Being safe on the internet

Digital technology is part of our everyday life. We use it for chatting with friends, watching and creating content, relaxing, playing and learning. It has heaps of benefits: we can go online to find support, connect with likeminded people, and explore different ways of expressing ourselves.

But the online world has a darker side too, it can be a place of harassment, bullying, hate, and people pretending to be someone they’re not. This doesn’t mean it’s a bad space, but it does mean it’s important to be able to tell what’s okay and what’s not. That includes knowing how to treat people respectfully, recognising content that crosses the line, and knowing how to seek help for tricky or unsafe situations if they come up.

Being safe and protecting your privacy

• Check your privacy settings on platforms, games and messaging apps.
• Who can see you? Who can contact you? Make sure your privacy settings are up to date on social media sites, so your profiles aren’t publicly available.
• Don’t use public wi-fi to post on social media or message people – public networks aren’t secure and can be hacked.
• Don’t share your passwords.
• Keep your phone number private.
• Don’t share images or posts you wouldn’t be happy for the whole world to see.
• Only share the personal information you really need to. You don’t always have to give information such as your birth year, address, phone number, email or location – even if random online forms ask for them.

Being respectful and ethical

• Be mindful of your behaviour and its impact on others.
• Use respectful language.
• Respect other people’s privacy.
• Get consent before sharing photos or posting content or information about other people (or don’t share).
• Don’t create or share nasty or humiliating emails, images or messages about others.
• Refuse to join in on mean, aggressive or negative online discussions about other people.
• If you see other people being cruel, nasty or unsafe online, if you feel safe to do so, call it out (respectfully).

Blocking or unfriending people who don’t treat you with respect

Block people who treat you badly. No one has to put up with disrespectful or unsafe behaviour.

Knowing how to get help

If situations or people make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, reach out to a trusted adult or other support person. If you don’t want to talk face-to-face, contact a free confidential counselling service like Kids Helpline or Headspace. 

eSafety is a great resource if you’re not sure what to do.

Following the law

Know and follow the law, even online. Doing stuff like hacking, pirating and using inaccurate or fake information to make accounts is illegal, even if it doesn’t feel like a big deal.