Tips for keeping children and young people safe during group video calls

Using online platforms is a great way for people to stay connected, especially during difficult times, but it is important to understand how to stay safe while working in this way.  

We’ve pulled together our top tips and advice on how you can manage video calls and protect the wellbeing of children and young people involved.   

Top tips for video calls 

1. If someone is under the age of 13 or they are not deemed able to consent themselves, you will need consent from parents/carers before you can include them in a video call. This is the same for group video calls and for one-to-one sessions.   
2. Check your organisation’s video calling policies and procedures regularly.   
3. When it comes to managing difficult situations online, context is everything – make ethical decisions based on individual circumstances.   
4. Introduce the video call/group rules at the start of a session, such as not talking over each other or using the ‘raised hand’ feature.   
5. Try to keep the membership of groups fixed where possible. If this isn’t possible, have additional risk and safety measures.  
6. When you are running a group video call, make sure you know who everyone is and that there are no attendees who weren’t invited. If you can, use a waiting room feature.  
7. Be mindful of where you advertise and share video call details. Some groups may require a risk assessment. Check your organisation’s policies around video calling to make sure.   

You can find advice to share with young people about steps they can take to keep themselves safe in group calls here. 

Share this page: