Connected Families
How do you deliver films for parents and children about staying safe online? So often, the results are overly scary and tense. Worse still, they can seem to blame the child, as if it were their choice to be exploited or harmed. Barnardo’s asked us to design animations, comic strips, and characters centred around engaging, recognisable situations. These were intended as conversation starters, encouraging discussions and reflections about the constant presence of technology in our lives and how it shapes the way we think and feel.
Barnardo's
Porn, bodies and sex – the parents
Two parents discuss their worries about their son watching online porn
Our message to tech
All the parents use a zoom meeting to talk directly to big tech, urging these companies to create safe and inclusive spaces for all children and young people.
Parenting and the internet
Parents from three different families discuss their children’s life online. They can see the benefits for sure, but there are concerns
Talking to children without blame – the parents
We return to the parents from the first animation. Here they are more vocal about the frustrations and uncertainties. But, overall, it’s not the kids who they’re exasperated with.
Children and the internet
Their children are more enthusiastic but, even so, we get a sense that it’s addictive and they can’t put it down
Talking to children without blame – the children
In this animation, we get the children’s perspective to a range of situations. They react in different ways to being caught in the middle of tech and their parents.
Porn, bodies and sex – the children
Following on from the previous animation, the parent’s children have mixed feelings about the addictive nature of social media and pornography