Carmel College is aware that group chats are created between students on platforms such as WhatsApp and other social media apps.

While we recognise that these platforms can be a positive way for students to stay connected, large group chats, particularly those involving whole classes or wide friendship groups, can quickly become difficult to manage. We have seen that misunderstandings, unkind communication, and peer-related issues can escalate rapidly in these groupchats, often outside of school hours. We also know that instagram or tiktok accounts are shared between students from different schools and this can prove to be particularly challenging, as issues can spread beyond the immediate school community and become harder to monitor or resolve.

As a school, we are committed to supporting our students to develop safe, respectful, and responsible digital behaviours. We will continue to work with students to reinforce expectations around online conduct, including kindness, inclusion, and knowing when to step away from situations that feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

With the upcoming holidays, we are aware that students can spend more time online and engaging with social media. This can increase the likelihood of issues arising, particularly in large, unsupervised group chats. We encourage you to have open conversations with your child about their online interactions and to take an active role in supporting safe use of devices and apps at home.

Some helpful approaches include:

• Talking regularly about how they are using social media and who they are interacting with.
• Checking age restrictions of different platforms and discussing these with your daughter. 
• Encouraging them to leave or mute group chats that feel overwhelming or negative.
• Reminding them not to engage in or share unkind or inappropriate content.
• Ensuring privacy settings are appropriate and that they know how to block or report others if needed.

If concerns do arise, there are excellent external supports available. Netsafe offers free advice and guidance for families around online safety and can assist if issues escalate. You can contact them at www.netsafe.org.nz or call 0508 NETSAFE.

If your child experiences any issues that are impacting their wellbeing or their sense of safety, please encourage them to speak with a trusted adult. You are also welcome to contact your daughter’s dean when school resumes, and we will do our best to support where appropriate.

We appreciate your partnership in helping our young girls navigate the online world in a safe and positive way.