Connect, Reflect, Protect For A Safer Internet Experience

February 6 marked the 21st Safer Internet Day with the theme Connect, Reflect, Protect - a call to action for the whole community.

Kids Helpline, a service of yourtown is part of a safety net for children and young people who experience online safety issues, including cyberbullying, serious online abuse and image-based abuse or pornography (sextortion).

yourtown CEO Tracy Adams said the internet had become a fixture of young people’s lives.

“The importance of online safety cannot be overstated and we are calling for aa concerted action to tackle and prevent violence against children and young people online,” Ms Adams said.

“Empowering young people to be more digitally resilient and protecting them from the worst that the internet has to offer has never been more important - so this month let’s remind everyone to:

• Connect safely and with purpose by keeping apps and devices secure and using social media in positive ways;
• Reflect before we act by taking a moment to consider how what we do and say online may affect others; and
• Protect ourselves and others by taking action - tell teachers, family, friends and your tribe about where to go to access resources, get support or report (including Kids Helpline or eSafety).

Ms Adams said Safer Internet Day served as a reminder that the potential for misuse of personal information, networking scanning and cyber attacks were a real and present danger for all organisations.

“We are very conscious of the sensitive information that children and young people share and the responsibility we have to ensure that is protected,” she said.

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