Pirate Academy

As a seasoned IT engineer and researcher, I have dedicated over a decade to lecturing and tutoring in IT and cybersecurity.
I firmly believe that robust security measures not only enhance system functionality but also safeguard our online communities. My expertise lies in protecting individuals and data through diverse methods, and I am committed to empowering families, parents, and children at Pirate Academy to navigate the internet safely while promoting digital literacy.

I am incredibly grateful for the support of our communities and virtual friends. Together, through increased awareness and learning, we can ensure a safer and healthier online presence for our children.

Cyber awareness is a transformative process that fosters resilience and confidence in using the internet and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence.
Pirate Academy is our space to share insights, uphold our values, and spread awareness to stay safe online. 🙌❤️

I have successfully completed the 10K Women AI Advantage program, a collaborative initiative by Microsoft and Akkodis, consisting of two weeks of intensive training focused on demystifying AI tools and maximizing their potential for professional and everyday applications.
This journey has been truly remarkable, and empowering 💯❤️

🌟 Discover the Magic of AI 🌟

Calling all parents and curious kiddos! 🚀✨ Have you ever wondered how computers can think and learn like humans? 🤖🧠 Let’s explore the exciting world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) together, at Pirate Academy! 🌐🔍

🔹 What AI Can Do:

Craft first drafts of codes and emails 📧
Uncover hidden patterns in data 📊

🔹 What AI Can’t Do:

Create that warm, fuzzy human-to-human connection 🤗
Build meaningful relationships (that’s our job! 😉)

Join us as we demystify AI, share real-world examples, and discuss how it can shape the future of young minds. 🌏 Let’s be responsible digital explorers! 🌟🔐
If you're eager to understand AI, Pirate Academy is offering an excellent online course to demystify the realm of AI and its ethical, safe usage. Join us for our AI Adventure online course, soon! 🚀👾👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Send a message to learn more

Knowldege is key 💌👩‍🏫

"Congratulations, Hana!

You have successfully registered to two e-learning courses from Safeguarding Children:

- Recognising and Responding to Grooming e-learning
- Recognising and Responding to Sexual Abuse e-learning
We are excited to have you as part of the safeguarding team working towards this goal.", Child Safeguarding NZ team.

Thrilled to participate in this e-learning opportunity.

Grooming is the process by which an adult prepares a child, significant others and the environment to enable sexual abuse of the child. Grooming is very often the precursor to sexual abuse. Through increasing our understanding of grooming we are better able to reduce opportunities for grooming and keep our children safe from sexual abuse.

To get my students thinking critically (and maybe even uncover their inner tech genius), I challenged them to imagine they're creating a social media app or a new online game. But there’s a twist, they have to add features that help their peers stay safe online!

Their mission? Prioritize privacy settings, content moderation, parental controls, and ways to prevent cyberbullying and cyberhate.

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Let’s be real, teens trust their friends more than anyone else. So, I’m curious to see what their top priorities are when it comes to digital safety. What’s more important: privacy settings or epic emojis? 😂

If you want a peek into how your kids think about online safety, try this exercise with them. You might just learn a thing or two about their views on technology, social media, video games, and keeping it safe in cyberspace! 🌐

"I need to live my own life!" one of my students reflected.

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"Spending hours scrolling through screens, getting lost in other people's lives—sometimes even fake ones—just isn’t for me. I want to start each day focused on my own journey, growing my own skills!"
Don't let technology, the persuasive design of the different apps, control your life—or your children's lives!

📱 Dopamine in young minds⚠️👩

As a parent, have you ever tried to take a digital device away from your child? The reaction might be explosive, and that’s completely normal. It’s a biological response caused by a sudden drop in dopamine levels in your child’s system.

Excessive screen time can lead to a dopamine deficit in children. Dopamine, the "feel-good" chemical, is released during rewarding activities, like playing outside or engaging in creative play. But when kids spend too much time on screens, their brains become overstimulated and may start craving constant digital stimulation, making it harder for them to find joy in everyday activities.

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Keep screen time balanced to help children develop healthy, natural dopamine responses.
Encourage play, creativity, and real-world interactions!
Understand the concept of a dopamine crash could be valuable for your family. It can help you keep yourself and your kids safe online💌🦺

"What drives someone to become a cyberbully?"

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Cyberbullying is bullying that happens online or through digital devices. It includes sending on purpose:
1) Mean texts: “Imagine someone sends a message saying, ‘You’re so stupid, no one likes you.’”,
2) Posting hurtful comments on social media: “Think about someone posting a comment on a photo saying, ‘You look ugly in this picture.’”,
3) Sharing embarrassing photos or videos: “Picture someone sharing a video of another student tripping and falling, just to make fun of them.”

Cyberbullying frequently originates from experiencing criticism or the receipt of mean and hurtful negativity from others. Bullies internalize this and become critical, mean and harsh to others. Additionally, internal tension plays a crucial role. Some bully because they feel insecure. Picking on someone who seems emotionally or physically weaker also might provide a feeling of being more important, popular, or in control. In other cases, kids bully because they simply don't know that it's not OK to pick on kids who are different because of size, looks, race, or religion.

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Defining cyberbullying in simple words and discussing examples of cyberbullying is key to starting off the conversation and develop strategies to prevent it.

Sticks 'n Stones Snapshot 1- Cyberbulling- What's the Big Deal? Sticks 'n Stones is a teenage led programme based in Central Otago committed to taking positive action online.This is the first of 3 episodes of our Sticks '...

I had an incredible time presenting our latest workshop on cyber awareness for tweens and teens! 🎉 The session, titled “Cyber Awareness Adventure: From Awareness to Behavioural Change,” was all about empowering young minds to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

We delved into crucial topics such as: 🔹 Understanding online risks 🔹 Recognizing and avoiding posting and sharing inappropriate content 🔹 Developing healthy tech-up habits🔹 Learning about online privacy options on social media and online gaming platforms. 🔹 Identifying the warning signs of grooming, sextortion, and cyberbullying...

The energy and enthusiasm from the students were truly inspiring! They were eager to learn and share their own online experiences, which led to some fantastic discussions and insights from everyone. It’s amazing to see how engaged and proactive they are about their digital safety. 💻✨
A heartfelt thank you for the invitation from Baitul-Hikmah and to all who participated. Together, we’re fostering a safer and more informed digital community for the next generation. 🌐

What is Cross-Play in Online Gaming? Why should parents take an active interest in the games that their children play and want to buy?

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Cross-play is a feature in some online games that allows players to play together, no matter what device or console they are using. For example, someone playing on a PlayStation can join a game with friends who are on an Xbox, PC, or even a mobile device. This makes it easier for friends to play together, even if they have different gaming systems.

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Why Could Cross-Play Be a Risk for Children?

While cross-play can be fun, it also comes with some risks, especially for children:

1️⃣Exposure to Strangers: Cross-play means your child can play with people from all over the world, not just their friends. This increases the chance of interacting with strangers who might not have good intentions.
2️⃣Inappropriate Content: Different platforms have different levels of content moderation. Your child might encounter inappropriate language or behavior from other players.
3️⃣Cyberbullying: Playing with a larger pool of players can increase the risk of cyberbullying.
4️⃣Privacy Concerns: Sharing personal information with strangers can lead to privacy issues.

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How to Keep Your Child Safe?

👨‍✈️Monitor Their Play: Keep an eye on who they are playing with and what games they are playing.
🚦Use Parental Controls: Most gaming systems have settings to limit who can contact your child.
👩‍🏫Educate Them: Teach your child about the risks and how to handle uncomfortable situations online.
🧑‍🏫Educate yourself about the online games: Do some research on the game’s rating, game-play style, content and age-appropriateness.

As a parent, you might have questions about monitoring tools and parental controls, as well as how to initiate a conversation with your child regarding cyber safety and online risks. Recognizing the crucial role of parental involvement in today's digital world, Pirate Academy provides free sessions in collaboration with Hamilton City Libraries, along with one-on-one sessions for families.

Make sure to enroll in our upcoming session on 7 September at Te Kete Aronui - Rototuna Library. :)

During Pirate Academy workshops for families, and in order to elevate cyber awareness to behavior change, I focus on Threat Modeling.

Threat modeling involves identifying and communicating potential threats that may impact children’s safety (like cyberbullying or online predators), understand how these threats might manifest (like through chat features or friend requests), and then implement controls to protect children (like content filters or parental controls).

At Pirate Academy, our mission is to proactively help families to identify and mitigate the most significant, obvious, potential threats and risks to safeguard their children in the online world.

The secret of success of a threat modeling is to focus on ensuring that the necessary and simplest mitigations are implemented, and that's our mission at Pirate Academy, empower parents and children to make safer choices online and thrive in today's connected world!

I’m excited to share that I’ve been selected for a sponsored spot in the AI Advantage Bootcamp, starting today till 30 August 2024! 🎉

This opportunity isn't solely about personal growth; it's also about contributing to a future-focused culture. I aim to share this with parents and children who want to enhance their literature capabilities and get the best out of AI technology while staying safe.

Frequently, I receive the same question: "What's a good age to get my child a phone?"

My answer, as always, is:

1) Please take the time to review the attached diagram. It will help you decide whether you can give your child a smartphone.

2) You can offer kids under 13, Gizmos and other child-wearable devices. They are good options with less technology than smartphones. The smartwatches offer location tracking, emergency contact abilities, and of course, communicating with your child when they’re away from you. The following link could be very helpful if you are interested in purchasing a smartwatch for your child.
https://www.parents.com/best-smartwatches-for-kids-7481963

3) If you are comfortable with your child under 13 viewing inappropriate content like violence, po*******hy, and illegal behaviors on their own devices, then you can give them a smartphone.

In case you are still on the fence about whether to let your child have a smartphone, I have created this decision tree to guide parents and caregivers in making the right decision.
Imagine a scenario where a 13-year-old child says, 'Mom, all the kids have it!'
The mom responds, 'Let me call Hana for you :)'"

During Pirate Academy parent sessions, we aim to help parents map out what their children's Internet could be and assist in considering the many digital products and services their children use. We offered a visual representation of the kinds of digital products and services that a child might encounter throughout their day.
Our illustration includes a range of devices, digital products and services.
We hope this visualization helps you understand the variety of Apps and services that were intentionally and unintentionally created for younger children.
Based on this illustration, could you calculate the number of hours your kid might spend on digital devices? :)

What an amazing two morning at Rototuna library🤩

We had the pleasure of connecting with wonderful parents and their curious children, all eager to dive into the world of cyber safety. Parents, as the true cyber shields for their families, learned valuable tips and tricks to keep their loved ones safe online. We wrapped up with a hands-on assessment of parental mediation for Internet use and safety, and the feedback was fantastic! 🙌❤️

Despite a rocky start to the children’s session (my son wasn’t feeling his best 😒), we soon found our rhythm. Together, we uncovered the secrets of becoming a good digital citizen and explored the vast world of the Internet 🌐.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We can’t wait to see you at our next session with Pirate Academy💕

See you tomorrow at Te Kete Aronui - Rototuna Library 😍🙌

Why we shouldn’t keep smartphones in bedrooms and should disconnect around one hour before bedtime❓❓

1- Sleep disorder: kids could be easily distracted by keeping their screens open at night in their bedrooms. They are scrolling (dissuasive design), gaming, chatting (maybe with strangers)…and the production of melatonin( the sleep hormone) could be reduced by the exposure of the blue light from screens📲📺

2-Anxiety and stress: without having a break from Social media and digital stress, kids can be extremely agitated and tired. Many research have confirmed that the excessive use of screens could lead to mental health issues😣🚨

3- Online safety: Bypassing parental controls is possible and online risks are increasing. Even responsible children could be victims of inappropriate content and malicious channels 🙌🗿

Let’s help our kids and ourselves get a restful sleep we all deserve 🫶😌

Mom 1: "Do you know how to keep your kids safe online?", questioned one of the mums today.
Mom 2: "Not really. I'm not too worried about what they're doing online, they're really responsible!"
Mom1: "It’s great to hear you have confidence in your child’s online habits! However, it's important to remember that even well-behaved kids can face unexpected online risks. It’s always good to stay informed and proactive about online safety, just in case!"

Here are few tips that might be helpful for parents:
1- Regularly talk with your kids about their online activities.
2- Establish clear guidelines about what is acceptable online behavior, including who they can communicate with and what they can share.
3- Utilize parental controls and privacy settings to help protect your kids from inappropriate content and to manage their screen time.
4- Teach your kids the importance of keeping personal information private.
5- Keep yourself updated on the latest online trends and potential risks so you can better guide your kids.

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Want to boost your online security?
Check out the Own Your Online security assessment!

It’s super easy to use and packed with tips and tricks to keep you safe online.

Simply answer a few questions about your online security behaviour and habits and you’ll get a customised action plan to enhance your security online.

If you need any assistance, just leave a message and we’ll be happy to provide further information.

Here’s the link:

Online security assessment tool | Own Your Online Answer a few questions about your online security behaviour and habits to get a customised action plan to help you become more secure online.

Hi everyone, I have been away last month for holiday in Tunisia with my family and lovely friends💕
So sorry about my slow update on Pirate Academy page, will pick that back up👌

Next event at Rototuna library, kids’ sessions for August and September are fully booked but you will find soon future sessions for October and November. Don’t miss out☺️

Our mission is to empower kids and parents in the digital realm to stay safe online and build resiliency to reduce risks from negative online encounters🫶

Our events for parents and kids have been published on Hamilton City Libraries website. Please proceed with the registration and if you have questions, feel free to reach out😊

💎 Parents’ sessions:
https://hamiltonlibraries.co.nz/whats-on/event-calendar/pirate-academy-parents-and-caregivers

💎kids’ sessions:
https://hamiltonlibraries.co.nz/whats-on/event-calendar/pirate-academy-kids

« Would you rather respond to the tragedy or prevent that tragedy from happening in the first place? »
This is one of my key questions that I ask parents about protecting their children from what is going on in the digital realm and especially in the social media and online gaming space.

Please share your thoughts in the comments☺️

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"هل تفضل أن تستجيب للمأساة أم أن تمنع حدوث تلك المأساة من الأساس؟"
هذا هو أحد الأسئلة الرئيسية التي أطرحها على الآباء والأمهات حول حماية أطفالهم من ما يحدث في العالم الرقمي، وخاصة في وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي والألعاب عبر الإنترنت.

شاركونا آرائكم في التعليقات

It was really good spending quality online time with people talking about smart parenting and the use of screens as a tool to emphasize the children’s imagination and handle tantrum❤️

What’s your favorite strategy to cope with your kid’s tantrum when screens’ time is over?
Share in the comments below!

True story: a 16 year old boy had took his own life after falling victim to sextortion on Instagram.

Age verification measures were introduced by Meta if your children use the platform.

Kids will do what you do rather than what you tell them to do!
Being a good digital role model yourself is probably one of the most effective ways to help children stay safer online.

Exciting news!!
Cyber awareness sessions are back at Te Kete Aronui - Rototuna Library🥳

The adventure of fostering digital literacy and cyber education for kids and their families is coming back soon 😍

First classes are scheduled to start in August:
📍10th of August: parents’ session 10-11.30 am
📍11th of August: kids’ session 10-11.30 am

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re interested, I am happy to provide you with more details.
Our sessions will be scheduled once a month.

At Pirate Academy, we aim to make our online experience safer, and we do it differently through learning about real life stories and what we call RPR.

🔐R refers to Online Risks: what are the potential risks and harms to parents and kids’ online safety?
🔐P refers to Good Digital Parenting: How parents should approach online safety with their kids at every age to ensure a positive experience online and be a good digital role model themselves.
🔐R refers to Rewards: How kids, parents and caregivers get rewards from digital lives.

Empowering parents and kids to confidently navigate the web is our mission🔐😍

Happy to share our digital experiences and meet with you soon🤍