Online Safety Q and A for Parents/Caregivers

This year we have been heavily focused on empowering our staff and students with knowledge and information around online safety with resources from the Safe On Social Schools Toolkit. We believe these discussions have the best results when they take place in school and at home. We sat down with cyber safety expert, Kirra Pendergast, to ask her some of the most popular questions she gets from parents/caregivers around social media. Below you’ll find her answers to these questions. We hope this Q and A allows you to learn something new as well as spark discussion with your child at home.

Online Safety Questions From Parents/Caregivers

Q: Any tips for when kids should start using Facebook, Instagram, etc?
A: The minimum age recommendation is 13 years, but kids don’t miraculously mature overnight when they turn 13 years, so make a judgment based on their maturity, anxiety etc. Remember you will have no control over what they may be exposed to.

Q: Is confronting parents/caregivers of children that show terrible behaviour ok?
A: No, I would advise against it unless you know them really well. Flag it with the school if the child is at the same school as yours, it can often be a cry for help from the child acting up. Make sure your child blocks them.

Q: Will the police keep any report confidential in terms of naming who reported it?
A: Absolutely – you can report anonymously through Crimestoppers.

Q: Any thoughts on Apple versus Android devices from a security perspective? I've heard Android is better for parental control?
A: They are both very similar. It’s a personal preference. Apple lets you manage a whole family's devices from one using screen time.

Q: Are Among Us and Minecraft safe games to use? They have chat, but it seems pretty anonymous and I don’t think they can’t send photos, etc.?
A: Depends on the age of the child. You can turn the chat function off. Make sure you have a chat with them if they are younger to speak up if anyone ever asks them to be their boyfriend/girlfriend or tries to move them to another platform ie Roblox to Tik Tok.

Q: How risky do you feel Snapchat is?
A: All apps are risky – depends on the age of the child and making sure that you have our top 10 safety tips in place to start.