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 Australian children getting smarter about online risks says ACMA
research

Source: http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=pc_311798

Children and young people have a high level of awareness of
cybersafety risks and the key messages for staying safe online,
according to an Australian Communications and Media Authority report,
released today.

The report, Click and Connect � Young Australians' Use of Online
Social Media, found that 75 per cent of children surveyed claim they
know not to give out their address or phone number online and remember
key safety messages such as �people aren�t always who they say they
are online�.

�Australian children are telling us the internet is part of their
everyday lives, and as they approach high school, it�s increasingly
important to their social lives. Up to 97 per cent of 16 to 17 year
olds claim to use at least one social networking service,� said Chris
Chapman, Chairman of the ACMA.

Most young people are using online technologies as a way to connect
with their real world friends, with a small proportion�17 per cent of
12 to 17 year olds�using online social networking to build networks of
new friends.

�Australian children demonstrate a good general knowledge of online
behaviours that we might consider �risky��they know what not to do. Up
to 78 per cent of parents also report having a �high� level of
knowledge of online risks,� Mr Chapman said.

Importantly, the report highlights an ongoing need for cybersafety
material that resonates with young people, as well an improved flow of
cybersafety information to parents.

�The ACMA cybersafety programs such as Cybersmart Detectives and
internet safety presentations for parents, are on track to meet the
information needs identified in the report,� said Mr Chapman.

Report findings will inform development of new the ACMA cybersafety
materials, including a new cybersafety website due for release soon.

Reports of the quantitative and qualitative study are available on the
ACMA�s website.

Media contact: Donald Robertson, Media Manager, on (02) 9334 7980.
Backgrounder

From June to November 2008, the ACMA commissioned qualitative and
quantitative research to gain up-to-date insights into issues
currently facing young people online, including their understanding
and experiences of online risks and ways they manage those risks.

The Click and Connect - Young Australians� Use of Online Social Media
reports will help shape safety messages and materials for children,
young people, teachers and parents as part of the ACMA�s national
cybersafety program.

The research comprised of a qualitative study and a quantitative
survey of over 800 parents and their children aged 8 to 17 years.
Key findings
General internet use

    * As children age they spend more time online.
          o Children aged 8 to 9 years use the internet for an average
of 1 hour, 6 mins every two days.
          o Young people aged 16 to 17 years average 3 hours, 30 mins
on the internet every day.
    * Younger children are more interested in individual activities
online, such as playing games�83 per cent of 8 to 11 year-olds
reported online gaming as the most popular use of the internet
    * By comparison, young people aged 12 to 17 use the internet
mainly for social interaction�81 per cent of 12 to 17 year olds
nominated social networking services as their main reason for going
online.

Social Networking Services

Social networking services refer to online services where �members�
can chat with each other via instant messaging, email, video or voice
chat, share photos and videos and post comments in online forums or
blogs.

    * Young people, aged 12 to 17, have a very high level of use of
social networking services.
          o Approximately 97 per cent of 16 to 17 year olds surveyed
reported using at least one of these services, compared to 51 per cent
of children aged 8 to 11 years.
    * Fifty four per cent of 12 to 17 year olds claim that �chatting
to friends from school� is their main reason for using social
networking services.
          o By comparison, only 17 per cent of 12 to 17 year olds
claim to use the internet to �make new friends�.

Awareness of risks associated with use of internet and social
networking services

    * Children and young people have a high awareness of cybersafety
risks and identify activities such as �posting personal information�
as high risk behaviour.
    * The tendency toward risky behaviour rises with age. Of those
aged 16 to 17 years:
          o Sixty-one per cent report accepting �friend requests� from
people they don�t know offline.
          o Seventy-eight per cent claim to have personal information,
such as a photograph of themselves, on their social networking profile
pages, compared to 48 per cent of 8 to 9 year olds.

Parents� knowledge of cybersafety risks, and communication with
children

    * Parents report communicating �frequently� with their children
about internet use and the risks associated with stranger contact.
    * As children age, parents report less active monitoring of their
internet use
    * Outside of their parents, children are likely to go to their
siblings to discuss cybersafety issues. Young people aged 12 to 17
years are most likely to go to another friend for advice.
    * Parents claim a relatively high knowledge of their children�s
behaviour online, especially when their child is among the younger age
groups.

Cyberbullying

    * The experience of cyberbullying increases with age.
Cyberbullying is experienced by just one per cent of 8 to 9 year olds,
but 19 percent of 16 to 17 year olds surveyed.
          o Seventy-two per cent of those surveyed told their parents
about the bullying
          o Fifty per cent knew how to block the bully�s messages.
    * Less than 10 per cent of children and young people surveyed
admitted any involvement in cyberbullying another person.

ACMA�s cybersafety initiatives

The ACMA is responsible for the regulation of broadcasting, the
internet, radiocommunications and telecommunications. The ACMA
provides a comprehensive national program of cybersafety initiatives
as part of the Australian Government�s cybersafety policy.

The ACMA�s program includes researching current trends in cybersafety,
undertaking targeted information and awareness-raising campaigns and
activities, and developing cybersafety education materials for use in
schools and at home.

Activities include:

    * Developing cybersafety education materials for use in schools
and at home. These programs are designed for children from 5 -15 years
and include CyberQuoll, CyberNetrix, Cybersmart Detectives and Wise up
to IT.
    * The Cybersafety Outreach program of Professional Development for
Educators and general awareness presentations for parents, teachers
and children.
    * Researching current trends in cybersafety and young people�s use
of online media.
    * The Cybersafety Contact Centre offering callers information and
advice about internet safety issues and concerns. Telephone 1800 880
176.
    * A complaints hotline for members of the public to report
offensive internet material. Visit: www.acma.gov.au/hotline.
    * Undertaking targeted information and awareness-raising campaigns
and activities, such as Safer Internet Day in February 2009.

For more information about the ACMA visit www.acma.gov.au

-- 
Clean Feed, it "cleans" the Internet in the same way that Ethnic
Cleansing "cleanses" the population.

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