Keeping children and adults safe online
To help keep everyone’s web experience a safe one, this page provides resources about parental controls, cyberbullying, adult cyber bullying and how to report it, access to Kids Helpline, information on preventing access to illegal and restricted content and device safety.
Content Filters
The Communications Alliance has a list of approved family friendly internet content filters that restrict and monitor web sites which may be offensive and/or inappropriate for children. The list of certified family filters is available at here: https://www.commsalliance.com.au/Activities/ispi/fff
Cyberbullying
eSafety helps prevent and deal with cyberbullying and its impacts on children and young people by providing information, education and resources, and by investigating and helping to fix the most serious cases of cyberbullying. More information is available here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/cyberbullying
Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Kids Helpline can assist kids, teens and young adults with problematic online issues like sexting and cyberbullying: https://kidshelpline.com.au
Adult cyberbullying and the role of eSafety
eSafety helps all Australians prevent and deal with adult cyber abuse and its impacts through providing information, education and resources, as well as investigating the most serious cases of abuse. More information is available here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/adult-cyber-abuse
Illegal and restricted online content
eSafety can direct an online service or platform to remove illegal content or ensure that restricted content can only be accessed by people who are 18 or older. More information is available here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/Illegal-restricted-content
eSafety also have information available designed to assist you in dealing with illegal and restricted content and distressing content, including information for parents and carers, here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/illegal-restricted-content/distressing-content
Device Safety
In order to limit access to certain types of content on a device, you should consult your device manual for tools available for your specific device. Information about accredited family filtering products which can be used to limit access to certain types of content can also be found here: https://www.commsalliance.com.au/Activities/ispi/fff
Complaints about class 1A and class 1B material under Online Safety Codes
This section details how complaints can be made about Class 1A and 1B materials designated under various Online Safety Codes. 1A material comprises of child exploitation material, pro-terror material, and extreme crime and violence materials. Class 1B material comprises crime and violence material and drug related material.
Australian end users have a right to complain to a content provider and eSafety (including where a complaint to a content provider remains unresolved) about class 1A and class 1B material, or unsolicited electronic messages that promote such material.
Online Safety Complaints
You can report any offensive or illegal online content to the Office of the eSafety Commissioner via this link: https://www.esafety.gov.au/report/what-is-illegal-restricted-content
eSafety helps Australians prevent and deal with harm caused by serious online abuse or illegal and restricted online content. You can report a complaint about cyberbullying, adult cyber abuse, image-based abuse (sharing, or threatening to share, intimate images without the consent of the person shown) or illegal and restricted online content here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/report/forms
You can also report this content to us via our online complaints form.