Protecting Your Family

Children under 12 face several significant online threats. The following are the major risks that children face and strategies to use to help protect them. By implementing these strategies, parents can significantly enhance their children’s safety while navigating the online world.

Online predators often groom children through social media, chat rooms, or gaming platforms, posing as peers to gain trust.

Children may accidentally encounter adult content or violent material while browsing the internet.

Cyberbullying can occur through social media, gaming platforms, or messaging apps, leading to emotional distress.

Children can fall victim to scams that promise prizes or free items, leading them to share personal information or download malware.

Excessive screen time can lead to digital addiction, affecting physical health and mental well-being.

Children may unintentionally download harmful software through ads or malicious links.

Children may inadvertently share sensitive information on social media or gaming platforms.

Children may not realise that their online actions can have long-term consequences.

Teenagers and younger adults face several significant online threats. The following are the major risks that children and young adults face and strategies for protecting them. By implementing these strategies, parents can significantly enhance their children’s and young adult’s safety while navigating the online world, fostering a healthier digital environment for teenagers and young adults.

Online predators often groom young users through social media, chat rooms, or gaming platforms, posing as peers to gain trust.

Cyberbullying is prevalent among teens and can take various forms, including harassment, spreading rumours, or sharing explicit images without consent.

Sexting involves sending sexually explicit messages or images, which can lead to sextortion when these images are used for blackmail.

Teens may accidentally encounter pornography or violent material while browsing the internet.

Young users often share personal information without understanding the risks, leading to potential identity theft or privacy breaches.

Teens may fall victim to scams that promise prizes or free items, leading them to share personal information or download malware.

Excessive screen time can lead to digital addiction, affecting mental health and academic performance.

Young users may encounter false information or harmful ideologies online, impacting their beliefs and decisions.

In addition to the threats and protection strategies covered in the section titles Protecting Yourself, there are some additional considerations with seniors and elderly internet users. To help protect seniors or elderly internet users from online threats, additional strategies can be implemented alongside basic online safety practices.

By implementing these strategies, caregivers and family members can significantly enhance the online safety of elderly individuals, helping them navigate the digital world with greater confidence and security.

Tailored Workshops: Organise or participate in workshops specifically designed for seniors that cover online safety, including recognizing scams and safe browsing habits. Local community centres or libraries often offer such programs.

One-on-One Sessions: Spend time with elderly family members to explain online safety concepts in a relatable way. Use real-life examples to illustrate potential risks.

User-Friendly Devices: Choose devices and software that are easy to navigate. Tablets with large icons and simplified interfaces can make technology less intimidating.

Pre-configured Settings: Set up devices with security features enabled, such as automatic updates, antivirus software, and safe browsing settings, so seniors don’t have to manage these themselves.

Scheduled Reviews: Regularly check in with seniors to review their online activities and address any concerns they may have. This helps reinforce safe practices and allows for timely intervention if issues arise.

Encourage Open Communication: Foster an environment where seniors feel comfortable asking questions about technology and reporting suspicious activities without fear of judgment.

Access to Reliable Information: Provide seniors with resources from reputable organisations that focus on online safety for older adults. Websites like the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) offer valuable information tailored to this demographic.

Community Support Groups: Encourage participation in local groups or online forums where seniors can share experiences and learn from each other regarding online safety.

Social Media Awareness: Help seniors adjust privacy settings on social media platforms to limit who can see their posts and personal information. Teach them to be cautious about accepting friend requests from unknown individuals.

Safe Search Filters: Enable safe search features on browsers to help filter out inappropriate content or potentially harmful websites.

Educate About Common Scams: Regularly discuss prevalent scams targeting seniors, such as lottery scams, fake tech support calls, or phishing attempts. Keeping them informed can help them recognise red flags.

Create a Scam Reporting System: Encourage seniors to report any suspicious emails or messages they receive, either to family members or relevant authorities.

Limit Personal Information Sharing: Educate seniors on the importance of not sharing personal information (like Social Security numbers or bank details) over email or social media.

Use Secure Connections: Teach them to look for HTTPS in URLs when entering sensitive information online. This indicates a secure connection.

Antivirus and Anti-Malware Tools: Ensure that reliable antivirus and anti-malware software is installed on their devices, and explain how to keep it updated.

Ad Blockers: Consider installing ad blockers that can prevent malicious ads from appearing while they browse the internet.