The online experiences of children in Australia
eSafety’s 'Keeping Kids Safe Online' survey explores the benefits, opportunities and risks that the online world offers children in Australia.
The digital world is deeply embedded in the lives of children in Australia, offering connection, creativity, and learning. Online activities also carry a degree of risk of negative online experiences. Supporting children to safely navigate these risks and avoid harm is a global challenge.
In response and through world first legislation, the Australian Parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 (SMMA) in November 2024. Under the legislation, which came into effect on 10 December 2025, age-restricted social media platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent Australian children under 16 from creating or holding accounts.
Shortly after the legislation was passed, eSafety conducted the ‘Keeping Kids Safe Online’ survey between December 2024 and February 2025. This survey captured the online experiences of over 3,000 children in Australia aged 10 to 17 years and their parents and caregivers. As Australia implements and evaluates the age restrictions, this point-in-time study provides a valuable contribution to the national evidence base.
Our ‘Keeping Kids Safe Online’ report and snapshot series explore the perceived benefits of being online, potentially risky online activities, exposure to negative online experiences and digital parenting practices in the year prior to the implementation of the age restrictions.
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Reports
Online engagement, use and harms among children aged 10 to 15
‘Digital use and risk' presents findings on the use of online platforms and experiences of harms among children aged 10 to 15 in Australia.
This short report draws on a subset of data from the 'Keeping Kids Safe Online' survey.
Exploring children’s experiences of cyberbullying and online hate by people connected to their sporting activities
‘The digital sideline’ report investigates the incidence of cyberbullying and online hate among children aged 10 to 17 in Australia, where the person or people responsible were connected to their sporting activities. It provides insights into who was responsible and the online locations where each of these types of harms occurred.
Top level findings: Snapshot series
The Keeping Kids Safe Online snapshots present topline findings on children’s experiences of a range of online harms and include demographic differences.
Summary of key findings
- Almost 3 in 4 (74%) children had ever seen or heard content associated with harm online.
- More than 1 in 2 (53%) had experienced cyberbullying.
- 3 in 5 (60%) had seen or heard online hate, while over 1 in 4 (27%) had personally experienced it.
- 1 in 4 (25%) had experienced non-consensual tracking, monitoring or harassment.
- The prevalence of online harms varied by gender and age, with teens and trans and gender-diverse children generally more at risk of encountering online harms.
Download the methodology
About the research
This research draws on data from eSafety’s ‘Keeping Kids Safe Online’ survey.
The survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of children aged 10 to 17 years living in Australia and their parent or caregiver. A total of 3,454 children and their parent or caregiver participated in the survey. Two weeks after completion of the core survey, children were re-contacted and asked additional questions, with 2,302 children included in the recontact survey.
Helpful resources
eSafety’s Parents section has information for parents and carers, including information and advice about helping children stay safe online.
eSafety’s Kids and Young People sections provide useful information to help children and young people stay safe online.
eSafety's Social media age restrictions hub provides information for young people and families to help them understand and adapt to the changes following the implementation of the age restrictions.