Cybersafety
Teaching your child to be cybersafe will help them to engage with the online world safely and positively protect them from online risks.
Common cybersafety issues for children include cyberbullying, accessing or sharing inappropriate content and protecting their personal information.
What is cyberbullying? (click to expand)
Cyberbullying is a term used to describe bullying that is carried out through internet or mobile device technologies.
Examples of cyberbullying can include:
- repeated hang up calls
- sending insulting or threatening text messages
- publishing someone's personal or embarrassing information online
- creating hate sites or starting social exclusion campaigns on social networking sites.
How can I help my child to be cybersafe? (click to expand)
The following links contain information to answer your specific questions about cybersafety.
The Australian Government's Cybersmart website is a helpful resource for parents with young children, older children or teenagers. The website has information about:
- Parents Cybersafety toolbox
- Resources for use with young kids from 4 to 7 years
- Resources for use with kids from 8 to 12
- Resources for use with teens from 13 to 18 years
- Cyberbullying
- Sexting
- Unwanted contact
- e-security
- Protecting personal information
- Location-based services
- Offensive or illegal content
- Online gaming
- Excessive internet use
- Identity theft
- P2P file sharing
- Online shopping and banking
- Mobile phones
- Digital Reputation
Cybersafety Help Button
The Cybersafety Help Button was developed by the Australian Government and is a free application that is easily downloaded onto personal computers and mobile devices. It offers counselling, reporting and educational resources to assist young people deal with online risks including cyberbullying, unwanted contact, scams and fraud, and offensive or inappropriate material.
Easy Guide to Socialising Online has some great tips for children to protect themselves and their information when using social networking sites, search engines and online games. It also includes information about the cybersafety features of all the sites included in the guide.
ThinkUKnow is an internet safety website and program delivering interactive training to parents, carers and teachers through schools and organisations across Australia using a network of accredited trainers. Face-to-face parent sessions can also be booked around Australia via the booking information page.
Cybersafety on the Schools A-Z website developed by the Department of Education and Communities, New South Wales contains information for parents about the following:
- Keeping kids safe online
- Keeping Facebook private
- Should kids have computers in their bedrooms
- Ten Cybersafety tips every parent should know.
Using Technology: The Department of Education and Communities, New South Wales Schools A-Z website helps parents to understand what the latest technologies can do and how they're being used. Learn more about what your children may be doing online and pick up some top tips to help keep them safe.
Cybersafety Resources by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy provides links to a number of websites about cybersafety.
TXTing/SEXTing is a fact sheet available from The Line website managed by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. This fact sheet addresses safe talking and texting for teenagers.