Send message by having chat about online safety this Safer Internet Day

Today is Safer Internet Day, and we are once again supporting eSafety because everyone has the right to feel safe online.

We asked kids about what they do to stay safe online.

Detective Inspector Glen Donaldson is from Argos – a specialist unit within the QPS that investigates online child exploitation. He said that as the school year starts, there is no better time to talk to your children about online safety.

“Parents need to realise some people aren’t playing fair online, contacting children through social media and games, pretending to be someone else, even another young person, to groom them,” Detective Inspector Donaldson said.

“One in four young people have been contacted online by someone they don’t know.

“That’s why it’s so important for kids to know the warning signs and know they can always talk to a parent or trusted adult for support and to report online behaviour that makes them feel uncomfortable.”

The QPS continues to encourage parents and carers to have conversations with family and friends about promoting safe online environments.

Safer Internet Day is also about playing it fair with others online.

It’s a good time to also talk about keeping passwords and logins private, being respectful to others online, thinking about how words and actions can affect others and how you can take a stand against cyber bullying.

Use the tips below to find out how to respond to online abuse and take control of your online safety.

Manage the voices you engage with

You can control what you see and hear online. Conversation controls help you manage social media feeds and make sure these platforms are a more positive place for you and your little ones to spend time online.

Check out the available conversation controls for some popular social media platforms:

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

For other apps and to learn how to mute, block or unfollow people to minimise the harm of online abuse, check out The eSafety Guide.

Update your security and privacy settings

It’s a good idea to regularly check security and privacy settings. eSafety recommends using different, strong passwords for each online account, and signing out when finished. You can add two-step verification (also known as two-factor authentication) for extra protection. Your answers to security questions should be things that no one else can learn.

Find out more about how to secure your accounts in our how-to videos.

Take a moment to check the privacy settings on all devices and apps. Social media sites have privacy settings to help control who sees your posts. You can also adjust your settings to manage who can send friend requests.

Take charge of your location settings

Location settings are important for map apps and all types of technology, but they can also be used to track you – with an intent to cause harm.

You can choose when and who to share locations with. Remember, social media apps and Bluetooth technology that’s used for sharing files and connecting to devices, can also track your location. You can turn these features off.

Get more information on locations settings.

Make it a habit to collect evidence of online abuse

eSafety research shows that people downplay online abuse. If you or your child is experiencing online abuse, collect evidence of the abuse – and this will help others to help you.

Raise your voice about online abuse

Online abuse should always be reported to the relevant platforms and, depending on the level of harm, you can also report to eSafety or the police.

Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and other social media sites provide community rules to follow. If you or your child sees something that’s not respectful, you can anonymously make a report and ask the site to remove it.

Make sure children know that it they or someone they know is being bullied, the first step is to speak up to a trusted adult.

To see what eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has to say about Safer Internet Day 2022, click here.

If there’s immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

To explore reporting options and police support, visit www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting

For advice and support or to report online abuse, go to eSafety.gov.au.

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