Education Ministers to be briefed on new measures to keep kids safe at school and online

Bethany Hiatt
The West Australian
The social media ban for under-16s takes effect from December 10.
The social media ban for under-16s takes effect from December 10. Credit: Zivica Kerkez/kerkezz - stock.adobe.com

Education ministers from around the country will on Friday get their first look at a proposed anti-bullying national standard and resources to support the social media ban for under-16s.

Following meetings this week with key social media platforms about the ban — which takes effect on December 10 — eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant will brief ministers when they gather on the Gold Coast on resources for schools.

eSafety is releasing the free resources as part of the Federal Government’s education campaign, entitled “for the good of”, which will air from late this week.

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The package includes an online hub to answer frequently-asked questions on how to prepare for the ban.

It will also contain practical guidance for parents, information for teachers explaining what the new restrictions mean for schools and advice for young people.

Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells said that with less than two months to go, it was important to get the message out about why the new laws were necessary.

“We want this law to be discussed openly and regularly in classrooms, on the drive to school, and at the dinner table,” she said.

“Our Government is on the side of families and restricting under-16s from holding accounts on social media platforms is just one element of our ongoing work to keep young people safer online.”

Ms Inman Grant said delaying children’s access to social media accounts would give them time to learn and grow, free from “powerful, unseen forces of opaque algorithms and endless scroll”.

Ministers will also be briefed on recommendations from the government’s anti-bullying review.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said complaints about online bullying to eSafety had increased by 450 per cent in the past five years.

“The internet means that you can be bullied now at any time, day or night, and anyone can see it,” he said.

“These laws give children more time to grow up in the real world and to build the skills they need before they enter into the online one.”

“Whether it’s happening at school or after school online, we need to make sure that we’ve got the extra support that schools, teachers and parents need to deal with bullying and to respond to it.”

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