Child Safeguarding Week 2024 – Keeping Kids Safe Online
The internet provides a dynamic and engaging space for children and young people to connect, learn, create and express themselves in ways that resonate with their interests and preferences.
Social connection and communication
Being online offers instant opportunity to make new friends and stay connected with existing ones. Instant messaging and social media enable constant communication.
Learning and exploring
Children and young people have different interests and ways of learning. Educational apps, websites and online resources make learning fun, interactive and tailored to individual needs. Online spaces also allow them to explore new places, cultures and ideas without leaving their home or classroom.
Easy access to information
The internet provides quick answers for curious minds, helping them explore and learn about the world at their fingertips. It allows them to keep up to date with the latest happenings and to ‘stay in the loop’.
Digital devices and the internet are firmly ingrained in modern day life. While spending time on devices and the internet opens up exciting opportunities for connection and creativity, it also raises the risk of potential harm. Staying proactive and mindful of how children engage online is key to enjoying the benefits it has to offer while minimising risk.
About the issue
In Aotearoa New Zealand, where youth suicide rates are among the highest in the world and child sexual abuse rates are alarming, it’s imperative to think about how we approach online safety. Understanding what young people do online, how they navigate these spaces and who they communicate with is crucial.
Unlike road or water safety, where we proactively teach children to make informed choices, there’s a gap in preparing them for the complexities of the online world. When learning to drive, we patiently guide them through challenges, teach them fundamental skills and ensure they understand risks. This proactive approach is needed for their online journey, emphasising engagement, support and proximity particularly during the initial learning stages.
While online spaces present incredible communication opportunities, the ease of connection increases the risk of interacting with strangers. Technology actively encourages connections with unknown individuals, whether through ride-sharing apps, dating platforms or the pursuit of popularity based on followers.
Social media platforms are akin to a park at night — not places we want children navigating alone. Any time young people co-share spaces with adults, risk to safety and wellbeing increase significantly. These include challenges arising from encountering situations they’re unprepared for, making decisions beyond their experience and doing this without our support. Yet, we readily grant them access to technology and therefore these shared social spaces and potential challenges. Children navigate the internet it with a sense of independence, and their seemingly small actions can have significant impacts on their wellbeing and safety.
This year, Child Safeguarding Week underscores the importance of preparing our children for the digital world, mirroring the care we take in teaching them other life skills. It’s a call to actively engage, support and be present during their initial steps into the internet and the opportunities it offers.
Join the movement to STOP child abuse.
It is PREVENTABLE not inevitable!