With so much of our time spent online, it has never been more important to promote the safe use of technology, build digital skills and help all Australians have safer, more positive experiences online.
Last week on the 6th of February, we marked is Safer Internet Day.
Safer Internet Day aims to raise awareness of emerging online safety issues and current concerns.
This year’s theme is ‘Connect, Reflect and Protect’.
Through this theme, the Office of the eSafety Commissioner has outlined three actions you can take to stay safe online:
- Connect safely by keeping apps and devices secure and reviewing your privacy settings regularly.
- Reflect on how your actions online may affect others or your safety.
- Protect yourself and others by visiting eSafety.gov.au to find out how to stay safe online and report online abuse.
I was proud to be a part of a Coalition Government in which Australia led global action to make social media companies more accountable over harmful content disseminated online.
We established the world’s first eSafety Commissioner to protect children from bullying and harmful content and later expanded our laws to support adults.
If someone is being abused online, the victim should not be forced to leave social media, but the abuser should be investigated and removed.
We don’t accept abuse in public, we shouldn’t accept it online.
The eSafety Commissioner plays a vital role in supporting all Australians and helping them feel safe online – free of abuse and harassment.
If you feel threatened or see harmful content online, remember there are simple measures you can immediately take:
- Report the content,
- Block the user trying to contact you; and
- Delete content you receive.
With the rapid challenges imposed by our digital world, online safety is a key priority for me, going forward.
You don’t have to wait for next year’s Safer Internet Day, to get involved and help promote a safer experience online.
There are resources available for workplaces, community organisations, schools, industry, government and families, which you can use on the eSafety Commissioner’s website to help promote esafety.
Visit www.esafety.gov.au to learn more.
