Parent Guide to CyberWellbeing
Be careful
Meeting people online might be fun, but remember that the people you meet online
may not be who they say they are. Someone claiming to be a 12 year old girl
could really be a 40 year old man.
Check with your parents/carer first
Ask your Mum or Dad or carer before you give out your name, phone number or
address or any other personal details. This includes the name of your school,
your photo, and any personal information about your friends and family. Never
post such information in a chat room or somewhere lots of other people might
see it.
Always keep your password a secret.
Take someone with you
If you want to meet someone you have so far only met in a chat room, ask one
of your parents or another adult to go with you. Always meet in a popular public
place, preferably during the day.
Don’t stay.
Don’t respond If someone in a chat room posts offensive pictures or says
something rude or scary, or if you are sent these in an email, don’t respond,
save it and leave the chat room straightaway.
Tell
If you see upsetting language, nasty pictures or something scary tell
your parent or another adult you trust.
Spam
Spam is electronic 'junk mail'—unwanted messages sent to your email account
or mobile phone. Spam may contain offensive material, malicious code, try to
persuade you to buy a product or service or attempt to trick you into divulging
your banking details. To reduce spam, protect your email address and mobile
phone number, use filtering software and boost your internet security. Also
check your ISP's website for information about managing spam. Complaints should
be made online at www.acma.gov.au/spam.
Trusted sites that inform us, about cyber safety:
National Centre Against Bullying
Cyber[smart] - Australian Communication and Media Authority
Trusted parenting sites