Internet and Mobile Phone Use – How Safe Are Our Children?
How We Keep Our Families SafeThe internet offers an exciting world of experiences for children. It can be entertaining, educational and rewarding. However, using the internet involves risks and challenges with children potentially exposed to content that is sexually explicit, violent, prohibited or even illegal. Other risks include contact with strangers or cyber bullying. Similarly, mobile phone ownership by children has taken schoolyard bullying to new levels, with victims potentially exposed to persistent taunts and abuse. Parents are therefore encouraged to take an active role in talking with their children about the risks associated with the internet and mobile phone use.
In April 2009, nearly all South Australian households had taken some precautions to protect children from inappropriate actions on the internet. Supervision or monitoring a child’s use of the internet was the most common action taken for child safety or security at home (93%), followed by educating the child about safe and appropriate use of the internet (86%), and placing the computer in a public area of the house (80%).
Similarly, most South Australian families (90%) took some action for the personal safety of the child user of mobile phones. The most common method is to educate their child about the safe and appropriate use of the mobile phone (85%), while about half (49%) monitor their child’s mobile phone activity. Only 2% of parents reported that their child had a personal safety or security problem with their mobile phone.
Both the Australian Government (Stay Smart Online) and the South Australian Government (Information Economy) recognise online safety and security are issues for the community and provide useful information on their respective web sites. Advice includes how to secure your computer online, cyber security awareness for school students, and resources for parents to help protect their children online.
Australian Bureau of Statistics
