Cybersmart@Home

For the rest of the year, we will have a segment in the newsletter looking at being smart online and how as whānau, you can support it. Netsafe recommends seven steps to enhance digital parenting knowledge and reinforce the key online safety concepts.

Step 6 - Model for them

Young people always watch what happens around them, so try not to be a hypocrite.

Take a look at the way technology is used by people in your home

Think about if there are patterns, behaviours or activities that might need to be rethought. Are devices used at the table? How do you talk or post online?

It can be hard to set expectations for family when you are not doing it yourself, and it may cause conflicts.

Discuss some of the key safety aspects with your child, but make sure you’re doing it too.

For further information visit netsafe.org.nz/role-model.

Step 7 - Plan with them

Young people need to know where to get help, before they need it.

Let your child know the options available to them if they are experiencing challenges. Do you want them to talk to you, whānau, a trusted adult, their school or Netsafe?

It is usually a big step when young people ask for help. Netsafe’s research shows that many young people choose not to seek support when something goes wrong online. They often ignore the problem or try to fix it themselves, or think their parents will take the technology away as a first step.

If a young person comes to you, focus on fixing the issue, not on punishing those involved or confiscating devices - even if they did something wrong. If you take away their access to technology, then you’re less likely to be the first port of call next time something happens.

Netsafe has created the Family Safe Online Treaty to help guide these conversations and make the experience easier. There are versions for different age groups available at netsafe.org.nz/family-safe-online-treaty

For further information visit netsafe.org.nz/plan