The federal government is taking action to support parents and keep children safe online with a $17 million package.
It will include resources for parents and carers, an online safety research program and the development of an Online Safety Charter for digital platforms.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government’s top priority was keeping Australians safe.
“We must all work together to ensure the safety of our youngest Australians online, including parents, social media companies and the community,” he said.
“Nothing can be more important than protecting our children and in many cases this means defending them from dangers in the online environment.”
The Keeping our Children Safe Online package includes an education campaign for all parents and new educational resources for parents and carers of children under five.
It will raise awareness of the resources available to parents to protect their children online, particularly the work of the eSafety Commissioner, and develop new resources for parents, childcare centres and community groups to support a safe online environment and positive cybersafe behaviour in young children.
An Online Safety Charter will be developed in consultation with parents, stakeholders and social media and digital platform companies which will outline the government’s expectations for industry in relation to protecting children online.
The charter will have a focus on children, recognising they need special protection. A draft will be developed over the summer and the final charter will be agreed to next year.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said the government expected digital platforms to do their bit to keep kids safe.
“Our new Online Safety Charter will clearly set out our expectations of industry. We will consult with the sector, stakeholders and most importantly parents over coming months to develop the Charter,” Mr Fifield said.
“Businesses who interact with children in the real world have to meet high standards of safety and digital businesses should be treated no differently.
“This generation is the first to be immersed in the digital world. There is much we don't know, and as technology evolves we are funding more research to improve online safety.
“This generation of children are the first to grow up immersed in the online world and as digital technology rapidly evolves it is important that we have the best information about the impact on our children and ways to ensure that their experience is a positive and safe one,”
