The below message was sent out by the esafety commissioner for "safer internet day" on the 8th February. Navigating the online world is a reality for us all now and the esafety commission puts out lots of great resources to support schools, parents and teachers work online safety.

Today eSafety released its new research report Mind the Gap: Parental awareness of children’s exposure to risks online. The report offers insights into the online lives of young people aged 8 to 17, and what parents do and do not know about their children’s online experiences.

Key findings

• Most parents are unaware of how often their teenagers encounter harmful content online, including content about drug taking, suicide and violent sexual material.
   
• Young people engage in a wide range of supportive and protective online activities, such as accessing health information and services, and seeking emotional support from friends.
   
• Young people are often treated in hurtful ways online and may feel their parents don't acknowledge the severity of these experiences.
   
• Children and teenagers often participate in risky online behaviours, with most teens exposed to harmful and sexual content.
   
• While children with restrictive parents are less likely to be exposed to harmful content, they are also much less likely to engage in supportive and protective online activities.

Read the full report here and explore eSafety's wealth of resources for parents and carers and educators.