Cybersafety Elimbah State School Cybersafety and cyberbullying: A guide for parents and caregivers, May 2012., Dept of Education, Training and Employment. Cyber(smart ) Cybersmart Guide for Families, 2009, Australian Communications and Media Authority.

What is Cybersafety? The internet, mobile phones, online games and instant messaging are all fantastic ways for us to communicate. However they also provide opportunities for inappropriate behaviour, bullying and harassment to occur. Being Cybersafe means using appropriate and responsible behaviours online.

Common Cybersafety Issues  Sending abusive or threatening texts, s or posts on social networking sites.  Pretending to be another child and sending or posting material as them.  Uploading videos of other people- including fighting videos.  Making prank calls to another child’s mobile phone.  Forwarding other peoples s, pictures, personal details or videos without their permission.  Taking or sending sexually explicit images or video of other children using a mobile phone or webcam.  Using social networking sites or blogs to post inappropriate photos, videos or messages about other children or school staff.  Excluding children online through s, chat, blogs or social networking sites.

Why is Cyberbullying an issue? Cyberbullying is when technology such as , mobile phones, chatrooms and social networking sites (such as Twitter and Facebook), are used to verbally or socially harass another person. Bullying is an ongoing abuse of power to threaten, harm or intimidate another person. Cyberbullying can inflict a severe emotional and psychological trauma on its victims.

Where/ When can Cyberbullying occur? Cyberbullying can take place anywhere that children have access to technology. Some of the most common places include:  Social Networking sites such as ‘Facebook’ and ‘Twitter’.  Video sharing sites such as ‘YouTube’.  Instant messaging programs such as Windows Live Messenger.  Mobile phone and iPod texting.  Online Gaming.  Online message boards and blogs.

Why NOT to engage in Cyberbullying: Being a bully is never acceptable as it causes harm or distress to others. Being a Cyberbully is just as bad as being a regular bully and there are consequences that come with using this type of unacceptable behaviour.  Online incidents of cyberbullying may result in potential school disciplinary action, including suspension and/ or exclusion.  It may also result in loss of access to all electronic devices (computers, laptops, cameras, iPods) and network access at school.  If the situation involves threats of physical harm to a child’s personal safety or breaches any criminal laws there may be potential police involvement. Let’s work together to be good DIGITAL CITIZENS!

How can you become more Cybersafe?  Use your computer where you are visible to an adult.  Discuss issues of cybersafety and cyberbullying with a parent, carer or teacher.  Be aware of age suitability on various sites (for example, to have a ‘Facebook’ account you need to be at least 13 years of age and different online games have different age restrictions).  Be aware of who you ‘friend’ on social networking sites. If you don’t know them, don’t add them!  Know how to use the red Cyber Safety button on school computers.  Never hand out your passwords. Try to change them regularly.  Remember to use appropriate online behaviours.  Understand restrictions on school internet use, they are there for your safety!  Only download games, software, documents and images from ‘trusted’ sites and senders.  Visit the Cybesmart website for more information on being Cyber safe

Cybersafety HELP button! The cybersafety help button is a free download for mobile devices, personal computers or school networks. It provides internet users, particularly children, with easy online access to cybersafety information and assistance. It is provided free from the Australian Government. If you think that you require help with cyberbullying, offensive or inappropriate online materials or if someone is making you feel unsafe in an online environment, you can press this button and it will take you to a page that offers reporting, counselling and educational resources to assist you when dealing with online threats. To install a cybersafety help button on your computer:

What do you do if you or someone you know is a victim of Cyberbullying? If you or someone that you know have been harassed, threatened or bullied online the first thing to do is inform an adult such as a parent or teacher. Make sure that you or the person being bullied does not respond to the threat. Close any websites immediately or delete any messages from unknown senders. If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, harassed or bullied parents or carers:  Can notify the police if physical threats have been made.  Ask a mobile or internet service provider or website operator to remove any inappropriate material.  Block other users on messaging or social networking sites.

Where can you get more information on being Cybersmart? Below are some useful websites for support and advice on being Cybersafe (view as a slide show and click on the links to go to the relevant page): To install a cybersafety help button on your home computer: Australian Communications and Media Authority Cybersafety Contact Centre Cybersafety website: The Department of Education, Training and Employment: QLD Police Service: Who’s chatting to your kids?/ Surf Safely Stay Smart Online If you are being bullied and you need to talk to someone one of the following agencies can help: Kids Helpline Tel: Life Line Tel:

Cyber Rules for safe and fun Internet use! 1.Think before you post information online- once posted it is difficult to remove. 2.Ask a parent/ carer before you give anyone on the internet your name, address or any personal details. 3.Be careful who you trust online. Making new friends is fun, but there’s a chance that they may not be who they say they are. 4.ALWAYS keep your password a secret. 5.Set any online profiles to ‘private’ so that your personal information is kept secret. 6.If someone is nasty, offensive or makes you uncomfortable in a chat room, don’t respond and leave straight away. 7.Don’t open messages from people that you don’t know. These could be nasty, contain viruses or be trying to sell you something. 8.Tell your parents or teacher if you are upset by language, pictures or anything scary on the internet. 9.Don’t accept any offers from advertising as these can be harmful to your computer or cost money that you don’t know about.