Some new stats were released on Tuesday to 'Start the Chat' in homeroom. The girl discussed these statistics and worked towards positive ways to 'start the chat' to be safe online. They completed a pledge to work towards this goal of online safety for all. Here are some stats from the research for you to start a conversation with your daughter:

Online lives
Teens spent an average of 14.4 hours a week online.

Social Media
Teens used an average of four different social media services.

YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat remain the most popular app/platforms. TikTok (formerly Musical.ly) – has shown the greatest growth. Negative online experiences -44% of teens had a negative online experience in the six months to September 2020.

The top three were being contacted by a stranger or someone they didn't know (30%), receiving inappropriate or unwanted content (20%) and being deliberately excluded from events/social groups (16%).

More than 80% of teens took some form of action after a negative online experience.

Online safety information
Three quarters of teens wanted more online safety information delivered through trusted channels including: their school or an online safety class – 43% a trusted eSafety website – 40% from a parent/carer – 38%.

Positive online behaviours
9 in 10 teens had engaged in at least one type of positive online behaviour. Nearly all teens who had a negative experience online engaged in positive online behaviour afterward.

Maria Boulatskos on behalf of the Pastoral Coordinators