NSW police have recently stressed the importance of educating children about online safety. According to police, children as young as 8 are using social media or engaging with strangers in an online context, many of them going in unprepared, opening them to potential exploitation.
With school holidays approaching, NSW police have expressed concern about the increased number of children who will be online during this period. In a statement to the media, Jayne Doherty, a commander in the NSW Police Sex Crimes Squad and Child Exploitation Internet Unit, has highlighted the need to change how society views children’s use of the internet.
She stated “The internet is just like the real world. There are places your children can go by themselves and places you should go with your child, but no matter what, you should always know who your kids are speaking to online and ensure they are prepared for what they may encounter and who to turn to if something bad happens.”
She further added that drawing attention to this is not an attempt to cause fear around the internet but rather an opportunity for better education.
Signs NSW Police believe may help you identify if something is wrong include monitoring for sudden behaviour changes in children such as increased internet usage, checking if any online games or apps the child is using have a chat function and having open and honest conversations with them about online safety.
For more information, visit this Crime-Stoppers website by clicking the link here.