Online Safety

The best place to start for a range of resources and guidance regarding online safety can be found on https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people. Check out their resource library for a broad range of topics and advice. The E-safety commission is also where you report online harm such as online harassment, bullying or image based abuse through: https://www.esafety.gov.au/report which guides you through a steb by step process.

For broad educational resources on youth online safety you can also access:

• https://youthonlinesafety.org/education

• https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens

For legal advice regarding the internet, phones and technology visit Youth Law Australia:

See Also:

• https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au

• https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/sexting

• https://www.accce.gov.au/sextortionhelp

Helpful hints to stay safe online

There are a few simple things you can do to try to keep safe online:

• Be careful of requests – only accept ‘friend’ requests from people you know in real life. This reduces the chance of getting into an unsafe situation.

• Block anyone you’ve had contact with that was negative or unsafe – this stops them from having contact with you and from seeing your profile.

• Think before you upload and share photos – post photos that show you and your friends in a positive way. Once it’s uploaded, it’s no longer private and could be viewed by friends, family, teachers and strangers.

• Be mindful of what you write to others – you never know who will read these comments and how they might interpret them.

• Think carefully about sharing links to other sites – the content could be embarrassing, upsetting or hurtful to others.

• Keep your online friends online – never agree to meet someone you’ve only known online on your own. Take one of your parents with you and meet in a public place. If they are who they say they are, they’ll be happy to do this.

• Think about your privacy – avoid sharing personal information online that could be misused by someone in real life. Check your privacy settings and make sure your account is secure.

• Protect your identity – pick a username that isn’t your real name and a profile picture that doesn’t show any personal information.

• Sexting – keep sexting laws in mind when taking photos and sending or receiving images.

LGBTQ+ Guide to Facebook and Instagram