Safer Internet Day 2022

14 February 2022

Each year, Westland District Council is proud to support Safer Internet Day. We believe that this is an important message for our community as we rely on the internet more than ever before to remain connected. Given the role the internet has played in recent worldwide events, it’s more important than ever before that people know how to stay safe online.

Here are five simple steps we can all take to protect ourselves and whānau online.

Check before you share.

A lot of what we see or read online is true, but sometimes it’s put there on purpose to mislead others. Help others by not sharing fake news – and report it when you see it.

Be an upstander online.

Communities are safest when we look out for each other. That’s equally true online. If you see someone being bullied or harassed, report the problem to the platform where the behaviour is happening.

Discuss sensitive topics.

Sharing nudes is part of everyday conversation for many people, but there’s a strong misconception amongst young people that everybody’s doing it. Having open conversations with friends and whānau about intimate images can make it easier to discuss if things go wrong in the future.

Review your privacy settings.

Lots of platforms and services have improved the tools used to manage privacy and safety settings. Take a fresh look at the tools and platforms you’re using and do an online profile check-up. Find out more at netsafe.org.nz/privacy-settings-on-social-networks/

Make online spaces better.

The internet provides us with many benefits, but we also need to work together to make online spaces a bit safer. Engaging in positive and constructive korero to try to avoid being in the middle of a pile on and crediting the work of others that we share are some of the best ways to help.

Netsafe provides support for many internet issues including bullying, grooming, scams, stalking, image-based abuse and privacy breaches. You can get free advice and support seven days a week. Make a report online, email help@netsafe.org.nz or call 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723).