Staying safe on the internet

Use the internet safely

The internet offers a world of experience for children—instant communication, information discovery, online publishing and much more. It also allows children to explore endlessly ... but it’s not all good news. For all its advantages and opportunities, the internet also has its dangers— allowing children free access to the internet can be as risky as letting them out into the real world on their own. It’s vital that both adults and children are aware of these risks. NetAlert can show you how to make the internet safer for your family. Its primary objective is promoting a safer internet experience.

NetAlert will provide you with advice on a whole range of internet safety options—free guidance, information and resources designed to help you develop your own family safety strategy.

Staying safe

Online contact

The internet provides anonymity to users—for example, it is impossible to know who you are really talking to in a chat room. With deception made easier, this means that online contact can lead to harmful or exploitative contact in real life.

Content

Exposure to inappropriate and illegal material is, of course, a major concern for parents and carers. From pornography to misinformation, it’s important to recognise that not everything you find on the internet is educational, accurate or even benign.

Commercialism

Some online advertising and marketing practices can be invasive and annoying. They can also increase the vulnerability of children and invade their privacy. Marketing practices like scams deliberately try to exploit vulnerable members of our community.

Education is empowering

An essential part of keeping your family safe is to make them aware of the dangers of the internet, and to talk to them about how to avoid potential problems. Remember that your children will probably have access to the internet outside the home—at schools, libraries or friends’ houses. Children who can make informed decisions about the content they access and who they ‘chat’ to will be in a good position to use the internet in a responsible way when they are away from home.

NetAlert has a range of educational programs, available free of charge, which have been developed to teach children important internet safety skills.

Supervision

At home, the best protection for children using the internet is supervision and guidance. By creating your own family safety strategy, you can make the internet a more enjoyable experience for the whole family.

Use these questions to create internet safety guidelines that will suit your family:

• Have you installed a filter on your computer to help block access to inappropriate content?
• Does your family have a set of rules or an agreement for appropriate internet use?
• Have you placed the computer in a family area?
• Are you involved in your child’s online activities?
• Do you know what your children are doing and who they are talking to on the internet?
• Do your children know to ask permission before giving out personal information online?
• Do your children know never agree to meet someone they’ve met online alone?
• Have you chosen a family-friendly internet service provider?
• Have you taught your children not to believe everything they read online, and to check online information with a parent, carer or teacher?
• Do you know how to make a complaint about illegal content on the internet?

Managing access and usage

Safety software

There are many technological tools to help you manage your internet access and usage.

Products include filter software, which provide NetAlert – Staying safe on the internet 1 of 2 a good start to your family internet safety strategy. But these are not a solution in themselves, although they can be useful when used in conjunction with education and a sensible family safety strategy.

Family-friendly providers

Be sure to choose the right internet service provider. The Internet Industry Association has developed a ‘ladybird seal’ for internet service providers who demonstrate best practice standards. Look for this symbol when choosing your service provider.

Reporting offensive content

You can make a complaint about internet content that you think may be prohibited by law. For more information, visit the Australian Communications and Media Authority website (www.acma.gov.au) (go to For the public: Content & advertising > Internet: Internet content complaints).

Further advice and resources

NetAlert offers a range of advice, online resources and educational materials free of charge.

About NetAlert

NetAlert is the Australian Government’s online safety program, set up to protect Australian families online. NetAlert is part of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Contact details

Contact NetAlert at:

PO Box 13112 Law Courts
Melbourne Vic 3000
Tel: 1800 880 176
Fax: (03) 9963 6899
www.netalert.gov.au

For information in another language, call 131 450 from anywhere in Australia, for the cost of a local call. The Translating and Interpreting Service can call ACMA on your behalf.