3 steps to staying safe online

Safer Internet Day is a global celebration which took place in February. Each year it aims to raise awareness of a safer and better internet for all, especially for children and young people. Here we share some simple steps for keeping yourself and your loved ones safe online.

We use the internet in almost every part of our lives, so it’s important for everyone to know how to stay safe online.

For Safer Internet Day on Feb 6th, Australia’s eSafety Commission showed almost half of children aged 8-17 were treated in a hurtful or nasty way online over 12 months, and 62% of children were exposed to potentially harmful online content, such as graphic violence, hate messages, and ways to self-harm.

Among adults, 75% had at least one negative experience online, and only 1 in 3 adults knew what to do when personal information or images were shared without consent. The research also showed 1 in 6 adults had done something negative online to others.

Here are three simple steps that you can take to help stay safe online:

Connect safely by keeping apps and devices secure and reviewing your privacy settings regularly. Create strong passwords and don’t reuse the same password on multiple apps and devices. Use a strong password to lock your screen. Set up automatic updates for apps and operating systems so that your device is always updated with the latest security features and install virus protection software.
Reflect on how your actions online may affect others or your safety. Respect for others is important in all relationships, and it’s no different when we are online. You can also encourage your children to treat online friends with as much respect as face-to-face friends and to tell you or another trusted adult if they see someone being bullied online.
Protect yourself and others by visiting eSafety.gov.au to find out how to stay safe online and report online abuse. The eSafety website has a range of resources for parents, kids, and young people on topics such as cyberbullying, limiting screen time, and safe gaming.

If you or someone you know is experiencing serious online abuse, you can report what is happening to the eSafety Commissioner here.

By staying aware online and following the simple steps above, we can all help to keep ourselves and our loved ones protected and make every day a safer internet day.

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