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With children returning to school at the end of January, the Australian Federal Police and the eSafety commissioner are taking the chance to promote online safety for kids — especially with many children being given their first smartphone or laptop.
“As soon as we hand a child a device, we should be talking to them about the dos and don’ts of the online world, while still letting them know they will be supported if anything goes wrong,” said eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
And the statistics back up how important it is for parents, carers, and educators to be vigilant.
According to eSafety, nearly half the children polled in recent research said they have been exposed to harmful online content, with sexual content especially commonly seen by children between the ages of 14 and 17.
At the same time, market research from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) found that only 3 per cent of parents felt that online grooming was something they should be concerned about.
“The back-to-school period is an important milestone and often very busy for parents and carers, however, it’s important to always pay attention to what your children are doing online,” said the AFP’s acting Assistant Commissioner Hilda Sirec.
“Parental and carer supervision for young children can be a critical factor in preventing self-produced child exploitation material and online grooming.”
Their advice for carers and parents is simple. Make use of parental control apps to monitor and restrict content on children’s devices, and make sure they’re using those devices in the presence of others. Teach kids how to use privacy settings and how to block unwanted people trying to contact or harass them.
“There is no substitute for taking an interest in a child’s online lives from an early age,” commissioner Grant said. “As well as supporting communication, this will help you understand the apps they are using and any risks they may face.
“You can find lots of information and advice at eSafety.gov.au and, of course, report any suspicious interactions to ACCCE as soon as possible.”
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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