The eSafety Commissioner has released a new guide for parents to keep children under the age of five safe online.
Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said Australian children were regularly exposed to harmful online experiences, with 28 per cent of parents aware their child has had a negative experience online.
“Parents, carers, educations and the general public are increasingly concerned about the online safety of children – including very young children – but feel unsure about how to tackle these important issues head on,” Ms Inman Grant said.
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said a new Online Safety for Under-5s booklet, developed by the eSafety Commissioner, would help keep more children safe.
“It’s critical we give parents the tools and knowledge they need to have these discussions because the online world isn’t an optional extra in people’s lives,” Mr Morrison said.
“We want to keep young people safe at every age and at every stage,” he said.
“This underscores the importance of the work our eSafety Commissioner does to equip parents and carers with the tools they need to keep pre-school kids safe from the first time they reach for an internet-enabled device.”
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher said Safer Internet Day (11 February) reflected evolving community expectations for online safety and highlighted practical steps people could take to protect themselves and their families.
“We’re leading the way in modernising online safety policy for Australians, including through a new Online Safety Act for which consultation is currently under way,” Mr Fletcher said.
“We know that digital technologies play a pivotal role in our day-to-day lives but what many people may not realise is that four out of five parents have children aged between two and five who are using online devices.
He said 94 per cent of Australian parents and carers said their child’s online safety was important so it was critical they started talking with their children about the skills and knowledge they needed to stay safe online.
More information on Safer Internet Day can be accessed at this PS News link.
