Wellbeing

Online Safety, be alert but not alarmed!

I can't believe we are about to start the term 3 school holidays! I bet most of you can't as well. This week I have attended some training from the Esafety Commission about cyberbullying and student wellbeing. If you're anything like me, the IT world can sometimes feel like a mystery, another language. My kids are all either teenagers or adults now and there is no question that they are far more knowledgeable than I am when it comes to technology. To be honest it can feel a bit scary and overwhelming how powerful technology is and the potential negative ways it can be used.

This week I have participated in training with the Esafety Commission about student wellbeing in an online space. With the incredible uptake of digital device use by students across every year level at BPS, I thought it might be useful to provide some key points and also provide you as carers and parents with some links to access further education and tools to support the kids in your care.

All of us are aware that the use of digital devices is incredibly enticing for kids, even addictive. We also know that as busy adults it's easy to loose track of the time our kids are on screens and also loose track of what they are watching or engaging with online. Our primary aged kids are still developing their critical thinking and linguistically still learning, this can make them more vulnerable. I regularly hear from kids that they are using chat platforms to not only converse with other friends from school but concerningly are also chatting with people they haven't met. I have even had one student tell me that they were speaking with someone from another country who disclosed distressing thoughts and asking this child for help. Interestingly those kids transitioning to Yr7 are at a higher rate of experiencing cyberbullying according to the Esafety Commission.

The challenges 

There are several barriers that can make it difficult to detect and respond to cyberbullying.

• Adults may not understand the platforms young people use, which can lead to underestimating the harm or missing the signs.
• Young people often fear negative consequences if they report, such as losing access to their devices.

• Peers may also dismiss the behaviour as ‘just a joke’, and anonymity can make it hard to identify who is responsible.

   

 Protective factors 

Four broad categories can help inform strategies to help prevent cyberbullying.

1. Personal resilience – young people with higher self-esteem and strong emotional regulation are better equipped to cope with online harm and bounce back from negative experiences.
2. Supportive family environments – open, non-judgemental conversations and co-created internet rules help young people feel safe, empowered and more likely to seek help when needed.
3. Positive peer influence – friends who model respectful behaviour and offer support can reduce the likelihood of cyberbullying and provide a buffer when issues arise.
4. A ‘positive whole school climate’ – when students feel valued and connected, and staff are seen as fair and approachable, they are more likely to report concerns and trust that action will be taken.

AI driven cyberbullying 

Generative AI is making cyberbullying faster and harder to detect, with tools used to body shame, create deepfake sexual content, and impersonate others using voice cloning. AI can also be used to target someone with abuse, or track and harass them through reverse location searches and doxing (sharing private information without consent).

• ‘Nudify’ apps use AI to create fake sexualised images. They are easy to access and misuse.
• AI platforms can generate fake or humiliating images, placing individuals in compromising scenarios or altering features to mock or exclude.
• Wearable tech, like smart glasses, can discreetly record and stream content, raising concerns about privacy, consent and cyberbullying.

Reporting to ESafety can help deal with online abuse and harmful online content, including how to report if platforms fail to act.

Resources for parents and carers 

• Webinars for parents and carers – live sessions designed to give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children. https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars

• Online safety for every family (available in multiple languages) – short videos and easy to read advice about how to keep children safe and what to do if something does happen online. https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources/online-safety-for-every-family

• Online safety guide for parents and carers (available in multiple languages) – a book about key online safety issues and practical advice about what to do if things go wrong.

             https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources/online-safety-book

• Parental controls – can be used to support family’s online safety when using devices that connect to the internet.

            https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/parental-controls

• Swoosh, Glide and Rule Number 5 – an online safety picture book available to watch, download or order as a printed copy.

             https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/children-under-5/picture-book-and-song/swoosh-glide-and-rule-number-5

 Find more tailored online safety resources at https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice

I hope this information has been helpful, I know for me personally it has been a great reminder about being more informed about the digital world and talking more with my kids about strategies and awareness for them. 

Please feel free to reach out if you have any worries or concerns for your child or yourselves as a family, even over the holidays. I hope that this well needed break from school will bring some rest and special times together.

Thanks, 

Lisa Osborne

Chaplain and Wellbeing Co-Ordinator

0409 559 059