As part of our education to young people regarding safe use of digital technology, we held a junior assembly recently where we reminded students about key aspects of the Harmful Digital Communications Act.

The internet and digital technology provide a forum for a unique form of harassment that is easy to create and distribute and difficult to remove.

The government considers this so important that they introduced a law. It is called the Harmful Digital Communications Law. It was introduced to tackle some of the ways people use technology to hurt others. It also allows for criminal penalties for people found to be breaching this law.

It states clearly that anyone sharing harmful or offensive material or material that unfairly breaches someone’s privacy is breaking the law.

Harmful digital communications, cyberbullying and digital harassment can take a variety of forms.

Examples include:

- sending or publishing threatening or offensive material and messages, - spreading damaging or degrading rumours,

- publishing invasive and distressing photographs,

- harassing and intimidating people.

Common digital communications methods include:

• emails,

• Texts,

• Phone messages

- forums and social media sites like Facebook or Twitter or Tik Tok.

Even if a young person (a minor) willingly shares intimate information about themselves, if it is re-shared without their consent then it is classed as objectionable material and any one who:

• Receives it without deleting it

• Shares it

Is in breach.

If people affected by the harmful distribution of such material seek police or Netsafe assistance and it is found that individuals have this material on their phones and devices and haven’t removed it or have obviously shared it then they are in breach of the law and must expect to be dealt with as such.

Everyone knows the devastating effects of being bullied. Cyber bullying is no different. It can lead to serious depression, self-harm and feelings of isolation. Young people are particularly susceptible to this.

1 in 5 New Zealand high school students have experienced some form of cyber bullying or harassment.

We have reminded our students of our school values, in particular - Whaka Tangata; Social Responsibility. Not only is it important to be a good citizen, it is important to be a good digital citizen.

Please help us by reinforcing this information and talking to your young person about the importance of using social media responsibly and of not sharing harmful material that they know would be distressing to others or each other's privacy.

Let’s work together to stamp it out.

Netsafe is the organisation that oversees digital safety in New Zealand and helps keep people safe online. They provide free information and expert incident advice. Their website is netsafe.org.nz