It can feel like a constant challenge to help your child be safe online.
From being a good friend online to age-appropriate games and online dating, helping your child practice online safety starts early and continues through the teenage years.
Talk early and often
Have regular chats about online safety. Talk about what’s safe to share, how to be respectful, and what to do if something makes them feel uncomfortable.
To help you with these conversations, Be Safe Online, is a free kit of easy read information, key word sign support tools and guides. These tools help young people with disability understand the impact of their online behaviour, and concepts including online bullying, scams and sharing personal information.
Model safe online habits
Show your child what safe and respectful online behaviour looks like. This might mean not using phones in bedrooms or bathroom and checking with others before sharing photos of them online.
Supervise and set boundaries
Use age-appropriate controls and check the games, apps, and websites your child uses. You can use parental controls on your child’s devices, to help them avoid content that’s not suitable for their age or development, or to limit screen time.
Talking to your child about sexual content
While this can be a daunting topic, it is a reality that inappropriate content is easily accessed via the internet. Porn is Not the Norm is a useful resource to support autistic young people and their families safely navigate healthy and respectful relationships and sexuality in this context. Planet Puberty is another useful resource for having these conversations.
What to do if something goes wrong
Make sure your child knows they can come to you if they see something upsetting or feel unsure online.
The eSafety Commissioner helps Australians to stay safe online. If you have a concern about cyberbullying, abuse or illegal content online, you can report it.
The eSafety Commissioner also has a range of information for parents about online safety basics, parental controls, gaming, cyberbullying.
Online safety is an ongoing journey. By talking, guiding, and learning together, you can help your child build the skills and confidence to enjoy the digital world safely.