The eSafety Commissioner has released a Christmas Gift Guide which calls on parents and carers to check the safety of tech gifts before giving them to children and young people.
eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant said the Gift Guide informed parents and carers about what to look out for with tech gifts and gave practical advice on how people could help keep kids safe when using technology.
“With Christmas fast approaching, many parents and carers will be thinking about what gifts to put under the tree for their children this holiday season,” Ms Inman Grant said.
“There are some fantastic options out there, and internet-connected toys and devices do have great educational benefits,” she said.
“However, there can also be some dangers to those seemingly innocent gifts.”
Ms Inman Grant said there was an array of internet-connected technology available, such as drones, smart toys and wearable devices.
“They’re fun items that most kids want, but we also want parents and carers to be aware of the risks of these internet-connected items, and the precautions they can take,” the Commissioner said.
“For instance, some devices may give away details of your child’s location, or there may be apps on smartphones or tablets that have a messaging function you may not know about,” she said.
eSafety’s Gift Guide can be accessed at this PS News link.
