ICT News
Staying Safe Online
As part of our commitment to keeping our students safe and informed, we want to share important information about new social media rules introduced in Australia. These rules are designed to protect everyone, especially young people, from online harm, including bullying.
What You Need to Know:
The new social media regulations focus on making online spaces safer by holding platforms accountable for harmful content and encouraging respectful, positive interactions.
Tips for Families: How to Stay Safe and Support Your Children Online
Talk Openly About Online Safety - encourage regular conversations with your children about their social media use and experiences.
Know the Rules - familiarise yourself and your children with the community standards of the social media platforms they use.
Use Privacy Settings - help your children set strong privacy controls to limit who can see their posts and contact them.
Encourage Respectful Use - promote kindness and respect in all online communications.
Monitor Online Activity - keep an eye on your child’s social media activity in an age-appropriate way.
How to Report Online Bullying:
If you or your child experience online bullying, here’s what to do:
Save the Evidence - take screenshots or save messages/posts that show the bullying or harmful behaviour.
Report to the Platform - use the built-in reporting tools on the social media site or app to report bullying content or users.
Block the Bully - help your child block the person bullying them to stop further contact.
Tell a Trusted Adult - encourage your child to speak to you, a teacher, or another trusted adult.
Contact the eSafety Commissioner - for serious cases, report online bullying and cyberbullying to the eSafety Commissioner online at www.esafety.gov.au. They offer support and can take action to remove harmful content.
Report online harm | eSafety Commissioner
Summary table of what you can report and how | eSafety Commissioner
Together, we can create a safer and more positive online environment for our children. If you have any questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the school.
Stay safe online!
Ms Rebecca O'Hara