- Alexandra Whitwam - Senior Manager Campaigns and Digital Storytelling, Telstra Foundation
Insights and data in this blog come from the Australian Youth Digital Index, Telstra Foundation’s national study capturing how young people across Australia experience and navigate the digital world—including how safe they feel online, what risks they face, and how they build their digital skills.
🌐 A digital generation that feels safe - mostly
In today’s digital-first world, young people are more connected than ever—and they’re also more aware of the risks that come with being online. Encouragingly, most young people feel safe in digital spaces, with 94% reporting a sense of safety and 92% saying they understand what online safety means. But behind these high numbers lies a more complex picture of how safety is learned, experienced, and challenged.
🚨 Scams and hackers: the top threats
The biggest concern for young people online is being targeted by scams or hackers. Half have already encountered scams, and many are learning how to protect themselves through personal experience rather than formal education. In fact, 71% say they’ve learned online safety independently, often through trial and error. While this self-reliance is admirable, it also highlights a gap in structured support from families, schools, and communities.
🧑🏫 From learners to teachers
Interestingly, young people are not just protecting themselves—they’re also educating others. Many report helping their parents and family members avoid scams and navigate social media safely. This reversal of roles underscores how digitally fluent today’s youth are, but also how much responsibility they carry.
⚠️ Unsafe content is common - and growing
Despite their confidence, young people still face significant challenges. Exposure to unsafe content is widespread: 39% have seen sexual content, 35% have encountered fake news or misinformation, and 30% have experienced hate speech. These experiences increase with age, and girls are more likely than boys to encounter unwanted contact or be asked to share inappropriate images. Alarmingly, only 28% of young people say they’ve never experienced anything upsetting online.
🔐 Confidence gaps in digital protection
Confidence in handling these risks varies. While most understand the importance of protecting personal data, only 64% find it easy to use privacy settings, and just 71% feel confident keeping their information secure. Fraud and identity theft remain areas where young people feel least prepared.
👦👧 Age and gender shape online experiences
Age and gender also shape online safety concerns. Younger children (8–13) worry most about strangers and cyberbullying, while older teens (14–17) and young adults (18–25) are more concerned about misinformation and identity theft. Indigenous youth and those from European backgrounds report higher rates of online bullying, while Chinese youth report lower rates.
🗣️ A youth voice that speaks volumes
As Bailey, a 16-year-old member of our Youth Advisory Council says, “Feeling safe is being comfortable in who you are truly without feeling the world is against you, having a positive experience without negativity, having reliable access to support services and digital protection organisations.”
📱 For some, safety is a lifeline
For vulnerable youth, especially those experiencing family violence, digital safety takes on even deeper meaning. Access to a phone can be a lifeline, yet location-sharing features can also pose serious risks. Social workers emphasize the need for greater awareness among parents and caregivers, many of whom underestimate the complexity of online threats. Take a look at the full Australian Youth Digital Index Report for a case study on safety implications for family violence situations.
🛠️ Building a safer digital future
As young people continue to navigate the digital world, their voices and experiences must guide how we design safer, more supportive online environments. Empowering them with the right tools, education, and support is not just a safety measure – it’s a necessity. That’s why we’re backing initiatives like the Digital Futures program bringing digital citizenship skills to young people in regional Australia.
