Pause, think, protect – these are three words every Australian should remember to help keep kids safe online this Safer Internet Day and every day.
Held on Tuesday, February 11, Safer Internet Day 2025 is a global day of action bringing together communities across more than 180 countries to raise awareness of online safety.
National child protection organisation Act for Kids is backing the push by encouraging all Aussies to reflect on their behaviour amid a concerning rise in images being used to harm children online.
Authorities have warned of a surge in internet users using artificial intelligence programs to produce child abuse material, including some students creating 'deepfake' material of their fellow classmates.
Parents and carers can also inadvertently put children in harm's way by posting pictures of them on social media revealing personal information, such as their child's school or location.
Act for Kids CEO Dr Katrina Lines said internet users should 'pause' and 'think' before posting any images of a child online.
"Pause before you post that photo on social media and have a think about who will have access to this, where it could end up and if there are any identifying features in the image that could be blurred or covered, such as a school logo or street sign," Dr Lines said.
"These small details can be used by offenders to gain access to a child.
"Parents and carers of older children should also have a conversation with them about the need to 'pause' and 'think' before they post images of their classmates or peers online, or before they send someone an image of themselves.
"They should always ask themselves if what they are intending to share is kind, positive and respectful – if it's not, they should hit the delete button.
"These are just a few simple steps we can all incorporate into our busy lives to protect children online."
Internet users should report any online abuse and harmful content to the platform they are using and the eSafety Commissioner.
Here are some other simple steps to help keep kids safe online:
-Secure household devices by setting parental controls on all devices.
-Supervise children online and monitor the material they are accessing.
-Turn off chatroom functions on gaming platforms.
-Keep devices in a shared family area, this will assist to regularly check their privacy settings and internet search limitations as well as yours.
