Digital Technology and Online Safety

RAISING KIDS IN A DIGITAL WORLD- webinar take aways

Supporting Safe Technology Use at Home

At OHR, we are committed to helping students and families navigate the online world safely. As technology continues to evolve, education and open conversations are key to supporting our children. Inform and Empower delivered an engaging and valuable webinar last week, helping to deepen our understanding of the online world and provided practical tips to support our young people in navigating it safely. If you registered for the event, you will have also received the recorded link which provides a rich amount of information and tips. Below are a few takeaways from the evening.

Social Media & Age Guidelines

Many popular platforms (such as Discord, WhatsApp and Roblox) are not designed for primary-aged children. Messenger Kids is one option specifically created for children under 13.

While some platforms (e.g. YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat) allow viewing without an account, we recommend:

No social media accounts under the age of 16 as per the new laws
Under this age, some supervised viewing may be appropriate, ideally on a parent’s device

A Family Approach

If an online space no longer feels safe, it’s okay to step away, just as we would with any physical environment. If we were in a restaurant and felt it was unsafe for our children to be there, we would leave. This is an easy to understand analogy for use to share with our children.

It’s also important to ensure children still have opportunities to connect with friends and build relationships offline.

Helpful strategies:

Enable parental controls and restrict app downloads
Use devices together rather than allowing independent scrolling
Connect with other families to stay consistent
Focus on children’s needs, not just their wants
Support children through big emotions and keep communication open

Gaming Awareness

Platforms like Roblox are not just games, they are online spaces where users can interact.

Risks may include:

Chatting with strangers
Exposure to inappropriate or mature content
In-game purchases and spending

Tips for families:

Monitor what your child is playing
Limit screen time
Manage or disable chat features
Be aware of live-streaming platforms like Twitch

Emerging Technologies (AI)

AI tools (such as chat-based apps) are increasingly designed to feel like “friends.” Children may seek advice or companionship from them.

We encourage families to:

Reinforce that AI is a tool, not a real person
Talk openly about how children are using these technologies

Online Safety Risks

Children may encounter:

Inappropriate content (including pornography. It is shocking to read that children as young as 8 are encountering this content)
Online predators
Cyberbullying and “doxxing” (sharing personal information online)

While new safety measures are being introduced, no system is perfect. Ongoing conversations at home are essential.

Practical Tips for Home

Use parental controls and supervise device use
Set clear boundaries: what, where, when and how much
Keep devices in shared family spaces
Consider using family plans or monitoring tools
Encourage balanced screen use and healthy habits

Where to Get Support

Families can access helpful resources through the eSafety Commissioner website for up-to-date advice and guidance.

A Final Message for Our Children

When having conversations at home and building an ‘online plan’, these three phrases can help guide our messaging and keep the communication lines open.

I can help you solve any problem
I will always love you
I will support you no matter what happens

Creating a safe online environment is a shared responsibility. By working together, we can support our children to use technology safely, confidently and responsibly.

Penny Hansen

Digital Technologies Leader

Here are the conversation starters from Inform & Empower to support the open communication at home.