Young people getting their first phone will have a new way to help them have a happier, healthier, more positive life online – with the new BBC Own It app.
The app, which features a special keyboard, combines machine-learning technology with the ability to keep a diary of their emotions to allow children the chance to record how they’re feeling and why. In response, the app can offer help and support, giving advice if their behaviour strays outside safe and sensible norms. Children can access the app at any time to get instant, on-screen advice and support the moment they need it.
The BBC Own It app special keyboard will appear wherever a keyboard would surface normally – and offers real-time, in-the-moment help and advice on whatever a child is typing, for example, if a child is typing something which might be upsetting to the person receiving it. It can also recognise if a child types personal details and reminds them to think twice about whether it is safe to share. It can even recognise language that might suggest a child is in trouble and will offer them advice and encourage them to talk to a trusted adult.
The app is packed with specially commissioned content from the BBC Own It app and across the rest of the BBC. This will give young people a range of resources to help them make the most of their time online and build healthy online behaviours and habits – covering everything from managing screen-time to boosting digital wellbeing. Most importantly, the app will encourage young people to have
BBC Own Itis the BBC’s online safety platform to help children aged 7-12 make the most of their digital lives. Own It has a huge number of fun videos, quizzes and child-friendly advice articles designed to support children’s wellbeing and empower them to navigate the online world safely and confidently. Own It has four different sections covering the basics of safely using platforms and devices, digital wellbeing, managing online relationships and getting help when it’s needed most.
The Own It website also features a range of films and articles for parents and carers to help them with those tricky conversations about life online and to ensure their children make the right decisions.
There’s also a teachers’ section, which maps Own It’s content for children against curriculum-linked online safety topics and provides downloadable resources for use in lesson planning.
Alice Webb, Director of BBC Children’s and Education says: “The digital world is a fantastic place for people to learn and share, but we know many young people struggle to find a healthy online balance, especially when they get their first phones. Our Own It app gives them a helping hand as they navigate this new experience so that they can make the most of the time they spend on their phones whilst avoiding some of the pitfalls. We’re using cutting edge machine learning technology in a way no one has done before, putting help, support, assistance and a bit of fun too directly into young people’s hands at the moments when they need it most.”
The Duke of Cambridge says: “It is fantastic the BBC has launched an app which will provide support to young people as they navigate the online world. I am delighted to see this positive and practical outcome resulting from The Royal Foundation Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying.”
The app has been developed with input and support from many of the organisations and individuals that made up The Duke of Cambridge’s Cyberbullying Taskforce.