Online Safety

Going online opens up a whole world of creativity and discovery. To make sure you can explore it all with confidence, we’ve put together the best tips to help you stay safe, secure, and in control of your digital space.

Understanding Online Abuse

Online abuse involves using digital platforms to harass, bully, humiliate, threaten, or intimidate others. For children, the impact of these behaviors can deeply affect their emotional, mental, and physical well-being.

Safeguarding Young People in Digital Spaces

Evidence shows that active support from parents, coaches, clubs, and communities is essential to preventing online abuse. Building these strong support systems is critical to protecting children and ensuring their digital safety.

Follow these practical online safety tips from eSafety.

How Online Abuse Manifests

Negative behaviors that occur face-to-face in sporting environments often replicate online. This includes cyberbullying, name-calling, body shaming, discrimination, harassment, threats, and online grooming.

Guide to Reporting Online Abuse

If a child experiences online abuse, follow these four steps to protect them and report the behavior effectively.

1. Gather Evidence

Help the child document what happened before blocking anyone or deleting messages.

What to collect:

Platform Details: The name of the app, game, or social media site, along with the specific web address (URL).
Account Info: The usernames, profiles, or account handles of those involved.
Visual Proof: Screenshots, screen recordings, or photos of the harmful content (ensure they are time-stamped if possible).
Prior Actions: Copies of any previous reports sent to the platform or the police.

Important: While screenshots are highly effective, never save, download, or forward sexually explicit images of minors or any other illegal material, even for evidence. Use other forms of documentation instead.

2. Lodge a Report

Depending on your preference and the severity of the situation, you can report through Pickle Power Kids or external authorities:

Pickle Power Kids: Reach out directly to Pickle Power Kids via phone at 0481 832 240 or by emailing childsafe@picklepowerkids.com.au
Anonymous Reporting: Call the confidential STOPLINE whistleblower service on 1800 11 SAFE (1800 117 233).

For specific types of online harm, you can seek assistance from eSafety:

Cyberbullying: First, report the abuse to the platform where it happened. If they fail to act within 48 hours and the content is severely harmful, escalate it to eSafety.
Image-Based Abuse: If intimate images or videos are shared without consent, report it to eSafety. Note: If a child is facing blackmail or sextortion, cut off all contact with the perpetrator immediately and report it to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).
Illegal Content: eSafety has the authority to order the removal of severe or illegal materials, such as child sexual abuse content.

3. Cut off Contact

Once the evidence is safely secured and reported, guide the child to protect their online space:

Block and Mute: Use the platform's built-in tools to block, mute, or hide the abusive accounts.
Tighten Security: Review and update the privacy settings across all of the child's online accounts.
Step Away: Encourage them to log out or temporarily deactivate their accounts to take a break from the environment.

4. Access Professional Support

Dealing with online abuse can take a heavy emotional toll. Ensure the child has the right support:

Educational Resources: Share eSafety’s official guides on coping with cyberbullying, image-based abuse, or exposure to distressing content.
Counseling: Consider connecting the child with professional youth counseling or support services to help them process the experience.