Community Awareness Rosalie O’Neale Content Assessment Section 12 September 2006

Raising awareness… An essential component of any strategy to manage the risks associated with the internet. ACMA works with NetAlert and with Federal and State police to disseminate safety information.

What are the risks? Exposure to inappropriate content Children being contacted by people who aren’t who they say they are

Where do children go online? ACMA/NetAlert research has shown that children are increasingly accessing the internet for the first time at a younger age. The most popular use of the net at home is for homework or study, closely followed by playing games, and IM. ACMA recognises that chatting safely – in chat rooms, using IM, SMS and - is a key aspect of internet safety generally.

Key safety messages for parents Stay in touch with what your children are doing online! Talk to your children about their internet experiences. Let them know it’s OK to tell you if they come across something that worries them. Set household rules around internet use. Teach your children to never give out any personal information over the net. Use filters.

Key safety messages for children Keep secrets: Keep your personal information private! Be careful: The people you meet online may not be who they say they are. Someone claiming to be a teenager like you may be a 40 year-old man. Check with your parents or carer first: If you want to meet someone you have so far only met online, ask a parent or another adult to go with you and always meet in a popular public place, preferably during the day. Don’t stay/Don’t respond: If someone online writes something rude or posts something that makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t stay and don’t respond. Tell: If you see upsetting language, nasty pictures or something scary on the internet tell your parent or another adult that you trust.

Cybersmart Kids First launched in 2001, the site was updated in provides advice for parents on a range of internet safety matters, and tips for children on how to stay safe online. The site also includes information about emerging social networking technologies.

Cybersmart Guide There is also a complementary range of brochures available. These can be downloaded from or provided in hard copy. More than 1 million brochures have been distributed since December 2001.

Cybersmart Detectives An online game developed for use in schools which teaches important internet safety messages. The game is aimed at young people in the upper primary school age range (considered the most ‘at risk’). The games are run in partnership with police, education departments and child welfare groups.

Cybersmart Detectives Key messages: Parents should monitor their children’s use of the internet, particularly the places where they chat. Children should never give out personal information when chatting online. Remember that people you meet online may not be who they say they are!

Children and mobile phone safety In May 2006 ACMA released a safety guide (including a safety measures notice) for mobile chat providers on how to make their services safer for children. Steps providers can take to enhance safety include * increasing awareness of children and parents of the risks * filtering; and *restricting access by children to some services. ACMA has also formulated a list of questions that parents should ask mobile service providers before buying a mobile phone for their children.

Emerging issues – Social Networking Over the past two years there has been a massive upsurge in popularity of social networking sites. Sites such as provide registered users with a space to write journal entries, post photos or upload audio/video content. These sites are particularly popular with children, which raises the concern that they may be placing themselves at risk due to the ease with which they can reveal personal, identifying information.