To keep your kids safe online, a few simple precautions:
- Nothing replaces parental supervision and education for kids about cybersafety.
- Set a technology curfew.
- Place the computer or device in a common area of the house, so your child is less likely to try and access inappropriate web sites and use social media sites inappropriately.
- Remind your child to never give out identifying information such as your home address, school name or telephone number in a public message such as chats or newsgroups.
- If your child posts photos online, use privacy settings to limit access to people they know well.
- Regularly monitor what they are looking at on the internet and social media sites and do what you can to reduce their exposure to inappropriate content.
- Remind your child that people don't always tell the truth online, and they can't take anything at face value.
- Reassure your child that they can tell you anything, without fear or losing the laptop or internet access.
- If they get a message or email that's threatening or rude, they should 'Stop, Block, Tell.' First step is to tell your child to stop responding to the abuse and then block those people sending threatening or rude messages if they continue. Let your child know that if they are being bullied, or know someone else who is, they should tell a trusted adult.
- Never click on any links that are contained in emails from people they don't know. As well as sexual content, they could contain a computer virus.
- Consider using content filters to help control what your child can acess.
- If you suspect your child has been contacted by a predator, try to save a copy of the chat log (or whatever form the contact takes) for evidence. Call Crime Stoppers 24-hour hot line on 1800 333 000 to make a formal complaint.
- Your child will be using computers and technology for the rest of their lives - you're in a great position of being able to get them off to a safe, positive start.
eSafety Websites
- Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner: https://esafety.gov.au/esafety-information/games-apps-and-social-networking
- ThinkUKnow - internet safety education site - http://www.thinkuknow.org.au