In line with Safer Internet Day, Telstra and the Australian Communications and Media Authority have urged users to think about the information they post online.
 Click to enlarge |
Telstra’s Officer of Internet Trust and Safety, Darren Kane said, “Young people today may be digital natives, but that doesn’t mean they won’t take risks online. It’s important that parents supervise their children so they understand their online experience, know what they are doing and can talk to their kids about it.”
“More and more people – particularly children and teenagers – do not realise that once they post something online, it can be widely accessed. It can also be there forever and something posted by a teenager can be seen by a potential employer a few years later,” added Kane.
Mr Kane said the theme of this year’s activity – “Think B4 U post” – was relevant as children sometimes lack the judgement and emotional maturity to steer clear of online risks.
“It is important adults teach children basic online guidelines, which
are also suitable for people of all ages. New technologies, such as
social networking sites and smartphones have meant personal information
and images can be easily published online. Information posted online can
be accessed by anyone – from friends, to family members and even future
employers,” added Kane.
When it comes to online safety, Telstra recommends Australians:
- Think before you post – once information is posted online, even if it’s later deleted or modified, it’s almost impossible to remove completely.
- Keep your personal information private – be careful about the types of details you publish about yourself and never share important information such as your age, address or phone number on social networking sites.
- Keep it locked – ensure your computer is locked with a password when you are not using it. Additionally, make sure your mobile phone uses a PIN so if lost or stolen it can’t be used to auto-sign into your online profiles.
- Stay smart – change passwords on accounts at least twice a year and think before you click on links or attachments from unknown sources.
- Respect other people’s privacy – don’t post photos of other people or share their information without their permission.
“Safer Internet Day is a timely reminder of the simple steps we can all take to ensure we enjoy positive experiences online, from using the privacy settings offered by social networking services to keeping your personal information private and only publishing photos you would be happy for everyone to see,” concluded Kane.
