Safe On Social Media

Hopefully, our community is aware that during Term 2 all staff participated in training around the use of social media; that all students from Year 4 to Academy II participated in learning sessions and that we hosted an information evening for our parents and community. Since these events we have established an ongoing relationship with Kirra Pendergast at Safe On Social Media and we will now regularly place information and alerts in our newsletter around safe social media use. As always if you have any questions please contact the school.

Don't say anything online that you wouldn't want plastered on a billboard with your face on it.

Erin Bury

How to report Cyber-Bullying

Statistics say that one in five Australian children aged 8 to 17yrs have been the target of cyber-bullying in the last year. Most social media networks have rules banning cyber-bullying and have complaints tools for reporting.

Firstly, take screenshots so you have evidence.

Then report and block the bully on whatever social media app is being used. Some social media sites can take up to 48hrs to remove the reported post but you MUST report through these channels before reporting to to The Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner.

Report it to The Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner by filling in the online complaints form at esafety.gov.au if the site does not act in 48hrs.

If the bullying is threatening someone’s life or involves child pornography immediately contact your local police station.

Everything you post on social media impacts your personal brand. How do you want to be known?

The Publicity Gal

Cairns teen charged for using Snapchat to repeatedly 'threaten' another girl

By Mark Rigby - updated Thursday 5 April 2018 - ABC News

A 13-year-old far north Queensland girl has been charged with stalking and using a carriage service to threaten violence after allegedly using the Snapchat mobile app to cyberbully another teenager.

If you or anyone you know needs help:

Lifeline on 13 11 14
Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
Headspace on 1800 650 890

The girl from the northern Cairns suburb of Kewarra Beach, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was accused of sending multiple video messages threatening physical harm against a 14-year-old girl between February 24 and March 8.

Using a carriage service to threaten violence is a Commonwealth offence that carries a maximum penalty of three years' jail.

The ABC understands the teenager's charges were dealt with outside court, but details of the outcome cannot be revealed.

Michelle Murray from advocacy group Bully Zero Australia said she believed the 13-year-old was the youngest person in Australia to be charged with a criminal offence related to cyberbullying.

"This type of behaviour is totally unacceptable," she said.

"And while it's disappointing that it's a 13-year-old girl that's been charged, the real tragedy is that we're staring down the barrel of another potential suicide."

Ms Murray said Snapchat was "dangerous" and had become the app of choice for cyberbullies.

"Unfortunately Snapchat is the one app that parents can't actually put controls over," she said.

"It's a very, very dangerous app [and] it's one of the things that kids are really using because they know that mum and dad can't control what it is that they say."

She said because Snapchat messages expired after being viewed, it was often difficult to gather evidence of cyberbullying.

"Unless you're really quick to get a screen shot, you can pretty much get away with saying whatever you want," she said.

'Kids shouldn't be scared or intimidated'

Senior Constable Jane Moran, from Cairns police, said reports of cyberbullying among young teenagers were increasing.

"This is beyond schoolyard activities, this is very serious stuff," she said.

"You've just got to look at the incident with Dolly [Everett] a few months ago, we need to try and stop these things happening to kids."

Northern Territory girl Amy 'Dolly' Everett, 14, took her own life after allegedly falling victim to bullying.

"Kids shouldn't be scared or intimidated and they shouldn't be frightened," Senior Constable Moran said.

She said children as young as 10 could be charged with criminal offences for cyberbullying and that while stalking, threatening or harassing through social media or text message might seem harmless to the perpetrator, it could have dire consequences.

"It's what's frightening or intimidating to the victim," she said.

"The person sending the messages might turn around and say 'Well I don't see that to be frightening or intimidating' but if the victim's receiving multiple messages that can be quite intimidating."

If you have any questions please get in touch: wecanhelp@safeonsocial.com

Kind regards,

Kirra Pendergast - Director, Safe on Social Media Pty Ltd