Safer Internet Day, held on February 10, is a global day of action that brings together communities, schools, and organisations from more than 180 countries to raise awareness about online safety. In Australia, the day is led by the eSafety Commissioner.
This year, eSafety is encouraging all Australians to help make the internet a safer and more positive place. Everyone can take simple, practical steps such as learning about online safety, practising respectful behaviour, reporting harmful content and sharing helpful resources with others.
We all have a role to play in building safer online spaces by being kind, respectful and addressing harmful content when we see it.
Five tips for a safer and more positive internet
The internet plays a huge role in our daily lives, which makes staying safe online more important than ever. Safer Internet Day is a chance for all of us to learn, share, and take action to build a positive, respectful, and secure online environment together.
Whether you’re an educator, professional, parent or student, everyone can follow eSafety’s top five tips to help make the internet a safer, more positive place for all.
1. Be kind: Practise respect, empathy and kindness online – these behaviours help to counteract the negativity we can see online. Being kind online doesn’t just make individual interactions better; it contributes to a larger cultural shift that makes the internet a safer, more positive place for everyone.
2. Balance time online: Spending too much time online can affect you in real life and your relationships. Make space for offline connection, rest and reflection to fully live in the moment.
3. Speak up: eSafety helps Australians prevent and deal with harm caused by serious online abuse or illegal and restricted content. Collect evidence and report the harmful material to the platform and to eSafety. Depending on the situation, you can also report it to the police. In the most serious cases, when the platform does not help, eSafety can intervene. You can report online abuse and harmful content at eSafety.gov.au/report.
4. Protect your space: Take steps to keep your online accounts and devices secure. Use strong, unique passwords, turn on multi-factor authentication, and keep your software up to date. Be mindful of what you share and help others learn these practices.
5. Start the conversation: Engage in discussions about online safety with your networks and communities, family, friends and colleagues. It’s never too early or too late to start talking about online safety. Having these conversations raises awareness of risks and responsibilities, builds support, and fosters a collective commitment to a safer, more positive online environment.
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