Creating a safer online world
Opinion
As children and young people head back to school and start the new year of activities in our parishes, it is a good time to think about how we use the internet.
Increasingly, our learning, friendships and social connections happen online, as well as in person at school and church. This makes it a perfect moment to focus on engaging with the online world safely, setting sensible limits on device use, and modelling good online behaviour ourselves.
Safer Internet Day, a global day of action, will be celebrated on February 11. This day brings together communities, families, schools and organisations to raise awareness about online safety. In Australia, the eSafety Commissioner leads the day and offers practical steps to help make the online environment safer and more positive, especially for children and young people.
Creating a kinder online world is a crucial step we need to take. It is essential to practice and model respect, empathy and kindness when we are online. By doing so, we help build a safer and more supportive environment for everyone. These positive online behaviours are not only helpful for us but are also important to teach and model to children and young people.
Having regular conversations about online safety which may include conversations around possible online grooming are key in keeping the internet safe. Talking openly with children about how to use the internet responsibly helps them understand safe practices. You might ask them questions like “what would you do if someone you don’t know wants to be your friend online” or “what information should you keep private when you’re online”. You can also talk about why it is important to ask for permission before taking someone’s picture and discuss how to know what is real and what is fake online. These conversations are an easy way to help children develop good habits and stay safe in the digital world.
We should be mindful about time spent on devices. It is easy to get caught up in screen time but making sure it doesn’t take over time spent interacting with family and friends, learning or playing offline is important. The social skills that children and young people develop through face-to-face interactions are essential and cannot be replaced by time spent on a screen.
By balancing online and offline activities, we help children and young people stay healthy, both mentally and socially.
If something harmful or upsetting happens online, such as viewing harmful content, bullying or abuse, it is important to speak up. Children should always feel they can talk to a trusted adult – a parent, friend, teacher or parish leader – if they come across something that makes them feel worried, scared or uncomfortable.
Adults can help by reporting harmful content direct to the online platform itself or to the eSafety Commissioner.
Instructions for reporting harmful content from social media platforms, games, apps, and websites can be found on the eSafety website (esafety.gov.au/newsroom/whats-on/sid).
There is also a child-friendly version that helps children know what to do if they see something online that makes them uncomfortable or if they witness bullying or mean behaviour.
Encouraging children, young people and adults to learn more about online safety is an important step. The eSafety website offers helpful resources and information for children, parents, carers and educators. These resources provide age-appropriate tools to support learning about staying safe online.
We can all play a part in keeping the internet safe for everyone but parents and carers play a key role in setting rules and limits around device use, including which games, apps and websites children can use and who they can interact with online.
Safer Internet Day is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to reflect on how we use the internet. Let us work together to create a kinder online world. We hope you will join us on February 11 in celebrating Safer Internet Day and making the internet a safer place for everyone.
The Archdiocesan Integrity and Safeguarding Department is available for advice on safeguarding matters (phone 8210 8150 or email caasafeoperations@adelaide.catholic.org.au).
– Safeguarding Operations Team, Integrity and Safeguarding Department.
