eSafety.gov.au

eSafety.gov.au is the best source for information on how to keep Cyber Safe! Here is a great video that explains the rights and responsibilities you have as a user of the internet and Apps. Read down further for more hints on tips on how you can act smart and keep safe whilst still staying connected, learning and having fun with the internet.

Your Rights & Responsibilities

Here are our top ten tips for playing it safe online:

1. Protect your reputation - You need to assume that anything you share, upload or send on via the internet is there for life and can be linked back to you. So, before you upload anything ask yourself "Would my grandmother approve of this?" or "What would my future employer think about this". If you're not sure - then it's better to be safe and not do it, then to be sorry later on.

2. Be careful who you trust - Don't accept friend requests or share information with people online who you don't know. If you wouldn't invite them to your home, then don't invite or accept them into your online world. Remember someone who is a "friend of a friend" of a real-life friend, is really a stranger.

3. Think before you click - Once something is online it is no longer in your control - it can be shared around the world in the blink of an eye. Even if you delete it from your own device, copies can be stored elsewhere. Before posting think of how others might use the information. If it's a picture of someone else - be sure to get their permission first before posting.

4. Protect yourself - A strong, hard-to-guess password is one way to protect your personal information. Use the privacy settings on your apps to control who sees what you post. If you’re using public computers, don’t use the “save password” function and log out when you’re finished. Never give your password to friends - if they get upset with you they can use your account information to impersonate you online. When taking photos - be sure to turn off your Location settings - otherwise your location coordinates are encrypted into your photo and can be found by simply popping the image into a Google search.

5. Don't leave a trail - The information you include in your posts can be more revealing than you think. Depending on what you say, it can be easy for someone to figure out where you live, how old you are, and build a picture of your routine. Sometimes that can be dangerous. For example, telling people your family will be away on vacation for a week could leave your home vulnerable to theft.

6. Stay Anonymous - Use your real name for official accounts – for work and school – but if you’re playing online, it’s fine to use a pseudonym . It’s also a good idea to set up a separate email account to use for online purchases and logins. It will be easy to change if you start getting a lot of spam.

7. Screenshot Evidence - whether it's online abuse, threats, unwanted content being sent to you - evidence is your best defense. Make sure to take screenshots of any unlawful or inappropriate behaviour that you witness online. Do not be tempted to respond.

8. Report & Block - with or without evidence you can report and block people online who are displaying inappropriate behaviour or threatening or abusing you online. If the bullying or inappropriate comments continue and you can't see it but your friends tell you about it - encourage them to report and block also.

9. Sending or receiving nudes & sexting - It is a criminal offense for children under 18 years to share, request, access, possess or create sexualised images. If a young person is receiving these images they must delete them immediately and advise the sender with a stern 'No' that they are not to send them again. If the behaviour continues tell a trusted adult and have them help you report the issue to the school or the police. If the images are coming from an adult - report this to police immediately. If ever in doubt, contact the esafety Commission or police for further advice.

10. Maintain a healthy Digital diet - Whilst technology is a big part of our day and helps us learn, stay connected and in some cases unwind - it is important to have a healthy digital diet. Ensure you spend twice as much time offline as you do online to sleep, exercise, and engage in activities with people around you such as family or friends - in person. If you find you are spending more time online then your are offline - it might be time to seek support from a trusted adult, online support service, or school counsellor. The impacts of too much time online can be both short and long term - from not getting enough sleep, a lack in exercise, insufficient exposure to sunlight (Vitamin D deficiency), breakdown in relationships with family and friends, skewed ideas of the world and reality - not to mention many other long term mental health issues including low self-esteem, body image issues, social anxiety and depression.