New research by Good Things Australia highlights why adults must remain front of mind as Australia develops its digital duty of care
53% are worried scams are becoming harder to spot
Only 30% feel confident they can avoid scams online
Just 28% feel confident managing their privacy and safety settings
As banking, government services, appointments and everyday communication increasingly move online, new research shows many Australians do not feel equipped to navigate the risks that come with it.
A nationally representative survey of 2,000 Australian adults found just 31% feel confident telling the difference between reliable and unreliable information online, while more than one in five (22%) want more education on how to stay safer online.
Good Things Australia says the findings are particularly timely as the Australian Government develops its proposed Digital Duty of Care. An exposure draft released this week would require online services to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harms to Australians. While much of the recent online safety debate has focused on children and young people, adults who are less confident online also need to remain front of mind as the reforms take shape.
Good Things Australia CEO Jess Wilson said people cannot be expected to carry all of the responsibility for navigating online risks themselves.
“More and more of everyday life now happens online, but we can’t assume everyone has been given the skills or support to navigate it safely.”
“When more than half of Australians say scams are getting harder to spot, we can’t put all of the responsibility back on the individual. Australia’s proposed digital duty of care is designed to protect everyone. As it takes shape, we need to make sure older people and those who are less confident online remain front of mind.”
The research also found almost three in ten Australians (29%) feel overwhelmed by rapid changes in technology, 22% say they need help to keep up and 23% feel they have no choice but to do everything online.
