Wellbeing & Culture

Children in a Digital World, a Question of Safety

A few weeks ago, I went to the Resilient Kids Conference with Julie Reid. There was so much great information and inspiration from the conference and I would like to share some of the wisdom I gained with you. 

Supporting Young People in the Digital Space

The internet, as we know, can be helpful, fascinating and is becoming more and more necessary in our world going forward. But the internet is not a safe place for young people. This is a really challenging reality that is difficult to face and navigate. 

Susan McLean is a Police Officer and expert on cyber safety.  One of the greatest pieces of advice she offers is, make this a rule in your household;  no devices in bedrooms and bathrooms! 

Devices connected to the internet or with a camera are not a risk to the same level if they are just kept out of bedrooms and bathrooms.  Devices can be both dangerous and addictive and the less time the child is allowed with them the less risk.  I understand this rule suggestion sounds inconvenient, probably unnecessary, and likely exhausting to maintain, but McLean swears by it.  As a Wellbeing professional, I can say this might be the best, healthiest household rule any parent could stick to in the digital world of today. 

Another important bit of advice that is key, keep children off platforms that are too old for them!  All social media apps, TicToc, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat and Discord etc, have a minimum age of 13 in the T&C, so anyone under thirteen should never be on these apps. 

If you are worried about cyberbullying happening with your child, please take snapshots so you have copies, support and reassure your child, know that speaking up and speaking out is the right thing to do. Report first, block second. 

McLean advises that in this space, it is so important that all parents support each other in a community.  If your child’s friend has a rule, ‘no devices if…’ then support that rule. These rules are there for both physical safety as well as wellbeing safety. 

Lots of adults in our society underestimate the dangers of the digital space. There is a lot more going on in this space than appropriate for me to share, so I encourage everyone to do more research!

More information on Cyber Safety:  

CyberSafety Solutions and Susan McLean - https://www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au/ 

Cheyenne Mason – On Behalf of the Wellbeing & Culture Team