- Jackie Coates - CEO, Telstra Foundation
As young people navigate a world where the physical environment seamlessly interacts with the virtual, empowering them with the skills to stay safe online is essential. Young people need to learn how to protect themselves, but the involvement of adults—parents, educators, social workers, and health professionals—remains crucial. These community figures can guide and support, especially those in primary school who may lack the judgment and experience to handle online risks on their own.
Young people surveyed for the Australian Youth Digital Index were aware of a range of online safety risks including scams, privacy invasion, and inappropriate contact. Educating and empowering young people to handle these threats is important for their independence as well as their safety. The data shows young people are learning many skills independently, but adults can play an important role through having conversations to raise awareness of risks as well as discussing practical measures that can be used to keep children safe.
“I’m constantly saying, you never share any personal information about yourself, like your full name, your address, things like that, where you go to school, just basic personal privacy things.
- Parent of 8-13-year-old
Parents, as the primary caregivers, play a foundational role in setting online safety standards. Their guidance helps children understand boundaries, like what personal information to keep private. Parents also worry about children unintentionally engaging with strangers or sharing sensitive information, highlighting the importance of establishing open, ongoing discussions about online interactions – and a safe space for raising issues of concern if something bad occurs. In addition, setting rules and monitoring screen time are key strategies for keeping children’s online experiences positive and safe.
[My biggest fear is] people sitting there on their computers all day trying to scam my children. Scammers… they know the vulnerabilities so well.
- Parent of 8-13-year-old
Educators also contribute significantly by equipping children with critical online safety knowledge and skills. Schools provide a structured environment where students can learn about digital citizenship and responsible behaviour online, often integrated into technology and social studies curricula. The data suggests many young people feel they don’t learn many digital skills at school, and perhaps there is scope to increase this. Age-appropriate lessons could cover recognising scams, identifying secure websites, and the consequences of sharing personal information online. Such education empowers students, helping them to think critically about online risks.
I know that a lot of social media apps have an age limit, but there's no way to verify age… Like, I feel like myself, I can just report it and skip over it, but younger kids could actually be affected by it.
- Young person, Female, 14-17 years
Beyond families and schools, social workers and health professionals play a specialised role in supporting children from vulnerable backgrounds. Their work often reveals how marginalised communities experience unique online challenges, such as racism, stereotypes, and unsafe interactions that compound their social experiences. For some young people, the digital world mirrors the discrimination they face in their everyday lives, affecting their sense of safety and belonging. Addressing these issues requires not only helping children cope but also advocating for safer online environments.
And, and then there's all these comments that are really racist and really horrible … And then that adds to their disenchantment with society, with their own town and [they] don’t feel like they belong here.
- Social Worker, Northern Territory
While children’s online safety skills increase with age, they need consistent support from adults to navigate online risks effectively. The community as a whole—families, schools, and professionals—plays a vital role in guiding young people, building their confidence, and empowering them to become responsible digital citizens. Through combined efforts, we can help young people thrive online while staying protected from potential threats.
