Andersen and Vodafone offer free book about social media safety

Vodafone Foundation, the telecommunications company's charitable arm, and Andersen Press are offering parents a free children’s book about using social media responsibly.

‘#Goldilocks’, by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross, is a new version of the fairytale in which the heroine gets into trouble with the three bears over her quest for likes on social media. Vodafone has posted a PDF of the book on its Digital Parenting website, as well as tips on managing children’s social media use, for example handling setting digital boundaries.

Author Jeanne Willis said: “Technology and the internet are so prevalent in children’s lives these days. I wanted to create a simple and enjoyable solution for encouraging parents to speak to their children about how best to manage the issues that come with it.”

Helen Lamprell, general counsel and external affairs director at Vodafone UK, said the Goldilocks story offers parents a way of starting a conversation about safe social media use. She 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.”

Nearly half of children (48%) are aware of social media by the age of seven and a third (33%) have looked at or used social media by this age, said the company, quoting research from a YouGov survey of 4,189 people. 

An amended version of the picture book, also called #Goldilocks, will be published by Andersen Press in February next year in time for internet safety day, which is 6th February (h/b, £11.99).