance of privacy and confidentiality, and finally
  • offer assurance that you are keen to create a safe space.

Some resources you can explore for further guidance:

To Respond to Disclosures and Ensure Safeguarding

Be prepared for the possibility that the initiation of these conversations may help a student, peer or colleague gain the understanding and confidence to disclose negative online experiences. You should review the University’s guidance on supporting students, including information on responding to issues (University login required) and safeguarding/students in vulnerable situations. 

Some further resources specific for digital safeguarding:

To Report a Concern

On receiving a disclosure, you should seek to understand what the individual would like from you, whether that is advice on making a formal complaint, further information on their options, or someone to share their experience with.

However, if you are concerned that someone is in immediate danger, you should call 999. Find more information about helping someone in an emergency: 

Crisis or Emergency

For more information on reporting a digital safety concern to different teams at the University of Edinburgh, and to explore external support, please refer to the Need Help with Your Digital Safety? page below.

Need Help with Your Digital Safety?

To Stay Updated with the Evolving Digital Safety Landscape

To keep in touch with the evolving technological landscape, you can subscribe to the following email newsletters:

To Explore Supporter Resources for Your Specialised Role

By effectively mobilising these resources, we can foster a community where everyone is supported with their online identities in a safe and respectful online environment.

 

 

© Shivani Rao, University of Edinburgh, 2024, CC BY-SA 4.0, unless otherwise indicated. The Digital Safety, Wellbeing and Citizenship resource pages are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike licence, unless otherwise indicated.  For licence permissions of linked resources outwith the university, please check the host website.

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