eSafetyFirstNations

Jhdara: I would have been about 8 [when I got my first phone]. I needed a mobile to ring if there were any issues on the way to school. I had a Nokia with a Spider-Man case. 

I think I sort of set up my Facebook at around 12/13. I feel that's a pretty common age, or maybe even earlier these days, when children are getting access to those platforms.

Madison: Creating those friendships and relationships online was lots of fun. Creating reels and TikToks and really getting involved in the online world.

I really love being on social media, and I feel like once you create your own community online, you're surrounding yourself with like-minded people.

Jhdara: Social media was a great way for me to stay in contact with all those friends and family I'd left back in Tasmania. Even though I have been in Melbourne for so long now, I'm still really good friends with them because of platforms that have allowed me to stay in contact on a regular basis with them.

Madison: I've found that across all platforms there is bullying or harassment, and often people hide behind a computer screen.

Jhdara: I’ve definitely seen a lot of the vile comments and hate and racism. When they're on Facebook, they feel enabled to, you know, almost share their true feelings.

Madison: I’ve experienced online bullying from a close family member. It was really triggering, really hard.

Jhdara: Having a lot of sort of close family and friends that are in the public spotlight for their careers, I've definitely seen second hand how it can affect someone and the strain that those constant barrage of comments can put people under.

A lot of this stuff gets swept under the rug as you know, humour or, you know, a lighthearted post. But at the end of the day, these affect people in many different ways.

Madison: There is a lot of positives that come out of social media and I feel like I focus on those more so than I do on the negatives.

I just reiterate the fact that I’m trying to create a safe space for people to feel seen.

Jhdara: It definitely does come up to a lot of teaching your, you know, your family and your friends, and if you have younger siblings, how to best handle those situations.

I think definitely one of the best ways to protect yourself from online abuse is staying on top of all your social medias, in their settings, in terms of who can access your profiles, who can direct message you.

Madison: We're all still trying to navigate this online space and it’s just about doing it as a collective.

If something starts to get uncomfortable, disengage.

If you’re experiencing online abuse, harassment or bullying, the best place to go is the eSafety website. First Nations communities will find that these tips and tricks on there are really helpful.

Jhdara: There's a dedicated webpage for First Nations people and also functionality to report abuse.

So if any of you mob are dealing with some stuff out there, definitely visit that website and you'll find out all you need to know and more.