Dear Parent/Guardian,
It has come to our attention that some of our pupils, including primary one and two children are watching 'Squid Game' on Netflix and I would like to highlight the main risks and concerns.
What is Squid Game?
Squid game is a television series streaming on Netflix. The plot centres on a group of adult debtors, thieves and gamblers competing against each other in a series of childhood games for a grand cash prize. However, there is a dark twist to these games- losing competitors are violently killed off in ways that grow more and more twisted as the games grow more intense.
Harmful Content in the Show
'Squid Game' has a rating of 16 as the visual content includes high level of gore, death, violence, and physical assault, and other graphic depictions of murder etc and focuses on adult themes that are not appropriate for primary school children or younger teens. The content of this show is disturbing and can be extremely harmful for children. Please be aware that the promotional images and material appears innocent and childlike. But this is NOT the case!
Parents and carers should be aware that video content from this show is found extensively on TikTok, which could increase interest in watching the show.
REMEMBER: even if parents and carers restrict their children from watching Squid Game on Netflix, the children may be able to access content on other platforms including YouTube.
We want to draw our parents attention to not just 'Squid Game' but the other violent and inappropriate content on games, Instagram, Youtube, Tik Tok, Snapchat and other social media channels. To safeguard our children, we encourage parents to keep an eye on the children's media consumption.
What Parents Can Do.
- Set up Parental Controls on Netflix (Use the guide below to set viewing restrictions, profile locks, PIN codes etc).
- Set up Parental Controls on YouTube.
- Be aware that your children can easily access Squid Game content on all other social media channels. And of course other violent content.
- Ask what’s popular at school and watch it before giving permission to the children, just check it out beforehand – like any other environment they visit offline.
E-Safety Parent Workshop- Monday 15th November @ 7pm
A reminder that REIM will deliver an E-Safety Workshop for parents on Monday 15th November at 7:00 pm. We encourage our parents to attend this workshop. Feedback from parents who attended last year was very positive. Please contact the school if you would like to attend and we will forward the zoom link.
Kind Regards,
Louise Quinn (Principal)
