The online world can be an exciting, empowering and challenging place. Cyber safety education is essential if we want to create a more positive future for young people. 

The 2019 eSafety Conference was held in Sydney in September. Hosted by The Office of the eSafety Commissioner and Netsafe New Zealand, eSafety 2019 was an opportunity for the world’s foremost academics, industry leaders, educators, policy makers and young people to come together and discuss the biggest online safety issues of our time. The focus of this year’s event was on working together to create an online world that is positive, inclusive and safe for everyone.

With a staggering 99% of 15-17 year olds being online and 97% of households with children under 15 having access to the internet, cyber safety education is critical in helping young people stay protected online. 

In partnership with the Office of the eSafety Commissioner, last Tuesday the 5th February, we celebrated Safer Internet Day 2019 with a jam-packed itinerary of primary and high school live cyber safety theatre shows.

Screen time is a major concern for many parents. Children are learning to use digital devices from a young age and primary school students regularly use technology for entertainment and to socialise with their friends. The latest Child Health Poll found that one-third of Australian pre-schoolers, two-thirds of primary school children and almost all teenagers own their own tablet or smart phone.

The popularity of digital and online games is rapidly increasing, and it doesn't look like slowing down! Not only are more people playing games, but they’re also watching other people play through live streaming and esport tournaments. 

Many parents and teachers are concerned by the fervour surrounding games like Fortnite and the increasing use of games among primary school students. But no matter how you feel about gaming, there's one thing you can be sure of: gaming is here to stay.

This week was Stay Smart Online Week, a week to raise awareness about cybercrime and how to reverse the threat. Cybercrime is a significant issue in Australia, with a colossal 6.09 million adults having experienced an online breach in 2017.*

With tech-use among students rapidly rising each year, internet safety education is vital. In fact, Roy Morgan Research found that 97 per cent of children under 15 had continual access to the internet. 97 per cent! 

Transform your smartphone into a positive wellbeing tool by downloading the R U OK? mobile app Konnect. This handy app encourages you to hit the pause button and make time for your friends and family, with the aim of boosting emotional wellbeing. 

Our privacy is valuable. And now, more than ever, we need to protect it.

As a society, we are beginning to understand the consequences of sharing our personal information online. We are becoming increasingly concerned with how our data is being used and misused.

Advances in technology present new risks to our privacy and security. Spam, scams, identity theft and fraud are just some of the risks we face when we use our devices.

Privacy Awareness Week runs from the 13th to the 19th of May this year. It provides an opportunity to reflect on how we share and manage our personal data. The aim is to shine a spotlight on the issue of privacy, and to remind us that privacy does matter.

With this awareness has come growing concern for the privacy of children and young people online. So how do we keep them safe?

On 6th February 2018 Brainstorm Productions celebrated Safer Internet Day, a worldwide event that is coordinated by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner in Australia. 

CREATE, CONNECT AND SHARE RESPECT

On 6 February 2018 we’re celebrating Safer Internet Day!

Summer holidays are kicking off around Australia, which means students will have more free time to play and have fun in the sun. 

But school holidays can be a difficult time for some kids. Changes to routine and being away from their usual school supports can cause them to feel stressed, down or lonely. Holidays can be a particularly vulnerable time for students whose families are struggling with grief, loss, poverty or family violence.

School holidays also mean more time spent online.