Online Safety Basics

We can help our children safely navigate the online world by taking some basic steps to reduce the risks.

Our support and guidance can give our children the knowledge to make sound decisions online and the confidence to ask for help when they need it.

Young people 13 to 18

Young people can spend a lot of time online. Instant messaging, sharing photos and videos, playing games and using voice chat through apps and platforms, including social media, form a big part of their social identity.

While the social media minimum age restrictions aim to protect under-16s from pressures and risks they can be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts, no online platform or service is risk-free, especially for children. Although under-16s won’t be exposed to as many of the high-pressure features that come with social media accounts, they will still be able to scroll content that doesn’t require being logged into an account.

Online harms can also happen on the alternative sites and apps that under-16s may use for connection, expression, information and entertainment. This includes messaging and gaming platforms.

Being online can be a great experience but there are risks. Wherever young people are online, you can help them develop the skills to have safer online experiences.

Advice for parents and carers

Take an interest in younger teens’ online activities to encourage them to keep sharing with you. Have an ‘open door’ policy when devices are used in bedrooms and check in with them regularly to see what they are viewing.
Older teens may want greater privacy when using devices. Have a conversation with them and work out together the best approach for your family.
Stay engaged. Ask about their online experiences, who they are talking with online and whether they are having any issues.
Reinforce the importance of protecting their personal information and privacy. Remind them to create screen names or IDs that do not indicate gender, age, name or location and are not sexually suggestive.
Encourage young people to use online platforms responsibly. Talk about the age restrictions for social media and what they mean for your family. Go through the terms of use for each service so they understand the rules, the type of content that can be posted and why age requirements exist. Reassure them that if something goes wrong – even if they’re on an age-restricted platform, they won’t get into trouble for asking for help.
Explain that linking accounts and apps can make it easier for strangers to learn about them, so it’s best to keep account sign-ins separate.
Encourage them to think before they post. They should ask questions like: Who might see this? Could it be misread by others? Am I creating the right image for myself socially and for school and work opportunities?
Talk about viewing and sharing sexual images (or ‘sending nudes’). These conversations are a powerful way to reduce the risk of sexual harm online, including sexual abuse and sextortion. Tell young people you will support them if they make a mistake and help them recover.
Keep building their self-respect, empathy and resilience. Be aware of how online platforms – including social media – can affect self-esteem. With new social media age restrictions, under-16s may spend more time on messaging or gaming apps, so encourage positive habits early.
Help them understand online risks and what to do about them by exploring the young people section of the eSafety site.

Continue to review your rules as your child grows older

Be clear about where and when devices can be used – for example, not at mealtimes or not until after chores or homework are done.
Agree on a plan that fits into family routines – for example, more screen time on the weekend when they have less schoolwork.

Taken from the eSafety Commissioner website. Please follow the link below for further information or reach out to the Red Cliffs Secondary Collage Wellbeing team.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/online-safety-basics

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