There has been a 40 per cent jump in child bullying reports to eSafety, so how can parents help their child if they experience this issue?
Parents and carers are being urged to talk to their kids about how to stay safe online after Australia’s eSafety Commissioner recorded a significant increase in cyberbullying reports. In 2023, eSafety received 2383 reports of cyberbullying compared to 1700 in 2022, with two-thirds of reports (67 per cent) concerning children aged 12 to 15 years.
Acting eSafety Commissioner Kathryn King says that eSafety’s investigators tend to see an increase in cyberbullying reports during school term because online bullying is frequently an extension of bullying behaviour in the playground or classroom.
“It’s helpful to sit down with your children to reassure them they can always come to you if they see anything online that makes them feel uncomfortable, but to also remind them to treat others with respect,” Kathryn says. “It’s also helpful to discuss why any parental and privacy controls are in place for their safety and agree on when and where they can use their devices. Once they’re back in the classroom, ask questions about what they’re doing online and who they’re chatting to with the same regularity that you’d ask them about maths, sport and school friendships.”
The top five cyberbullying acts reported to eSafety in 2023 were nasty comments or serious name calling; offensive or upsetting pictures or videos; fake accounts and impersonations; threats of violence; and unwanted contact.
Two-thirds of reports (66 per cent) related to cyberbullying of girls and just under one-third (29 per cent) concerned boys, with gender-diverse children targeted in 2 per cent of reports.
As part of Safer Internet Day, held each year in February, Kathryn says any parent or carer wanting to brush up on their online safety skills could sign up for free webinars.
“We’re helping more Australians take three simple actions to improve online safety for themselves and loved ones: Connect, Reflect, Protect,” she says. “Connect safely by keeping apps and devices secure and reviewing your privacy settings regularly. Reflect on how your actions online may affect others or your safety. Protect yourself and others by visiting eSafety.gov.au to find out how to stay safe online and report online abuse.”
Kathryn says that the rapid take-up of sophisticated AI technologies was changing the nature of online abuse. “The nature and impact of cyberbullying harm is changing for the worse with the rise of generative AI technologies,” she says. “These incredibly powerful tools burst onto the mainstream stage in 2023 and are now being used to produce very realistic, degrading and offensive synthetic content featuring real people, including children.”
“We encourage families not to make online safety a ‘set-and-forget’ issue,” says Kathryn. “Even as eSafety applies pressure on industry to do more to make their platforms and services safer, we’re also asking parents, carers, aunties and uncles to actively guide and support children’s online experiences. We want children, parents and carers across Australia to know that we can remove seriously harmful content when the platforms won’t. We’re here as your online safety net.”
The eSafety Commissioner is Australia’s independent regulator for online safety. Its purpose is to help safeguard all Australians from online harms and to promote safer, more positive online experiences.
eSafety acts as a safety net for Australians experiencing serious cyberbullying, adult cyber abuse or image-based abuse. It can also investigate and remove seriously harmful illegal and restricted content, including online child sexual exploitation material.
To report serious online abuse or get involved in Safer Internet Day, visit eSafety.gov.au.
Signs that a child may be experiencing cyberbullying include:
How to report cyberbullying of a child: