Wellbeing - Senior School

As Term 3 comes to its conclusion I reflect on how busy the last ten weeks have been; examinations, assessments, formation, social justice, co-curricular activities [culminating in finals] and presentation evenings. It never ceases to amaze me what an organic and complex ‘creature’ the College can be.

I extend my congratulations to Aiden Elias and all the boys in Berg House after being crowned College Cup champions for 2024. I’m certain the boys will enjoy the spoils of victory at the Rewards Day on Friday.

To the Class of 2024, best wishes as you finalise preparations for the HSC examinations commencing in three weeks. It has been a privilege to share your educational journey at the College since 2017.

For those of you spending time at home or travelling during the upcoming holiday period, I wish you safety and enjoyment. I hope that the boys are able to spend time relaxing and re-charging for Term 4.

I recently received this update from Safe on Social regarding the emerging use of social media app, Telegram.

While Telegram is primarily a messaging app, it includes features resembling traditional social media, such as public channels, group chats (up to 200,000 participants), and broadcasting capabilities. These features allow users to connect and communicate with large audiences, share content, and engage with followers in ways similar to platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Telegram is known for its encryption and privacy features; teens are flocking to it in droves. This surge is likely due to teens seeking more private, less monitored spaces to communicate, away from the prying eyes of parents or authorities. Telegram’s privacy features, like Secret Chats and self-destructing messages, give teens a false sense of security. They believe what they share will disappear without a trace, making them more likely to engage in risky behaviour without fully understanding the potential dangers.

Telegram is more challenging to regulate or monitor than other social platforms. Its strong emphasis on privacy, including end-to-end encrypted chats and disappearing messages, makes it a particularly challenging app to monitor or censor.

While it’s unclear if Telegram will be included in the proposed social media bans being introduced by the federal government, it remains a platform of interest due to its potential to spread misinformation, host extremist content, and facilitate illegal activities.

Given the spike in teen usage and the risks associated with sextortion, radicalisation, and misinformation, parents need to educate themselves to be able to talk to young people about the risks of Telegram.

The best way to open the conversation is something like this:

“Hey, I was reading about Telegram earlier. I’ve heard more teens are using it these days. Do any of your friends use it? Have you? It sounds like it can be really risky.”

If they say yes, continue the conversation gently:

“I know you’re really smart about staying safe online, but things change so fast with apps, and I just want to make sure you know that you can always come to me if something feels off, whether it’s about people messaging you, things like sextortion, or anything else. No judgment here; I’m always here to help you figure things out if you or your friends need it.”

Here are some further tips to consider discussing:

1. Disable Location Services - Telegram’s “People Nearby” feature can expose users’ locations to strangers. Make sure location services are disabled on your teen’s device to reduce the risk of unwanted contact.

2. Tighten Privacy Settings - Adjust Telegram’s privacy settings to limit who can see personal information like phone numbers and online status. Ensure that only trusted contacts can add your teen to group chats.

3. Discuss Groups - Ask your teen about the channels and groups they are part of. Please encourage them to leave any groups that share explicit content, violent propaganda, or extremist messaging. Have big discussions as to why this is an issue in the world today.

4. Educate About Sextortion - Have open conversations about the dangers of sextortion. Ensure teens understand that even though messages may disappear, screenshots and recordings can still be taken. Once something is shared online, it’s impossible to guarantee it will stay private.

5. Recognise the Signs of Radicalisation - Be alert to changes in your teen’s behaviour that may signal exposure to extremist content. Signs can include adopting violent ideologies, alienation from friends or family, and engaging in hate speech. Source Amended from: https://www.safeonsocial.com.

Robert Simpson

Director of Senior School