Top Ten Online Safety Tips
Keep personal information to a minimum – don’t use your full date of birth. Don’t put your mobile phone number on your profile. Keep identifying information about your private life, including your school, to a minimum. Keep your password private. Use a generic and non-identifying email address. Lock your profile and photo albums – don’t let people you don’t know have access to your photos. Think before posting photos. Always get the permission of others before putting their photos online. Check your profile regularly to check what others have posted or written on your profile. Report abuse, harassment, bullying or inappropriate content to the website and if necessary, your school or police.
Young people today have never known a world without the internet. See the Cybersmart video below for facts, figures and advice about staying safe online.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHj0gKGYzfY&feature=youtu.be
You can find a range of different resources to help you learn more about social networking and how to protect yourself online by clicking on each of the headings below.
Safe social networking: what you need know when you’re online Worried about your privacy? Find out how to manage your privacy settings
The following links contain information about and instructions for setting your privacy settings
Facebook Safety Centre http://www.facebook.com/help/?safety
Twitter – Keeping Your Account Secure http://support.twitter.com/articles/76036-safety-keeping-your-account-secure
Twitter – Privacy, Cyberbullying, and Cyberharassment http://support.twitter.com/articles/115246-safety-privacy-cyberbullying-and-cyberharassment
Twitter – Help Centre http://support.twitter.com/
MySpace – Safety and Security http://www.myspace.com/safetyaustralia
Bebo – Safety http://www.bebo.com/Safety.jsp
Bebo –Privacy http://www.bebo.com/Privacy2.jsp
Minimize and Go to Top
Has something happened to you online that makes you feel uncomfortable, scared or just plain down?
There are a number of ways you can get help when you experience cybersafety problems online.
TALK to someone by VISITING the Cybersmart Online Helpline for children and young people. It helps to talk to someone. Click on the Kids Helpline button for free and confidential advice online or visit http://www.kidshelp.com.au/teens/get-help/web-counselling/
CALL the Kids Helpline Need to talk? Kids Helpline counsellors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Nothing is too big or too small to call us about, and we will always listen and try to understand. If you need to talk to someone now, the fastest way is to call the Kids Helpline phone number 1800 55 1800 and speak with a counsellor. http://www.kidshelp.com.au/teens/
REPORT offensive content to the ACMA If you see content which is offensive or illegal you can make a report to the ACMA.
REPORT suspicious online behaviour to the Australian Federal Police If you know about a child who is in immediate danger or risk, call 000 or contact your local police. Learn more about reporting suspicious online behaviour.
Additional useful info
Visit the websites below for more information about your privacy and safety online
Stay Smart Online Stay Smart Online provides all Australian online users with information on the simple steps they can take to secure themselves online. This includes information and advice on how to secure your computer and your transactions online. http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/
Cybersmart Cybersmart provides activities, resources and practical advice to help young kids, kids, teens and parents safely enjoy the online world. http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/
ConnectSafely This website is for parents, teens, educators, advocates - everyone engaged in and interested in the impact of the social Web. http://www.connectsafely.org/about-us.html
ThinkUKnow One of the goals of ThinkUKnow Australia is to promote a dialogue between parents, carers and teachers and the young people in their care. Discussing the information provided in this website will help young people to stay in control whilst using the Internet and other technologies. http://www.thinkuknow.org.au/site/kids.asp
CyberSafeWorld CyberSafeWorld is a resource for everything you need to know about: Cyberbullying, Risks, Security, Ethics, Addiction, School & Parent Resources http://www.cybersafeworld.com
Bullying No Way www.bullyingnoway.com.au
Centre for Safe and Responsible Internet Use www.cyberbully.org
Net Safe www.netsafe.org.nz
Disclaimer: please note, by clicking on these links you will leave the Office for Youth website. The content on this website is not legal advice, and is not advice provided from a trained counsellor. For the full disclaimer, click here.
Back to Home page