The eSafety Commissioner is calling on Australian parents and carers to check the safety of tech gifts like connected toys, tablets and wearables this holiday season, using the eSafety Gift Guide.
The warning comes ahead of Black Friday sales later this week, a popular time for many Australians to start buying gifts.
“Many toys, games and devices on children’s wish lists can be connected to the internet, so we want parents and carers to be aware of the risks and the precautions they can take,” says Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner.
The eSafety Gift Guide covers popular tech gifts for children and young people this year, including drones, smart toys, smartphones, tablets and even wearables for pets.
“Internet-connected toys and devices can have great educational benefits, but they can also reveal your child’s personal details and location to outsiders and allow other people to contact your child online without you knowing,” says Inman Grant.
The Guide helps to inform parents and carers about what to look out for with tech gifts and provides practical advice on how to stay safe, including setting strong passwords, turning off location settings and limiting the amount of personal information shared.
The eSafety Gift Guide is part of a wider government initiative to help Australian shoppers this holiday season. Consumers and businesses can find more information about how to spot fake online stores, pay securely online and protect their personal data at Scamwatch, Stay Smart Online and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
More information about what to look out for and how to stay safe when using tech gifts at: esafety.gov.au/gift-guide