eSafety Commissioner

“In the age of social media, young men are grappling with manhood and masculinity, and the internet can drive both positive connections and dangerous ideas.” Our new study delves into the experiences of more than 100 young men aged 16 to 21 years through 25 focus groups and 25 follow-up individual interviews, making it one of the most in-depth investigations into the contemporary online lives of young men in Australia.

We have free webinars designed specifically for parents and carers 🖥️ These live sessions offer essential knowledge, skills, and tools to help families stay safe online. Upcoming webinars include: 📱 eSafety 101: How eSafety can help ⛔ Consent and online boundaries: how to support your primary-aged child 🏆 Setting your child up for success online 🎮 Understanding how to support your child with online gaming 📲 An introduction to online safety and emerging technologies These webinars equip parents with the latest online safety insights to foster a positive digital environment for children. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gj2Z9Mt

Our new report explores the influences and motivations that shape and inform young men's online experiences 📱 A collaboration with Deakin University and QUT (Queensland University of Technology), these insights help us understand how to support young men in online spaces in ways that have meaningful impact and are relevant to them. The study confirmed online environments are a powerful source of community, acceptance and friendships for young men. However, there was also a feeling of being uncertain about how to express their identity and place in the world. These are complex societal issues. There's a collective responsibility to help young men answer important questions about what constitutes healthy, respectful models of manhood and masculinity. 💡 eSafety is consulting with expert practitioners to translate these insights into relevant online safety advice, including Daniel Principe, Movember, R4Respect, Richie Hardcore, The Man Cave and The Men's Project (Jesuit Social Services). 👨👩👦👩🏫 The research shows many young men are critical consumers of what they see online. We want parents, carers and educators to help boys, tweens and teens hone these critical reasoning skills and instil a healthy sense of online agency and responsibility. We know prevention is the best defence against online harms. Visit eSafety.gov.au for guidance. 👩💼👨💻 Tech companies also need to be more accountable for user safety. Recommender algorithms can result in young people being served increasingly damaging content. This can erode respect for oneself and others, as well as perpetuate ideas rooted in misogyny. We need industry to take a proactive #SafetyByDesign approach, including actively preventing young men from being drawn into an endless spiral of harmful echo chambers. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/gXbtcgdE

We're thrilled to be at the AIFS Conference, the leading event for the Australian child and family sector! 👪   At eSafety we believe children thrive when families and communities understand online risks and feel empowered to take action against online harms 📲 That's why we're developing resources to help professionals support families in having open, non-stigmatised conversations about online child sexual abuse.   Today we co-presented a symposium titled '𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲'. This session delved into the growing online presence of Australian children, the risks they face and the critical need for safer and equitable online environments.   Highlights included:   🖥️ Professor Kerryann Walsh from QUT (Queensland University of Technology) sharing insights from a global review on effective prevention strategies against online violence, informing where funds are best invested.   🖥️ Whereto revealing findings from our market research with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) families about their attitudes towards technology and awareness of online harms.   🖥️ Key observations from our Families Capacity Building project, which provides effective approaches to family-focused online sexual abuse prevention. Presenting guidance for age-appropriate conversations about sex and relationships in the digital age.   Don't miss the last day of the AIFS Conference tomorrow! Come visit our booth to learn more about our initiatives and how we're working to make the internet safer for children and young people! #familiesthriving #AIFS2024 Australian Institute of Family Studies

Free online learning modules for lower primary educators! 📚👩🏫 eSafety offers self-paced, short modules designed to help lower primary school educators teach online safety. Developed with Early Childhood Australia, these modules offer practical and evidence-based strategies for online safety education.  The four modules include:  📱 Using technology safely and responsibly.  🤝 Being respectful online.  💪 Building resilience and help-seeking skills.  🧠 Fostering early critical thinking.  eSafety's lower primary resources can be used in the classroom to complement these modules.   Start now and equip yourself with the tools to teach online safety effectively: https://lnkd.in/gM3Rhv3F

eSafety has joined forces with DG CNECT, the European Commission entity responsible for the enforcement of the Digital Services Act, under a new agreement 📝 eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman - Grant, and Director General of DG CNECT, Roberto Viola, signed the administrative arrangement in a virtual meeting held in advance of the Australia-EU Digital Dialogue, taking place today 🌐  The internet can be a wonderful but sometimes dangerous place. It’s where our children can create, connect and explore, but also where they may face online harms. This collaboration underscores the importance of international efforts in the areas of transparency, risk assessment and mitigation by online platforms, with a special focus on children’s online safety.  eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant emphasised that Australia and the European Commission are more effective when working together to make the internet safer for everyone, especially children and young people.  The arrangement supports the regulation of online platforms through Australia’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act. Key areas of collaboration include:  💻 Transparency and accountability measures for online platform services  💻 Risk assessment and mitigation measures implemented by providers, to combat illegal content while protecting fundamental human rights online  💻 Algorithms and AI, including recommender systems, generative AI and emerging technologies  💻 Handling illegal content online with transparent terms and conditions, notice and action procedures, transparency reporting tools and trusted flagger reporting channels.  💻 Rights and safety of children online, including age-appropriate design and research on privacy preserving age assurance and age verification technologies Together, we are committed to ensuring everyone, especially those at risk, can navigate safely and enjoy the benefits of the online world. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g6qaKbhT

eSafety has online safety resources and training for teachers, schools and communities. We’re here to support educators with our: 📝 Classroom resources 🏫 Trusted eSafety Providers 👩🏫 eSafety Champions Network 👨🎓 Professional learning Lead the charge in improving online safety in your school. Discover more: https://lnkd.in/gCmGh5s

Australia marks Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Prevention Month each May, and Optus hosted events across our offices to raise awareness. These sessions included tech-based abuse insights from the eSafety Commissioner and discussions about our assistance measures led by our Specialist Care team.   The Optus Advocate program, established to support our most vulnerable customers, also hosted a roundtable facilitated by 2018 Optus Future Maker and Founder of StandbyU Foundation, Chris Boyle. Our discussions with industry experts including delegates from Thriving Communities Partnership (TCP), Telco Together Foundation, Flequity Ventures and Monash University's Dr Naomi Pfitzner, explored the importance of integrating safety measures into our services.   DFV prevention remains a top priority for Optus, and we are committed to ongoing learning and collaboration. Learn more about our support initiatives here: https://lnkd.in/gXFyyfCY

Statement from the eSafety Commissioner: Today I have decided to consolidate action concerning my Class 1 removal notice to X Corp in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. After weighing multiple considerations, including litigation across multiple cases, I have considered this option likely to achieve the most positive outcome for the online safety of all Australians, especially children. As a result, I have decided to discontinue the proceedings in the Federal Court against X Corp in relation to the matter of extreme violent material depicting the real-life graphic stabbing of a religious leader at Wakeley in Sydney on 15 April 2024. We now welcome the opportunity for a thorough and independent merits review of my decision to issue a removal notice to X Corp by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Our sole goal and focus in issuing our removal notice was to prevent this extremely violent footage from going viral, potentially inciting further violence and inflicting more harm on the Australian community. I stand by my investigators and the decisions eSafety made. Most Australians accept this kind of graphic material should not be on broadcast television, which begs an obvious question of why it should be allowed to be distributed freely and accessible online 24/7 to anyone, including children. Indeed, a key issue of concern for me throughout this process, was the ease by which children were able to access this extremely violent stabbing video on X. As the national online safety regulator, I expect responsible companies to be taking action in relation to this type of content. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gCV49rAx

We're thrilled to announce the new eSafety Youth Council cohort 🎉 The eSafety Youth Council provides young Australians, aged 13 to 24 years, the chance to share their knowledge and experiences about online safety with eSafety, government and industry. By engaging in meaningful discussions, the council have the opportunity to share insights for policy and program design on online safety education and issues now and into the future 💡📝📱 This passionate and diverse group is dedicated to improving online experiences for all young people. Discover more about these inspiring young leaders and learn about their visions for a safer online world: https://lnkd.in/gYhFFvAp