Family Matters

eSafety Update

At St Joseph's, students in all year groups engage in units of learning about the responsible use of technology, child safety, and respectful relationships. 

Messaging Apps and website dangers

The school-managed iPads do not allow students to download messaging apps - or any app. However, some students have access to devices in the home environment where such apps or inappropriate websites may be available to them.

While children generally manage how they communicate via messaging with a great sense of responsibility and awareness of their own safety, at times some children find themselves in difficulty. Aside from the usual apps, there are also online chat websites children can very easily access, often out of curiosity. These sites don’t require registration so children are extremely vulnerable and at risk.

It can be tricky for parents to monitor their child's online activity and there are apps that support parents

The eSafety Commissioner website outlines the benefits and risks of messaging and online chat. 

Messaging and online chat

Messaging and online chat refers to any form of online communication that allows a real time transmission of text and/or images from sender to receiver. The messages are often short, allowing other participants to respond quickly, which makes it similar to a spoken word conversation. The communication could be one-on-one or involve a group of people. It may be between participants who are known to one another or strangers. Depending on the service, and the settings chosen by the user, the messages or chat history may be publicly available online.

What are the benefits?

You can stay connected to people You can stay in touch with friends and family, even if they are on the other side of the world.

Be in the moment with someone You can feel like you are right there with someone else and feel closer to what they are experiencing.

Meet new people  You can meet new people that you would not otherwise meet. 

Collaborate with other people You can more easily collaborate with people online — ask a question and get a quick response.

What are the risks?

Cyberbullying and online abuseNot everyone is respectful online — there is a risk that you could be cyberbullied or abused via messaging and online chat.

Exposure to inappropriate contentYou could be exposed to content you do not want to see or that is violent, sexualised or not age appropriate. 

Messages may be shared or copied without your consent Even if you are using a private messaging service, someone may share your messages or images without your permission.

Unwanted contact or contact from strangers You could receive unwanted messages or messages from people you do not know.

Supervising your child's messaging and online activity is a challenge and in next week’s newsletter you will find a few helpful tips. In the meantime, check the eSafety Commissioner website. https://www.esafety.gov.au/