eSafety

Some of the advice for parents and guardians:

For children aged 5-12

• Keep the computer or device in an area of your home that can be supervised. And check in regularly with your child to see what they are viewing.
• Stay engaged with their online activity. If they agree, consider setting up your own accounts with the sites they use most so you can see how they work and understand the risks.
• Explore the online world with them to help establish that this is not just a solitary activity. Play games with them. Do a creative project together.
• Think about social media readiness. Most social media sites require users to be at least 13 years of age before they can register, although some sites are created especially for children under 13.
• Encourage respect and empathy. Teach them to avoid sharing or posting things that may upset others.
• Start building resilience. Teach your child that there are ways they can deal with material that worries or frightens them. This includes immediately telling you or another trusted adult of any concerns or uncomfortable material.
• Encourage them to learn about online safety by exploring the kids section of this site.

For young people aged 13-17

• Keep things open. Have an ‘open door’ policy when devices are used in bedrooms, and check in with them regularly to see what they are viewing.
• Stay engaged. Ask about their online experiences, who they are talking to 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.
• Equip them to use social media responsibly. Terms of use for each service cover the rules for using the site, the type of content that can be posted and any age requirements. Go through these with your child to make sure they understand what is expected of them.
• Explain that linking social media accounts can make it easier for strangers to learn about them, so it is best to keep accounts 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?
• Remind them that they could expose themselves to risk by sharing intimate images of themselves or others.
• Keep building their self-respect, empathy and resilience. In particular, be aware of the impact of social media on self-esteem.
• Help them understand online risks and what to do about them.

Visit the eSafety Commissioner website here