What are the risks?

This articles was taken from www.thinkuknow.org.au

Many parents may be concerned about the large bills that young people can create on their mobile phones, but there are other risks associated with the use of mobile phones.

Mobile phones can be used for up-skirting or down-blousing which are covert means of taking photos of the female anatomy.  Similar to this is the practice of young people taking sexualised photos of themselves and sending them to their current partner.  This is, in fact, creating child pornography if the person is under the age of 18 and it is a Commonwealth offence. This has also been referred to as “sexting”

Mobile phones can also be the medium in which cyber-bullying takes place.  This might involve sending insulting or threatening text messages, sending unpleasant picture messages or using mobile devices to spread hurtful rumours.

Smart phones allow users to download apps for a variety of purposes.  Some of these may be inappropriate for your child and there are some steps you and your child can take to use apps safely and responsibly. For more information, check out the ThinkUKnow.org.au website page on app safety.
 

How can young people stay in control?

Phone numbers should only be given to friends and you should never give out someone else's number without their permission.

Think twice before taking an inappropriate photo of yourself or someone else on your mobile phone.

Ask someone before taking a photo of them with your mobile phone.

Don't use your mobile phone as a tool to use for cyber-bullying.

If you receive an inappropriate image on your mobile don't send it around to your friends, delete it.

Think carefully before downloading an app.

Useful Numbers

ThinkUKnow is an Internet safety program delivering interactive training to parents, carers and teachers through primary and secondary schools across Australia using a network of accredited trainers.

Created by the UK Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, ThinkUKnow Australia has been developed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Microsoft Australia, and is now proudly supported by ninemsn. 

MacKillop College hosted a Think U Know event in Term 2 and it was met with a very favourable response by the parents and carers of our sons and daughters. Both informative and thought-provoking this event provided our parents with a bank of knowledge and resources that assisted them in the parenting of their children on the use the Internet and mobile technologies.

The Australian Government’s cybersafety help button provides internet users, particularly children and young people, with easy online access to cybersafety information and assistance available in Australia.

The help button is a free application that is easily downloaded onto personal, school and library computers. It provides help and advice on a range of online risks including cyberbullying, unwanted contact, scams and fraud, and offensive or inappropriate material.

All you need do is download it from the download page (click image below) and install it on your computer desktop. You can leave the button icon on your desktop or place it on the taskbar. Then just click it twice if you ever need help or advice about something unsafe or upsetting that you have encountered on the internet.