New resources are available today from the eSafety Commissioner to help parents and carers from all backgrounds protect their families in the digital world.
Online Safety for Every Family is a package of animated videos and advice sheets addressing a range of common challenges, with topics including social media, gaming, online bullying and general online safety.
Available in English, Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Tamil and Dari, the materials can be downloaded from eSafety’s website.
“We see a very broad range of online skills across the community, including among those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.
“Increasingly parents and carers have a high level of digital literacy but we are also aware some may feel a divide between themselves and their children when it comes to technology.
“We have created these resources to help bridge that divide and ensure everyone can be confident helping their children learn and play safely online.”
The package is designed to help parents begin a conversation with their children about online safety and build the confidence to support more positive experiences.
It also includes links and information to help if something goes wrong.
“Research from eSafety shows half of children surveyed in 2021 had been treated in a hurtful or nasty way online in the past year, one in ten had been the target of hate speech and 55 per cent had been in contact with someone they first met online,” Ms Inman Grant said.
“It also shows that parents and carers tend to underestimate the prevalence and impact of potentially negative experiences online.
“At eSafety we are working to improve the online environment in a range of ways, including through our work with tech companies to boost safety and transparency across the industry.
“However, it is important to recognise the huge contribution parents can make in their own children’s lives. Equipped with the right information, they can play a positive and proactive role ensuring children remain happy and healthy online.”
The resources launched today can be downloaded at: esafety.gov.au/parents/parent-resources/online-safety-for-every-family
Report instances of cyberbullying or online abuse at: esafety.gov.au/report