WELLBEING
What we can do to keep safe online?
Very useful information from e-safety commissioner
We can play a pivotal role in helping our children establish boundaries that protect them from potential harm.
As eSafety often sees a correlation between school terms and cyberbullying, we urge parents and caregivers to consider the following advice as kids head back to school in Term 2.
PARENTS/CARERS
- Show interest and be engaged Take an active interest in the online games your children play and the social media profiles they follow, just as you would make time to play a physical game with them at a local park or engage in a board game. Staying involved in your child’s digital activities can help you identify when they might need support.
- Monitor online activity Familiarise yourself with the platforms and services your children use and check the minimum age guidance. Some social media accounts your children follow may discuss concepts and ideas that are not age-appropriate for your child. Regularly check and ensure the content they engage with aligns with their developmental stage.
- Promote device usage in open areas Encourage your children to use devices in open areas of the home, such as the living room, rather than isolated spaces like their bedroom or bathroom. This way, you can easily interact with them, understand who they are communicating with, and identify any signs of distress.
- Activate age-appropriate parental controls and privacy settings Double-check you have implemented parental controls and privacy settings that are suitable for your child's age and level of online maturity. These measures are not failsafe but can help enhance their safety while browsing online.
What to do if your child is being cyberbullied?
As parents/carers, our first instinct may be to ban our children from social media, disable the wi-fi or turn off the data access. But this can actually compound the problem, making your child feel as if they’re being punished and heightening their sense of social exclusion. If you find it’s happening to a child in your care, there are simple steps that can help minimise the harm.
- Collect evidence of the of the cyberbullying material
- Report the cyberbullying to all platforms and services where it is occurring. If the material is not removed, make a report to eSafety
- Use the in-app functions to ignore, mute, hide or block the other person.
- Reach out for more help if your child needs counselling or support to manage the impacts – there's also help available for you.
Find out more about how to report cyberbullying.
Regardless of your child’s age, eSafety is here to help. Keep these links handy for ways you can support your family’s online safety.
- Set up a family tech agreement and parental controls
- Explore ways to stay safe online for parents, kids and y/node/6
- Learn digital skills for staying safe in games and apps using The eSafety Guide
- Get help for online issues by reporting to eSafety
- Join an eSafety webinar to help your children have positive online experiences
- Stay informed of the latest online safety blogs, news, resources, and advice by signing up to the eSafety Newsletter. https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/subscribe
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