Services and programs are engaging with children and young people in new ways: through video conferences, online forums, webinars, social media platforms or over the phone.
The internet, social media platforms and cloud-based video conferencing like Zoom are great ways to socialise, learn, work, play and be entertained. But there are also risks including, online sexual exploitation, cyber bullying, online risk taking behaviour, inappropriate collection, use and sharing of data as well as harmful and distressing content. Below is important information for caregivers, children and young people to mitigate these risks and have safe and enjoyable experiences online.
Safety resources
Caregivers and children under five
The eSafety Commissioner website is a great resource to learn about online safety and includes important information on the big issues, including:
- cyberbullying External link
- online pornography External link
- sending nudes and sexting External link
- time online External link
- online gaming External link
- unwanted contact and grooming External link
- Child Online Protection External link
- Think U Know (UK website) External link
- It’s never too early to talk about online safety; access information for children under 5 External link
- Develop a family tech agreement for young children External link
- Caregiver(s) of children aged 4 to 7 can access targeted information on online safety External link.
Children aged 6 to 12 years
- eSafety Commissioner’s eSafety kids webpage External link is a great resource for children aged 6 to 12.
- Child Protection Online with Sango storybooks External link, for children under 9, present six scenarios with questions about their rights and safety online.
- The work with Sango workbooks External link aim to guide, advise and teach children aged 9 to 12 about their rights, risks and safety online.
- Encourage children to follow the tips on how to be an eSafe kid External link.
- Children and their caregiver(s) can make a complaint about cyberbullying External link to the eSafety Commissioner.
- The Think U Know, UK website has targeted online resources for children aged 8 to 10 External link and 11 to 13 year olds External link.
Young people aged 13 to 18 years
- Learn about the latest games, apps and social media, including how to protect your information and report inappropriate content by visiting the eSafety Guide External link.
- If you’re dating online, receiving unwanted nudes or being pressured into sending nudes, being trolled or bullied, feeling concerned about your digital reputation or experiencing catfishing, access information about these topics and more External link.
- You may be interested in engaging with Voices of Youth External link and joining their community, UNICEF's digital community FOR YOUTH, BY YOUTH. The website can be assessed in multiple languages including Arabic, French, Spanish and English.
- The Net rules challenge External link is an online social media campaign for young people aged 13 to 18 years old that can help you learn how to manage risks online and support you in a safe and positive online experience.
- The Think U Know, UK website has specific resources for young people aged 14 and over External link.
Want to learn more?
The eSafety Commissioner run free one-hour webinars External link for parents on topics including, popular apps used by young people with case studies, research, and targeted advice on where to find help and support.
