How to keep kids safe in the smart phone era

GRASSROOTS initiative Wait Mate is hosting a community conversation called Digital Wellbeing and Childhood in Kingscliff on Wednesday August 13.

The event is designed for parents, caregivers, educators, and local school communities concerned about children’s safety in the digital age.

The not-for-profit Australian movement was inspired by the Wait Until 8th campaign in the US and was founded by primary school parents working to address the alarming statistics.

The recent e-Safety Commissioner’s report, Digital Use and Risk: Online Platform Engagement Among Children Aged 10 to 15, revealed 96 per cent of children between 10 and 15 use social media, with 70 per cent exposed to harmful content, including misogynistic and violent material and suicide-related content.

One in seven children reported grooming behaviour, and more than half reported cyberbullying.

Murwillumbah mum Beth said her 11-year-old daughter did not yet have a smartphone.

“I don’t want her on social media, and she hasn’t asked for it,” she said.

“Some of her friends have it, and she gets really annoyed because they’re constantly on it and not engaging with her.

“I’m probably not as aware of what they can access and how to protect them as I’d like to be, but I would prefer she wasn’t on social media until she’s 16 if I can help it, but we’ll see — I haven’t had a teenager yet, so don’t know how that’s going to go.”

Mother of three Ellen said she didn’t believe in banning devices or social media for her kids aged seven, nine and 11.

“I want them to be savvy, to not sugarcoat things and cotton wool them,” she said.

“I think when kids aren’t exposed to things, they tend to find the bad stuff and not have the skills to process that.

“Growing up in this time and place as digital natives, I see it more as an opportunity to have an open conversation, and we’ve had many great talks — about misogyny in particular.”

The free community event will take place at St James Church in Kingscliff at 7pm on Wednesday August 13.

For information, visit waitmate.org.au