Parents urged to remember cyber-safety in back-to-school rush

Technology has revolutionised the way students engage with their material and changed the way they conduct research forever. With all the benefits that come with this however, there is need for vigilance when sending children into the digital school yard.

Telstra’s Cyber-Safety survey of Australian parents with children aged ten to 17 revealed almost eight in ten Aussie kids own a mobile phone by the time they’re 13 and seven in ten will take one to school this year.

The research also found that while school bags are increasingly packed with internet connected gadgets including mobiles, laptops and tablets, nine in ten parents have concerns about cyber-safety risks such as approaches from online strangers and cyber bullying.

Telstra’s Officer of Internet Trust & Safety, Darren Kane, said it was important for parents to equip kids with the skills required to use new technology safely as they pack their gadget-filled bags for the new school year.

Here are some tips to help prepare yourself and your child for the 2012 school year:

Telstra’s back to school online safety tips

• Make sure your child knows what to do and where to go if they encounter cyber-bullying.
• Educate your child so they know not to give out personal details (such as their birthday, school, home address or phone number) online without parental knowledge.
• Ensure kids understand that they shouldn’t be 'friends' on social networking sites with people they don't know in the real world and make sure you understand how to use privacy settings so that you can jointly manage the content they share.
• Don't ignore new technologies – kids and teens will use them, if not at home then at their friends’ houses or in the school yard. Ask your child to give you a lesson on sites or internet gadgets you may not be familiar with.

Telstra’s back to school mobile safety tips

• Remind your kids to be careful about who they pass their mobile phone number to.
• Ensure their mobile phone is PIN locked. If they use a smartphone, also set up a password to protect their email and social networking accounts when the phone is switched on.
• Encourage your kids to think before they send. The person that they send a text, picture or video to may not be the only one who will see them.

I wish you all the very best this school year and would encourage the community to be aware of the benefits and the potential dangers that new technology can bring.

For more information about staying safe and enjoying the online world, head to Telstra’s Internet and Cyber-Safety page: www.telstra.com.au/cyber-safety.