- Natalie Falzon - Senior Manager Social Impact & Innovation, Telstra Foundation
Just about everything we do at the Telstra Foundation is focussed on creating a safer online world for children and young people. And we know just where to focus our attention thanks to our research in the Australian Youth Digital Index.
What young people said about online safety
First up, here’s the good news from our index. Nearly all young people feel safe online (94%) and say they understand what online safety means (92%). However, that doesn’t mean the need for safety initiatives has decreased. Young people know there is still plenty to be concerned about.
The biggest online safety concerns for young people are being targeted by scams or hackers, exposure to unsafe content and fake news (misinformation/disinformation). Phishing attempts, and personal safety are also worrying them. Their awareness is a positive step towards safer online behaviours, but developing additional skills to manage risks is essential as they spend increasing amounts of time online.
To deem the internet unsafe in its entirety is an oversimplification. With education – not just on how to navigate the interwebs safely, but how to be an upstanding 'netizen', the online world can become a better space for everyone.
-Aieshewarrya, 18, Telstra Foundation Youth Advisory Council
Checking in on their wellbeing
Our index also told us that, wellbeing – with the lowest overall score of 52 – remains a considerable issue for children and young people. However, there’s some good news here. Many young people highlighted positive aspects of their experience online, including 67% saying it helped them keep in touch with people and 61% saying social media is a positive experience for them.
On the flip side, nearly two in five young people – equivalent to nearly 2.2 million individuals – said being online negatively affected the sleep they get. 23% said the internet has a negative impact on their mental health.
Social media can be the bane of my existence. Doom scrolling late into the night doesn’t feel good, but I keep doing it. Sometimes I think social media could be addictive like gambling. I wish social media would let me turn off the infinite scrolling feature.
-Aisha, 20, Telstra Foundation Youth Advisory Council
What we’re doing with the research
We’re using the data from our index, along with the collaboration with our Youth Advisory Council to inform the programs and partnerships we’re investing in so that we can have a positive impact on what young people have told us are a concern.
Here’s some of the programs our partners deliver that are helping to keep young people safe online:
- PROJECT ROCKIT: We’re rolling out Digital Futures over the next three years in 33 regional locations. The program will focus on the most pressing issues faced by young people in their online lives, as identified in the research, including building the skills they need to stay safe online.
- ReachOut: Provides a digital hub where young people can openly express themselves, connect with people who provide judgement-free support, and build resilience to manage their challenges. They provide a range of resources for young people struggling to sleep.
- Orygen Digital: Are leading the sector when it comes to developing digital mental health solutions for children and young people. They have several digital mental health products.
- UNICEF Australia: We’re partnering with UNICEF Australia to protect children in the digital world by reshaping the digital landscape, ensuring that children can navigate the online world safely and confidently.
- Alannah and Madeline Foundation: Digitalk hub (designed with Telstra’s support) offers a range of resources to help children, young people and their carers experiencing a range of issues. It includes resources to overcoming bullying, which can lead to anxiety and depression.
- Lifeline Australia: The Self Support Toolkit a resource for Australians to proactively manage their mental health. With our support they’re integrating this service into their existing Crisis Support Services which will mean they can follow-up an initial call from someone in crisis with personalised resources and a path forward.
- YourTown (Kids Helpline): Qwibbl is an app developed by YourTown to focus on early intervention. It’s a wellbeing toolkit to connect with other young people experiencing similar challenges.
More resources
Telstra has a range of programs to support online safety, take a look here. To learn more about Safer Internet Day and how to get involved, visit the eSafety Commissioner website. You can also read more about how to protect yourself and your family at the government’s Be Connected website.
