Social media is the ever-present force in our lives that supposedly ruins our productivity, makes us anti-social and causes depression and body issues in today’s young people. So, what is it about social media that triggers such large responses in our brains? What actually happens while we’re using these apps and how can we ‘save’ ourselves from the pressures of social media use? The book ‘Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention’ by Johann Hari, studies modern society’s problem with focusing. Over 12 main chapters, Hari outlines some of the proposed reasons why we can’t pay attention. The main reason explored is the birth of the internet. By digesting large amounts of short content, we have unintentionally conditioned our brains to think differently. We now struggle to think deeply and are severely lacking in creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Our collective attention spans are shrinking, and the birth of the internet has rapidly accelerated this. Ina study by Sune Lehmann, a professor at the Denmark Technical University who Hari discusses in the book, it is shown that in 2013 a topic would stay in the most discussed section of Twitter for an average of 17.5 hours, whereas in 2016 it was only 11.9 hours. This proves that we are only focusing on one thing for shorter and shorter periods of time. Another study done shows that for every decade in the last 130 years topics of conversation came and went faster and faster, and it is likely this trend will continue into the future. It has also been proven that the faster you read, the less information you retain, meaning that the more information there is, the less people can focus on individual pieces of it. This strengthens the theory that people are more likely to watch or read shorter, easier pieces of content. In the documentary, The Social Dilemma, Anna Lembke is interviewed. Lembke is a psychiatrist who specialises in addictions. She describes social media as a highly addictive drug. Social media has the capacity to mimic human connection by encouraging the brain to release high levels of dopamine when we get likes and comments. When using social media often, these are constant. This continual high release changes the reward threshold on our brain, taking more dopamine to give us the same rush as before. In an interview with Teen Vogue, Lembke says, “The more we activate that intense pleasure response on social media, the more we crave it. The repetitive action becomes less exciting, and we end up needing more to give us the same pleasure we experienced with a lesser amount before.” These consistent levels of dopamine often result in a dopamine deficit. When we’re not using social media and don’t have these high levels of dopamine, our lows become lower. Lembke says, “You might be able to tell you’re in a dopamine deficit state when you’re scrolling through social media, and you feel like you can’t stop. It doesn’t necessarily feel good, and you aren’t getting anything from your actions, but you just keep scrolling. When we’re in a dopamine deficit it can feel similar to depression and anxiety.” This cycle can become detrimental to our mental health. The craving for social approval and so called ‘popularity’ leaves people with surface level friendships and a resounding feeling of loneliness. The comparison with others is so much more than we are used to, and our brain can’t handle it. According to Medical News Today, “Social media use has been linked to increased anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, anti-social behaviour, and even found to be predictive of future suicide risk for teen girls.” It takes over your sense of self-worth and identity, makes us more anxious, fragile, and depressed. We’re collectively less likely to take risks, get a driver’s licence, or have in-person romantic interactions. Social media promotes impossible beauty standards and leaves us feeling bad about ourselves and our bodies. When we’re uncomfortable, lonely, afraid, or bored, we turn to technology to distractus. Generations are now being raised that don’t learn to deal with the emotions head-on, instead pushing them down and not dealing with it. We no longer have the ability to be in the moment and enjoy each other’s company. Two concepts that are especially prevalent in social media are group polarisation and conformity bias. Group polarisation can be described as the tendency groups have to make more extreme decisions compared to the normal decisions of individuals. In the social media world this is seen through influencers and people who have a platform aiming to persuade people on a topic or to fight for a cause. Group polarisation can lead to extremism and the birth of extremist groups. It’s also an easy way for misinformation to gain traction, and as found by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, fake news spreads 6 times as fast as real news, especially on Twitter. The algorithm also assists in this, by only showing a user what they want to see. This narrows their worldview and blocks out content that doesn’t align with their views. Conformity bias is when people adapt their behaviour to be part of a group. This mentality has the ability to change our perception and opinions and change our behaviours so that we ‘fit in’. It creates a false feeling of belonging and can lead to a lack of original thinking and proper judgement. As explored in The Social Dilemma, social media is addictive by design. When used excessively it can cause social, physical, and psychological harm to users, and gives us a lack of control of our actions. As said by Tristan Harris, a technology ethicist, “If you’re not paying for the product, then you are the product. ”Companies use a method commonly referred to as ‘surveillance capitalism.’ Our data is collected to customise our ads and make the advertisers as successful as possible. Everything you look at online is watched, tracked, measured, monitored, and recorded. They use the images you stop and look at, and by measuring the time you look at them, the algorithm recommends you more content like it. Through this it can predict what you’re going to do and what kind of content you’re most likely to look at based on past interests. A common misconception is that your data is sold. In most companies, your data is used to build a model which predicts your actions. Over time, this model becomes more and more accurate, predicting what kind of content will engage you most at whatever time of day. Ex-technology investor Jeff Seibert describes the three main focuses of these companies: engagement, growth, and advertising. Engagement focuses on keeping you entertained and on their platform for as long as possible. Growth aims to keep you coming back and inviting friends and family to join the platform. Advertising intends to make money by delivering advertisements to people they might sell products to. With these three aims, a company can successfully grow and influence their audience. Another concept explore by Tristan Harris is positive intermittent reinforcement. This describes a system of irregular ‘rewards’ (in this case dopamine). Harris uses the analogy of a slot machine to describe this phenomenon in the social media world. You don’t know what you’re going to get or if you’re going to get it, but if you reach over, it might have something for you. This builds a practically unbreakable habit. Social media has the capacity to influence and manipulate your thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours through advertising. It thrives off your attention. It is shown to change what you do, how you think, and who you are. It is based off addiction and manipulation and wants you to continue using it. Little things like photo tagging and the little ellipses when someone is typing keep you on the app and make you keep coming back. Our technology is rapidly evolving, but our brains are not. Although I’ve mainly focused on the negatives there are some pretty big positives in social media use. Connections can be maintained with people you wouldn’t normally stay in contact with. There’s a limitless amount of information and ideas, allowing you to learn and grow your worldview. You can develop an online presence and grow your identity and reputation. There’s an endless amount of communities where you can find people who share your values, interests, and beliefs, creating a sense of belonging and decreasing feelings of isolation and loneliness. Social media can be draining and addictive, but if we use it right it can be an essential communication tool. If you feel yourself getting carried away by the social media world, limit the time you spend on the apps, focus on real-life connections with people who really matter, take breaks when you need, and re-evaluate whether social media is really necessary in your life. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MADISON, 16 I’m super excited to be working with the Safe on Social Youth Advisory Committee because I love researching, learning and using my knowledge to guide other people. I’m passionate about online safety, and I enjoy working with other people. When I’m not studying, reading, or designing my future house, I’m at the beach, hanging out with friends, or doing makeup. I love drama and hope that I can be on TV or in movies one day.

This morning we were notified of a new way that predators are targeting children. This time it is through Apple Music iTunes profiles. We have never heard of this happening before and neither had the very well informed parents involved. Their son is 13 and told his parents this week about his data being low on his phone. The parent explained to me that they were concerned as he had limited apps on his phone, they had even removed safari, and they could not figure out how he had run out of data. Luckily they are very aware of the dangers online, and it triggered further investigation by these wonderful parents. They were using a home filter and Apple parental controls but neither of them picked this up and again highlights that conversations often and open with your kids is always the best option. It turns out their son was texting - and had attempted to FaceTime someone overseas who he had met online. He met this person through Apple Music iTunes Profiles, despite having a restricted child account, with limited settings - he is unable to even watch the music videos. However, he went on to explain to his parents how this person was able to connect with him and give him, her phone number (if it is she). People can write a playlist description on Apple Music and it seems this is what has happened. “She” converses with others by tagging their usernames in. “She” had been communicating with him in this way since March, and they developed shared music interests. It was 4 weeks ago that the boy and her began texting. She writes about how she's depressed, anxious, being bullied; rumours about her having slept with the swim team, and that she’s a minor, she's suicidal, she's being stalked and harassed by her ex, she’s been to the police for help, and they wouldn't help her, she's worried she will start cutting again. His deeply concerned (and rightfully so) parents say all of these comments have played on this lovely young boy’s beautiful and gentle nature. He has told her to tell an adult, talk to friends, ignore the rumours etc. He said to her in the texts that she sounds like she needs someone to talk to, and can he FaceTime her. Thankfully the call fails to connect. He then messaged her and says he'd like to be there for her, and would she like to be his girlfriend, even though they've never met. He sent a photo of himself in his school uniform (logo not showing). She sends back the same filtered fake looking image used for her iTunes profile. That was the day he spoke to his parents and asked why his data was low, and his parents checked his phone. Thank God they did, I can only imagine what other photos could have been exchanged in his attempts to 'help' her from cutting or worse. The parents have done everything right and reported this to the police, they have removed his iTunes profile, blocked the phone number and have tightened parental controls so he can only receive messages from people in his contacts, a feature they only unlocked for him a few months ago. His parents asked me to share with parents, as they were unable to find any information on Apple iTunes profiles, and they were blown away that this has happened. The parents of this young man and I have absolutely no doubt that this is child grooming and was possibly leading to sexploitation which is on the increase. What is sexploitation/sextortion? Sextortion is a hybrid of the words’ sexual’ and ‘extortion.’ It is a serious crime that occurs when someone threatens to distribute your private and sensitive material if you don’t provide them images of a sexual nature, sexual favours, or money. Things you need to discuss: They should never accept or respond to messages through any platform from people that they don’t know, assure them it will never be a friend (if it is, they will contact through other means). There may be a sinister side, and accepting or responding is not safe. Let them know that they can always speak to you without judgment, that you will help them if they make a mistake online, and something goes wrong. They need to know that they should never be afraid to speak up. Make sure that they know even if they have sent a photo (in school uniform, a nude or any kind of image for that matter) they are never going to be in trouble if they are the suspected victim of a predator or a sexploitation/sextortion attempt. Make sure they know not to pay or respond to the demands at all. They should not engage at all. Teach them that they should take screenshots if something happens to have evidence if the authorities need to be notified. If you are in Australia, report here www.accce.gov.au If you are not in Australia, immediately contact your local Police for advice and to make a report. Crime Stoppers – 1800 333 000 Kids Help Line – 1800 551 800 Lifeline - 131114 As always, you can contact us at wecanhelp@safeonsocial.com How to tighten up the settings on Apple Music. Apple Music allows people to find your profile and follow you, so they can keep track of what you're listening to and access your shared playlists. But what if you don’t want people to access your profile? Fortunately, you can use the app just for yourself without having to worry about having someone snooping through your profile. Here's how to make your profile private if you pay for a subscription you can choose who's able to access it: 1. Open the Apple Music app. 2. Tap Listen Now in the bottom-left corner of the page. 3. Select your profile in the top-left corner. 4. Tap on your profile name to view your profile. 5. Choose Edit. 6. Under Who Can Follow Your Activity, select People you approve. Unfollow and block users Go to your profile. Under Following or Followers, tap a person to go to their profile. On the right side of their profile, tap the More button Tap Unfollow to stop following them. Tap Block to block a user from seeing your profile. People that you block won't see your music or find your profile in Apple Music. Report a concern If you see something offensive on a user's profile or in a user-created playlist, you can report it to Apple and they will investigate the issue. You can report a concern with any content that an Apple Music user uploads or shares. Items that you can report include: Playlist names Playlist images Playlist descriptions Usernames User images User handles To report an offensive name or image: Go to the user's page or playlist's page. On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, tap the More button On your Android device, tap the More button Choose Report a Concern. Please feel free to share this information. Safe on Social is a purpose driven private company. We have a team of speakers and researchers that are constantly one step ahead of what is going on online. We are the most trusted and in demand speakers and consultants in the sector for this reason. As always, you can contact us to speak at your school or business by contacting wecanhelp@safeonsocial.com

Face Filters to Trick Your Kids Do your kids actually know who they are talking to online? Do you even know? Face filters are nothing new but in the wake of Todd Sampson’s Omegle discovery in his documentary Mirror Mirror, the video footage that transpired offered viewers a very transparent take on how the video chatting app works. The reality however, is that many people your kids may be talking to via Omegle or any other social media platform, are not who they say (or show) they are. I am a 52yr old woman. As you will see in the video below, in just a few clicks, I am able to change my appearance within a simple passport photo in less than 60 seconds. The result? A completely different face and person. There are many available apps that allow users to alter or cover up their appearance. The one I used is called Face App. These apps don’t exist with sinister ideals in mind, but in some cases have been adopted by unsavoury people so that they can hide behind another face and trick whomever it is that they are chatting to. The reasons for doing this include to groom young children, for self-gratification of a graphic nature and to commit image-based abuse. And then there is the self-esteem issue. So many young people are filtering themselves "to look better", sometimes copying their parents who do the same. If you are at all concerned about your child’s activity online and who they may be talking to, start a conversation TODAY. A few tips that may help: Don’t get angry. Kids naturally pull away and will be reluctant to open up and share. Don’t be accusatory. You are trying to find out if they need help or want to talk about something they’ve seen. This will only cause friction and feelings of distrust. Instead ask "what would you do if a friend was using a filter" or what would you do if you are suspicious that a friend was talking to a stranger online and they were sharing photos? How do they know if it is really that person? Do show an interest. And be genuine in that interest. Ask them what they have been watching lately and where they like to watch it. Get them to show you. Do check their privacy settings. Most platforms have the ability for the user to make their profile private, only viewable by friends rather than by the public. Do know how to report. If your child reveals something unsavoury, follow the report functions available in most social media apps. Don’t ban them from their device. This will create resistance to your support and may cause them to act out and find somewhere else to access their social media accounts. Do educate yourself. Knowing about the many social media apps is paramount if your child has access to a device. You need to know what they are used for, how they work and how to keep your kids safe online. Want to empower yourself in keeping your family safe online? Sign up to our online learning program today. Simply visit our website to learn more. If you're a teacher and want to learn more about staff training opportunities, send us an email at wecanhelp@safeonsocial.com

For hundreds of years, the tobacco industry thrived, offering a product perceived as cool, sophisticated, and sensual. This was until attitudes began to change in the mid 1960's as the health consequences of this lifestyle behaviour became well known, such as cancers, stroke, heart disease, and other preventable illnesses related to smoking. Smoking in today's day and age is no longer cool. Society often frowns upon people who participate in this behaviour as we are all well aware of and educated on the associated health risks' severe impacts. Fast forward to 2022, and vaping is the new smoking, and worst still, it is not only the older generation that participates; it is my generation-Gen Z. I want to buy a house one day, and hopefully, it's a nice one, totally off-grid with a view of the ocean, backing onto a national park (it might be a stretch, but it's a goal of mine). That said, that goal will not be cheap, and spending $25+ for flavoured air isn't really what I would call an 'investment piece.' Generally, my generation considers vaping socially acceptable; it is a part of the social norm and almost an expectation at any social gathering like a concert or a house party. It is vital to know that vapes or e-cigarettes were first introduced in 2003in the Chinese market and were initially advertised to aid smokers in quitting smoking cigarettes. The claim that 'vapes help smokers quit' is still the company's argument to justify its promotional strategies. The unfortunate reality is that these products are not aimed at people who are already smoking but at the youth. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2022, one in five 18–24 years old's and one in twelve 15-17 years olds had used a vaping or e-cigarette product at least once. The ABS recognises that these statistics are likely underreported as 77.3% of the 15-17responses were written by an adult in the same household. I 100% agree with ABS, reporting that it is likely underreported as we all know that teenagers can be sneaky, and this issue is more widespread than I think Australians want to admit. The popularity of e-cigarettes has, without a doubt, increased over the past couple of years, making way for a new generation to become addicted to nicotine products. Vapes or e-cigarette products containing nicotine are illegal for anyone without a prescription, so technically, a tiny proportion of the population should have access to these products. But, as we know from the past, the government endeavours to completely eradicate the sale of substances, better known as the 'war on drugs,' only drive the industry underground, making it unregulated and dangerous. Of course, teenagers found a way around the legalities; the product is purposefully advertised to appeal to us with its bright colours, sleek packaging, and sweet flavours. So, where are teenagers getting their fix? The answer is blindingly apparent; it is social media. Social media is the new black market, especially for vapes. I would confidently say that vapes are the most prevalent and widely accepted illegal substance that young people my age buy and consume. I know a person that buys vapes from people on Snapchat. I also know that my Instagram and TikTok accounts are recommended to me and advertise these products to be sold in my area (regional NSW). These recommendations are made due to the complex algorithm the apps use. The algorithm is generally unknown, but it is widely accepted that it recommends accounts in your area and those with which your friends or other people interact. The process is simple you find these accounts advertising vaping products, contact them by a direct message/snap (on Snapchat) and decide on the flavour and brand you want. You then arrange to meet up with the dealer, just like a drug deal (super sketchy). It's not hard to arrange these 'dealings.' Some of these accounts are anonymous, meaning you do not know the dealer's identity, or the dealer lacks common sense and reveals their identity. After all, itis an illegal product, and the digital proof of particular, especially for younger children involved in this industry, can jeopardise their future. Buying these products from social media dealers means these products are unregulated and therefore dangerous. The legitimacy of these products is questionable, as most vapes are cheaply made, containing batteries prone to leaking and a cocktail of chemicals that have unknown health consequences. Young people may already know this, but as our brain is not fully developed do not understand the severity of the issue. After all, if we cannot physically see the damage it is causing, is it that harmful? That being said, what can be done to educate and limit teenagers' desire to vape? Due to vaping being a cultural norm, it seems to me almost like a lost cause. Schools are already confiscating them at astronomical rates, which should continue, but further education on the risks associated that are already known, such as lung infections and EVALI (which stands for e-cigarette/vaping associate lung injury) experienced by younger and younger people. The Government also needs to implement more proactive measures to combat the importation of illegal vape and e-cigarette products, as laws and initiatives are not working as they should. Another suggestion may be using cautionary tales such as "Bryan," the guy on cigarette packages, and plastering it all over the packaging rather than the bright colours used on the prescription vapes. From a marketing point of view, I believe the companies would never want that to happen; it would undoubtedly decrease sales as it would seem less cool having pictures of mouth cancer decorating your vape compared with a pretty fuchsia that matches your clubbing outfit. It is just a theory of mine. About the Author, Jade: My name is Jade. I am 17 and from regional NSW. I am passionate about bringing awareness to the safety of social media users because it is ever so present in my own life and the people around me. ​I believe it is a hugely influential aspect of our lives as it shapes culture and social expectations and has significant impacts on our mental health. Ongoing education in regards to social media is necessary for the future. Want to be able to access the most current and up-to-date online safety resources available all-year-round? Sign up to our Safe on Social's online learning program, eSafetyHQ, today. Visit Safe on Social's eSafetyHQ Online Learning to learn more!

When you think of ways to stay up to date with current events, what springs to mind is probably newspapers, radio, and the six o'clock news. But when I think of my news source, I think of social media. Apps like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram jump out at me immediately as places where I can find out what's happening worldwide. My generation is much more likely to come across an article when scrolling on social media than we are to purposely sit down and watch the news. Traditional news can often be tedious and filled with less exciting content you must sit through to get to the big headlines. And who wants to watch an hour of doom and gloom when a new season of your favourite show has just dropped? Trust me when I say no one my age will sit down and read a newspaper when we can scroll through something on our phones. If we see an exciting headline, we might click on a link and skim-read an article, but most of us will get our news from friends sending us something or coming across something on our preferred social media platform's feed. Now, you might worry that because our information is coming from an alternative news source that it can't possibly be true. While yes, the number one rule of the internet is don't believe everything you see; this doesn't mean everything is automatically a lie. Instagram accounts, such as The Happy Broadcast and Shit You Should Care About, are dedicated to sharing news. The Happy Broadcast only shares fact-checked anxiety-free information, which is always a nice change in today's world. And SYSCA shares reputable stories and funny, topical things they have seen (think the project for those in NZ). However, it's not just Instagram that has these alternative news sources. Many people like to watch TikTok videos or podcasts; some sign up for online newsletters from their favourite accounts, and Facebook lovers have their news sources. The war in Ukraine has also boosted social media as a news source. Many citizens post first-hand accounts about what is happening, whether talking in a video or just sharing footage of the horrors around them. This footage is usually extremely recent and gives viewers an idea of the average person's experience. Sometimes these videos get picked up by traditional news sources as well, but by then, the footage is less recent and therefore less relevant. These videos also have tremendous numbers regarding viewership, with viral videos gaining over 15 million views, rivalling some traditional news sources. Traditional news sources have seen the power of social media and have started producing their content. Companies like the Washington Post, BBC News, and The Guardian Australia have TikTok accounts. Social Media is a great way to deliver short news segments in an approachable manner, and news services are beginning to take advantage of this. Some news companies even create content specifically for social media that doesn't get shown on other platforms. During the recent Australian elections, The Guardian had a TikTok account with daily updates on what was happening and explaining the voting process. This is great, considering TikTok's younger demographic would make up most of the first-time voters. While social media is an excellent alternative to traditional news, it is essential to watch out for misinformation. When someone posts something, be critical. If it's something that sounds strange and you've never heard before, that's probably because it isn't true. A massive amount of misinformation was spread through social media about covid 19, and people looking for ways to protect themselves and their families were fed blatant lies. This misinformation mainly influenced older generations, and many were led to believe dangerous conspiracy theories. My age has been told repeatedly not to believe everything on the internet. As digital natives, many of us are aware of misinformation. However, for older generations who aren't as used to social media, the mix of real news and misinformation can be hard to navigate. Social media can be a great place to find out what is happening worldwide, and my generation tends to prefer it to traditional news sources. While it has its pros and cons, so does everything. About the Author, Charlotte: I am a 16yo student from Christchurch, New Zealand and my pronouns are they/she. I am a creative, outgoing person and am always up for a challenge. I believe that everyone should know how to use social media confidently and safely in our increasingly digital world. I am proud to be a member of the Safe on Social Youth Advisory Committee.

Recently, revelations of vile messages sent by students at an elite Sydney school have prompted alertness amongst parents and the community about their teenagers' online behaviour. The group chat, on a messaging app Discord, appeared to be active for around two years and featured more than 150 students, former students, and their friends. Some of the vulgar content in the group chat expressed numerous racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and dangerous comments as well as profane, violent images and videos including minors being raped: “Silly ‘pro choicers’ think women's rights matter” “I’m a maniacal paedophile who rapes babies for a living” “Hitler is always staying in my heart with techni blade HEIL Hitler” The school has responded by stating that “the nature of these posts is contrary to the values and culture of the school” and the students “have participated in lessons to reiterate the importance of respectful and appropriate behaviour”. Not only is this response publicly understating the nature of its atrocity to protect its reputation and minimise further exposure, but it has taken minimal action to take effective measures to eliminate any further dangerous behaviour from its students. The school has previously been embroiled in controversy in covering up multiple sex abuse crimes involving staff and students. Additionally, the school failed to inform the parents until weeks after such information was received. This cycle fosters a toxic culture that teaches young adults to ‘cover things up and ‘to keep silent', which ironically does not align with its supposed values of ‘courage and integrity. Rather, institutions must grapple with the reality of their internal culture that feeds into the dangers of toxic masculinity on young impressionable minds. It is time for such institutes to put aside their ignorance and actively confront these prevalent issues. We must foster a positive and inclusive school environment that arouses an uncoloured lens to eliminate further dangerous views and acts. It is also necessary to imbue regulatory measures, and better educate our youth, especially young men, on their engagement and behaviour on online platforms, as well as bring awareness to broader socio-cultural discourses to dismember any further oppressive sentiments imbued within our collective consciousness. Yet, these revelations also reignite discussion surrounding parents’ responsibility for their teenagers’ online behaviour. The incident has prompted some cyber safety experts to urge parents to limit their children’s online usage, such as prohibiting phone usage in the bedroom. Whilst, to some extent, I can understand this response, I believe that such reactive acts can cause more harm than good. Seemingly, our youth needs access to these technologies that allow them to participate in their social world, but only when conducted safely and without harming themselves or others. Instead, by taking a more proactive approach, parents must be more aware of what their teenagers are doing online, as ‘not understanding technology’ is no longer an excuse. To achieve a cohesive awareness of how to prevent and respond to the possible dangers of social media, we all need to be on the same page and working as a supportive team instead of functioning from different generational corners of the same arena. Be that as it may, this case has revealed that, unfortunately, becoming aware of ‘social media policies and guidelines is not enough to eliminate such sadistic and repellent behaviour that remains ever-present on social media. In such cases, to make a difference, we must ensure that parents engage in a progressive and uplifting home environment and educate our youth on fostering respectful and equal relationships to avoid further utterance of such pernicious and dangerous narratives. You see, online platforms don’t fuel themselves with such depravity. We hold the match and weaponise it as a vehicle to incite violence and dehumanise individuals and groups. Gigi 17yrs I am currently in Year 12, completing my HSC at school in Sydney. I hope to attend University where I aspire to study for a double degree in Property Economics and Business Law. ​ I wanted to participate in the committee to contribute a contemporary perspective on the safety of social media engagement and effective for young people.

Social media is used worldwide to keep connected and to share and remember the special moments in our lives. Because social media is worldwide, this can sometimes lead to unwanted hackers trying to undermine people's accounts and collect personal information. Keeping social media accounts secure is very important,especially in today's world, as people have many new and creative ways to hack into accounts. Once they gain access to your social media accounts, they can find many pieces of information and possibly access bank accounts, emails, and other private accounts. Many apps have their methods to minimise account fraud and impersonation, but they also come with the risk that these methods won't always work. Over the past year, scammers and hackers have grown in numbers. I'm sure many people have received a call from a number they have never seen before or a message over social media from someone you barely know, suddenly asking you to click on a link to view a picture or something. Many other people I know and I have had this problem. These hackers canbe very convincing, and sometimes the outcome can be severe if it goes too far. Understanding that social media platforms store your personal information is also essential. They don't necessarily guarantee the safety of the data added to your account profile(such as phone number), even if an account is private. It is also important to note that many people on social media are not who they say they are. When accepting follow requests, you must check that you know the person and have a few mutual friends you also know and trust. This can also lead to each person's digital footprint, which contains all the information you post online. Scammers can use this information to steal your identity and make phishing messages more convincing. This is why it is crucial to consider what you are posting and who has access to it. By doing a few of the following things, you can reduce the risk of obtaining unwanted visitors: Choosing a strong, complicated password (not using a singular word or anything that connects to who you are) By using a unique password for all accounts–if you use the same password for multiple accounts, you can make it incredibly easy for someone to hack into your more personal accounts like your bank account. Set your accounts to Private and ensure you know who can view your posts Check your third-party authentication as they can gain access to your accounts. Enable two-factor authentication as this confirms the user's identity. If someone sends you a link, make sure you are 100% sure it is genuine before clicking on it. If you aren't sure, delete. By following these simple steps, you can ensure the safety of your personal information. Of course,there is always a chance for your account to be hacked through someone else's account,so it is also essential to change your passwords every three months, or at least every school holidays. There are also different ways to report account impersonation on the various social media platforms: Facebook To report an account, first go to the history profile you want to report. Click on the three dots (...) to the right of the screen and select Find Support or Report Profile. Instagram To report an account or a post, first click on their user name from their feed or post. Tap the three dots (...) at the top right of their profile page. And finally, tap Report. TikTok To report an account or video, click on their profile.Tap on the three-dot symbol (...). Then select Report. Snapchat To report abuse, press and hold on their Name. Then click on the (⋮) three dots and press "report." As you can see, there are ways to report accounts and posts on these leading social media platforms.Overall, to prevent the possibility of your account from being hacked, there are many small but necessary things that you can do to secure your social media account. As well as ensuring the protection of yourself, it provides the safety of your family and friends. As the number of scammers and hackers increases, we need to be more aware of what we post, who we are giving access to our information, educating each other on the safest ways to use these new platforms so that we can still share the important moments in our lives and communicate with the people we love all around the world. About the Author, Drue: I’m 16, and I joined the Youth Committee as I believe it will be such a significant learning experience that will go towards the security of the online world. ​I believe social media is such a large part of today’s world, positively and negatively impacting individuals and society. Hopefully, through the Youth Committee, I can help create a safer online space for everyone.

Trigger Warning: World War II, Radicalism, Racism, Buffalo Shooting (2022) In an age where your eyeballs are constantly glued to your mobile device, it is hard to say that you are not influenced by what you see. The internet is essentially a vast black hole where you can find information on almost anything or anyone. In retrospect, exposure to a wide variety of material and knowledge is essential to developing one's ideologies - but this comes at a cost. What determines whether the material we are exposed to is proper or ethically correct? What convinces us to adapt our values to various perspectives on the internet? These are important questions that everyone in this day and age must ask themselves. And this alludes to the primary purpose of this article: Online radicalisation. Radicalisation, in simple terms, is when individuals' values and ideologies get influenced to a point where they develop extremist behaviour. And it has always happened. It happened during World War II when Hitler wanted people to think like him, to think genocide, to think harm because they were 'different.' But now, it looks different. Radicalisation can happen to anyone, anywhere. It does seem indifferent that social media, a norm of today's society, can be a window susceptible to radicalisation. Social media has been the picnic spot for extremist individuals to lure people into their agenda of harm. In conjunction with the Office of eSafety Commissioners' online report, approximately 33% of young people have reported being a victim of viewing and accessing online content that promotes terrorism. What is the issue here? The unthoughtful consumption of social media by people. When you scrolled on TikTok (or any social media) today, let me ask you how many times you stopped and thought about what the video or the post was about. How often did you reflect on the content presented to you in the hours you spent scrolling? A TEDx talk by Kaustav Mukherjee talks about this issue and how all social media users are blinded by the sorting algorithms that determine what they are presented with. Social media such as Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok work based on an algorithm. So, when you first use a social network, you are welcomed with several questions about your interests; this helps the app determine what content to present to keep you engaged. It is human nature for people to find other individuals who are like-minded and share their ideologies. This becomes an issue when this is done online, as one does not know who is behind that screen? For example, if I hate pineapple on pizza, I must search to find people who hate it. If I typed in 'r/pineapple pizza hate' on Reddit, I would be presented with a surplus of opinions that support my view. This is the same for any extremist behaviour. There are usually three stages to radicalisation considered by The Youth Justice Board, and the following are true for almost all types of radicalisation: Pre-radicalisation Radicalisation has the target audience of the vulnerable people of our society and it is important to note that these vulnerable people can be anyone - including you. Children and teenagers who are often lonely and vulnerable turn to social media for solace and this is the extremist golden ticket! In an interview given by Lauren Manning, a former white nationalist, to the Clarion project, she states, "I didn't have a strong sense of self back then. What I was looking for was something to wrap my identity around". Extremists use this missing void within people as a levy to fill it in with an identity that they crave. Self-identification This is the early stage where the individuals get exposed to specific ideologies. This is when one deviates from their old values and shifts their moral compass as they believe they communicate with like-minded individuals. Indoctrination This is the stage where the individuals intensify their beliefs to specific ideologies, making them a threat to people around them. An excellent example of indoctrinating people into being radical is the recent, devastating, and shocking shootings at Buffalo, New York. This article from news.com.au presents that Payton Grendon was influenced by the social media platform 4chan. 4Chan is an anonymous forum where people can post their views/ideologies/interests etc. According to Gerndon's testimonies during the time of the COVID-19 lockdown, he was tempted to browse 4Chan, specifically the forums, where they promote racist and anti-Semitic views. "Mycurrent beliefs started when I first started to use 4chan a few months after covid started" he shared. Now, I want you as a reader to imagine your friend or your child sitting in front of a screen reading sickening descriptions of racism and hate towards people. Imagine them engrossed, their eyes fixated on it, consuming the content, thinking it is correct. An internet forum influenced a mere 18-year-old, isn't that shocking? I am not shocked at all! The internet is an unfathomably large pit consisting of much-unfiltered content. When young adults like Payton browse the internet, they are presented with unfiltered forums where individuals propose ideologies and values that are morally, ethically, and in every aspect unacceptable. Payton confirms that "Every time I think maybe I shouldn't commit to an attack, I spend 5 min [on] /pol/, then my motivation returns". Poor, oblivious minds, like that of Payton, fall under the unthoughtful consumption of the vastness of the internet, and fall as prey to such extremist views. This is just one example of white supremacist extremism. Other examples include Jihadist Terrorists. These individuals use religion as a pawn to play their game of chess in the real world. They use the internet to create a 'safe haven' where the vulnerable are shown this facade where they can express themselves and their religion more faithfully to please Allah. These extremists guilt-trip Islamic adherents through Arabic-speaking scholars as mouthpieces in piecing together their plans of terrorism. (Kamolnick 2017; Kimmage 2010, 2; Wage-makers 2011) So what does this all mean? All I am trying to do is spread awareness of radicalisation and how everyone in the 21st century is subject to it. It does not matter if you only watch cat videos on the internet or only read the Reddit forums where they talk about the best type of cheese, we are ALL subject to radicalisation. Maybe, right now, at this moment, someone YOU know is being radicalised on the internet. So next time you mindlessly scroll on Instagram or Twitter, stop, take a minute, question what you are reading and being exposed to. Think about it rationally and make an educated choice where you voice your morals. I am exhilarated to be part of the Safe on Social Youth Advisory Committee. I am an individual who enjoys meeting new people and, most notably, making a difference that helps our ever-so-expanding world. Being an avid social media user has enabled me to be a part of our digital community, a norm in our society. Therefore, making our collective digital interaction more safe and secure is one of my many interests that drove my passion for being a part of Safe on Social.

The interaction and representation of men and women on social media significantly uphold and contribute to hegemonic patriarchal ideologies that dangerously shape our opinions, beliefs, and attitudes. While I can applaud the liberation and agency social media as a platform has awarded marginalised voices and discourses, the eminent influence and impact it has on the mindset of our youth is detrimental. Under capitalist dogma, social media nurtures and feeds into these pernicious ideologies that uphold misogynistic values that underpin hegemonic hierarchies.Where gender is performative, social media revolves around the socially prescribed archetypes of masculinity and femininity. While I can debate the capitalisation of women's bodies and sexuality on social media, I will focus on the degree of control the audience has over this as reflected within our micro world. On social media, women are scrutinised for being in a bikini, not wearing a bra, or not showing a passive smile, as we are taught not to "invite unwanted attention" because it looks as if we are "asking for it." The mini skirt is not the cause of sexualisation; the hijab hasn't stopped it. It was never about the clothes and never was. Never will be. I have witnessed countless times these pernicious narratives being placed onto the impressionable minds of young girls by parents and guardians.Girls who have had to ask permission from their parents to post a photo.Girls who have had to delete pictures because of their parents, and all because it was"giving off the wrong impression." Through this, girls are taught that being sexual is shameful. If this logic used to criticise women does not hold when applied to men-then it's not logic; it's sexism.This leads girls to learn that it's normalised to be sexualised by men, while men know it is shameful for women to be sexual. Parents' simple rule on our youth feeds into these harmful grand narratives. Parents hide behind the "keeping you safe" card. But it is keeping me safe from who? Is it honestly narrowed down to the "creepy old men"? The responsibility of men is once again placed on women. Teach your sons not to sexually objectify women instead of teaching your daughters not to be sexual.Because denying your daughter the right to be sexual is another way of objectifying her.Social media is not dangerous because girls are being sexual; it is only dangerous because parents project that it is acceptable when men sexualise them. These misogynistic narratives become internalised, and we pass them on to our daughters. You see, it is not the fathers telling their daughters not to post a bikini photo. Yet,ironically it is because they don't want to appear perverse as they are passively aware of the privileges awarded to them by capitalist patriarchal institutions that only sexualise the feminine. Because it is normalised, even women internalise this misogyny, which is highly reflected as mothers are predominantly the ones who inflict these guidelines on social media. By reflecting this onto the impressionable youth, we are feeding into these narratives that objectify the feminine as a controlled capitalist entity. But we can unlearn this behaviour by being aware of our thoughts and feelings and how internalised misogyny is woven into our fabric of existence. It is the role of both parents to become conscious of how they apply different guidelines to their daughters and sons. Social media is not dangerous for a young girl because of its public demeanour. Still,instead, we fail to acknowledge our internalised misogynistic tendencies that feed into capitalist and patriarchal narratives that govern our society. By denying your daughter the right to self-expression of their sexuality, we thus normalise being sexualised, and shun being sexual. We place the burden and blame on women rather than teaching our sons how to not sexualise other women on social media. You see, women aren't sexualised for being sexual, and they are sexualised for simply being. So, stop apologising for being sexual, in a world that has yet to apologise for sexualising your existence. About the Author, Gigi: I am currently in Year 12, completing my HSC at school in Sydney. I hope to attend University where I aspire to study for a double degree in Property Economics and Business Law. ​ I wanted to participate in the committee to contribute a contemporary perspective on the safety of social media engagement and effective for young people.

We are all so used to the bully being an antagonist, someone who is bigger than us, scarier than us, someone we dread seeing, someone who we would try to avoid at all costs, but what happens when the bully, the master manipulator, the perpetrator is a friend? As life moves on, so do our friends. Things get complicated, and friend groups split. People grow apart and drift away, but sometimes we remain friends for many years. But what about when those friends start to make comments, demeaning jokes, and nasty comments online? What about when those friends start to become mean? What about when those friends become a bully? Bullying can often be mistaken for a fight with friends, but in reality, it is much more than this. Bullying is repetitive; it is degrading comments and sometimes physical violence over and over again. It doesn't have to be in person. Instead, in this digital age, a person can get bullied anywhere, everywhere, and anytime. We all joke with each other, but the key word in that sentence is a joke. These friends, however, may take it too far. They may say something that seriously hurts us. This can be made worse in a group when the rest of your friends laugh. You may not want to seem like someone who cannot take a joke, the one that is too serious, too robotic. Sometimes this friend may send you a text claiming that "they are over you, that you're mean" they may post something on social media being passive-aggressive, claiming that you are the bully, and instead try to isolate you from the friend group. Being in a friend group should mean having more support, but sometimes it can only worsen things. There is always a fear that the group will ditch you and that you will be alone because everyone else will leave you for the bully. Sometimes, they fear the repercussions of leaving the bully or because they have not yet realised that the bully is a bully. Bullies can be master manipulators, people who choose the right time to insult or hurt you. It may be over text; it may be within a group chat. Sometimes it can be in front of a group of people. Either way, nothing is ever said against the perpetrator because standing up to the bully, being anything but a bystander or victim, can be risky and frightening. It can be challenging when the bully influences people's feelings and emotions. They make others feel bad for them, make your friends feel as if the bully is a fragile person, and once again make everyone think you are the bully when you are nothing but a victim. It is similar to how predators hunt. They separate a member from the pack until they are at their weakest, then they attack. Bullies don't try to sort out the issue rationally; they do not try to communicate because there is often an underlying issue as to why they chose to isolate you from the herd. These reasons can include jealousy, they want to be liked and accepted, they want to fit in, they feel angry inside, they like to be in control, they have been bullied, or they don't understand that what they are doing is wrong. Sometimes the bully doesn't mean to be a bully, sometimes, they are joking, but sometimes there is retaliation from the victim or bystander that again turns into bullying and only extends the cycle. It is best not to retaliate, but it can be difficult. The most challenging part will be moving away from the toxic environment, recognising that the friend is a bully, and fixing the issue. How to recognise that a friend is more aptly described as a bully: A bully often acts as the victim. They manipulate you often through feelings of guilt. Their moods control your own. It takes more energy to be around them than to not be near them. You dread seeing them even when you should be happy to see them. What to do if you are bullied: Try to distance yourself from the bully. Do not bully them back. Talk to them and ask them to stop. Tell them that what they are doing is not ok. Block them on social media or delete social media for a while. Talk to someone that you trust. Being a parent is tough at the best of times but being a parent to a child who is being bullied is just ten times harder. What can parents do to help if their child is being bullied: Talk to your child about what they can do if they are bullied. Educate them. Look for signs of distress and changes in their behaviour. Bullying can cause an onset of negative thoughts, including, in some severe cases, ideas regarding self-harm. Check on your child often. Seek professional help. If you notice anything off, ask them about it, check their devices, and call their school to see if anything may have been reported. About the author Tealia: I am 16 years old, and I joined this committee to make a difference and be the support that my peers deserve, the voice for those who cannot speak up, and the guide to help navigate the rocky world of social media. I want to help my peers be heard and make their online experiences more positive. I bring to this committee my strength, dedication, and support. I am excited to help.

In short, yes, but it's not that simple. Instagram's reel feature is most definitely like TikTok; many of the videos on Instagram reels are re-posted from TikTok. However, TikTok isn't the only platform with short-form video content,and while definitely a trendsetter, social media apps always borrow ideas from each other.Instagram isn't trying to be TikTok necessarily; more so, Instagram is trying to be popular. Instagram was first created in 2010 and has seen many changes. From ownership to logos to features, Instagram has seen many variations over the years. We all remember when Instagram first got stories in 2016, and everyone was saying that Instagram was trying to be Snapchat. The same thing is happening now. Instagram, just like every other social media platform, is trying to keep up with the latest trend, and that trend is short videos. Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat all have short-form video content that you could say is copying TikTok. The thing is, these TikTok copycat features aren't always successful. In 2018 Meta (known as Facebook at the time) tried to launch Instagram's partner app, IGTV. The idea was to access some of its features within Instagram and then get the IGTV app to use it fully. However, at the time, TikTok wasn't as wildly popular as it is now, and those who liked the short videos that TikTok had, didn't enjoy IGTV, which led to its eventual discontinuation in 2021. Today, TikTok is more popular than ever, and Instagram's reel feature is doing well, but not nearly as well as TikTok. Instagram reels are seen as the backup for TikTok and are often joked about as being two years behind when it comes to trends that started on TikTok. The only people who prefer to use reels regularly are people who don't have TikTok. This is because TikTok has something that Instagram doesn't, which is TikTok's algorithm. TikTok's algorithm is regarded as the best in the business regarding social media algorithms. It predicts with astounding accuracy the type of content its users want to watch, with many users coming up with different names for the "side of TikTok" they are on. So far, no other platform has succeeded with its algorithm in truly predicting the type of content its users want to see, and that is what other social media platforms, like Instagram, want to copy. Recently, Instagram has updated its homepage to prioritise showing you content you think you will like instead of content from the accounts you follow. While Instagram hasn't yet cracked what makes TikTok's algorithm so unique, it does a good job showing things that cater to your interests. However, this change has received a lot of backlash as users find it hard to find their friends' posts, the main thing that people use Instagram for. Instagram's haste to be like TikTok has gotten rid of what people liked about it. Seeing what your friends are up to. Instagram has a long history of copying other platforms in its path to be successful, and I don't see this stopping anytime soon. Instagram isn't the hot new thing anymore; frankly, neither is TikTok. While I don't predict either company losing large portions of users, it is clear that there is a new player on social media platforms. That player is BeReal, an app where you post a picture once a day using both your front and back camera. BeReal's secret ingredient is the connection that users get from it. It feels more authentic than other apps, which is primarily the reason for its success. I believe that BeReal is the next platform that Instagram will try to copy once it moves from trying to be TikTok. Instagram is out of ideas and has been for a long time. Most new features released recently are all copies of other social media platforms. Instagram needs to stop trying to be TikTok because it never will be. Instead, Instagram should focus on what made it stand out and become popular first, or it will become known as a knock-off TikTok. People like Instagram and enjoy using it,but some recent changes are not making people like it more. Yes, Instagram is trying to be TikTok, but Instagram is just trying to survive.Something it simply will not do if it continues copying other platforms and, in the process, destroying what makes it unique. Sign up for our online learning programs today: https://esafetyhq.thinkific.com/?fbclid=IwAR29CKp8RxzdmQypPsrSSHefXIZIIjrVV1kMRIcA66GLA7Y8cY3qfOQeZPQ I am a 15 year old student from Christchurch, New Zealand and my pronouns are they/she. I am a creative, outgoing person and am always up for a challenge. I believe that everyone should know how to use social media confidently and safely in our increasingly digital world. I am proud to be a member of the Safe on Social Youth Advisory Committee.

Wren Eleanor is a three-year-old girl who likes to play with her dolls, enjoy treats, and take day trips with her mum. Wren is also a social media child 'star' with over 17 million followers on her TikTok account. Single mum Jacquelyn Paul started the account as a way of scrapbooking Wren's childhood, but in recent weeks, she has come under fire for exploiting her child and possibly putting her at risk. Known as the "Wren Effect?" this tiny Tik Toker's account has been sleuthed by the community, and they've found some pretty disturbing things going down in the activity on the 3 year old's posts. That amateur detective work has led to many parents and carers deleting all their kids pics from the their social media accounts. What has got them so spooked? Kirra Pendergast our CEO spoke to Mamamia's The Quicky podcast about why innocent pics and videos, like those posted of little Wren Eleanor, could be feeding a sick online community. Listen to the podcast here: https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/the-quicky/wren-eleanor-tik-tok/?fbclid=IwAR3AY_MNB1cJSYfDHZESWnJc-QfBJZoNufNov0i1MCseGvvj9rEcm8ygXBg Online sleuths and members of Wren Eleanor's TikTok community noticed some disturbing behaviour and concerning trends on the account that sounded alarm bells. "This video of Wren in a crop top has been saved 45,000 times," one TikTok sleuth pointed out. "Wren eating a corn dog at a country fair has been saved 375,000 times." More TikTok detectives noticed disgusting comments about Wren from men asking if she 'was single' and writing that she was 'a hottie'. Wren's mum, Jacquelyn, has publically defended her choice to post content about her daughter, sharing a statement on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. In the statement, she said that the safety of her daughter is her number one priority and that as a single mum; the account has allowed her to provide for her daughter and her future. Jacquelyn added that she makes the videos for fun for a couple of hours each week and that after collaborating with law enforcement agencies (including the FBI), she has been advised Wren's likeness does not appear on any inappropriate websites. Jacquelyn says that she understands there are people with twisted minds who prey on children, but never did she think that a toddler eating her first corn dog at the county fair would be interpreted as sexualised behaviour. She also said that people have to honour their own decisions, but she did not want others to "mum shame" her because of different parenting styles. She said she is looking forward to making more videos with her daughter. After seeing what was happening on Wren's account, however, other users on TikTok who share content of their kids took action. Kayla, who has an online following of 130,000 people, spoke to Claire Murphy about the immediate changes she has made. "I got on Reddit and saw the comments, the screenshots, and the fan accounts that were made for this little three-year-old girl and just the sexualisation of it. It kept me up all night. It really overwhelmed me, especially since I went from having a couple of thousand followers to 130k in three months. "I'm not going to wait for something to make me sick or scare me. I'm just going to eliminate it before it happens. So as soon as I got that bad feeling, I was like, that's it. And I told my fiancé to do the same, so we made all of our socials private except for TikTok, where we just removed all the videos of our kids, and we will no longer show their faces. It's just too overwhelming for me." Child psychologist Andrew Greenfield tells Claire that if a parent is considering creating an account for their child, it is worth considering the future implications of childhood fame first. "Not every single child wants to be the centre of attention all the time. And I think that can certainly lead to self-esteem issues, or sometimes depression or anxiety issues," he explained. "So I think it's important to be aware of that. And a lot of times, it's got absolutely nothing to do with a child, it's about the parent." Kirra Pendergast has over 25 years experience in cyber security and cyber safety, and she believes that children should have no presence at all on the internet until they are adults and are able to consent. "In every single session, I do with students if I ask: 'Whose mum and dad post photos of them online without permission?' They all put their hand up, and you can literally hear the eye roll because they don't like it. "And it's giving that power back to children and giving them some consent, because we will never know what's being shared on social media. And parents that think their accounts are private need to think about the predators that could be someone that they know within their group of friends. "Putting your child's privacy first is a huge thing that parents have to consider." Listen to this episode of The Quicky now on the Mamamia App or wherever you get your podcasts. Feature Image: TikTok. CLICK HERE for our new parent cyber safety course - eSafetyHQ. For just $87+GST per year, we will give you all the tools you need to help keep your kids and yourself safe online.

Poppy Playtime is a popular horror indie video game where you play as an ex-worker of the 50's-inspired toy company, Playtime Co. You explore the abandoned factory where your co-workers went missing and the toys you assisted in making come alive and try to kill you. Released in October of last year, with new game chapters slowly being released throughout the months, Poppy Playtime takes inspiration from similar games such as Bendy and The Ink Machine, Baldi's Basics, and Hello Neighbour. The steam synopsis details the game: "You must stay alive in this horror/puzzle adventure. Try to survive the vengeful toys waiting for you in the abandoned toy factory…Explore the mysterious facility... and don't get caught." The game plays on feelings of childhood nostalgia and uses seemingly innocent characters as the main villains. It is appropriate for an older audience however has gained a notable younger audience, as have the other games mentioned previously. While the visuals and characters of the game appear to be lighthearted and child friendly, I would like to preface that Poppy Playtime is not a young children's game. While the CEO of the company behind the game recommends an 8+ audience, it is a horror game with significant violence, gore, and death. Despite the appeal to younger enjoyers, it is not intended for a young audience. Weaknesses/Threats The way the internet has responded to Poppy Playtime is not an uncommon pattern. I will call a cycle of events: The Neon Freddy effect, where third-party companies focus their production on children's internet phenomenons to garner a pre-established large audience to buy a company's cheap product. This was seen most notably with Five Nights At Freddy's; during a stagnant period between games, licensed toys were released of simply the original cast of animal characters in bright neon colours. A surge of knock-off neon plushies soon followed this. What's notable about this effect is that, due to its popularity and marketability to children, Poppy Playtime has succumbed to this effect. Because the franchise has only been licensed since March of this year, a surge of fake video games, toys, and apps has been finding its way onto the internet. Notable characters from the game, such as Huggy Wuggy and Kissy Missy, have been the most affected by this. It's to the point where it's common to see small pop-up shops in malls and comic/anime events selling these knock-off toys from Poppy Playtime. It has even reached a similar neon stage, with recoloured rainbow Huggy Wuggy plushies sold cheaply. This effect targets children and causes parents not to question other content their child may be consuming that may be too old for them. For internet phenomena such as this, you don't have to buy the game to experience the story and horror elements. With the freedom of searching, and even what can slip by as "children's content" under the Youtube algorithm, third parties looking to make a profit off of a large audience contribute to the exposure of adult content to young children. Strengths, Opportunities I've been a lover of horror from the age of nine, beginning with Youtube Let's-play videos and lore explanation videos of the popular Indie horror game of the time, Five Nights at Freddy's; being exposed to horror content at a young age shaped my identity, interests, and hobbies, and completely desensitised me to disturbing media and content. This was during the beginning stages of the internet when parental restrictions began, with Youtube Kids being created in 2015, when I was eleven. While regulations and parental locks had continued to become more popular amongst parents, by the time they have implemented, the fixation on horror video games had already sprung in me, and I had already aged out of the Youtube kids category. While I am grateful for the impact this media had on my artistic expression, I would've changed what age I began consuming this media. Story-wise, it creates a strong foundation for an exciting take on childhood nostalgia-inspired horror. The animation and gameplay mechanics are at a professional level for an indie game, and all aspects of the dialogue, puzzles, and characters are interesting to experience firsthand or through a let's play created by someone else. Personally, when watching YouTube Markiplier play the first two chapters, I ended up still enjoying the jump scares and suspenseful moments, even if I wasn't playing it myself, its usually a hassle to get anything done with gameplay videos of Poppy Playtime in the background, as I jump and scream whenever something happens on screen! As the game expands into actual world merchandise and products, I'm interested in how it may be marketed, knowing the pre-established audience, and whether large distributors such as Target and Kmart may stock these items in the children's section or even in their stores, to begin with. Game companies such as EB games and Zing already stock licensed products for these games. For young children, this game rates a 1/5 for safety. Parent tip: Always play new games with your kids before letting them play independently. Learn the check classifications but make a call based on your child's maturity. Check the content of the game, which they can connect to, and how to block and report and never fall for "but I am the only kid that is not playing it" (they all say that). Remember, you are the parent. Sign up for our online learning programs today: https://esafetyhq.thinkific.com/?fbclid=IwAR29CKp8RxzdmQypPsrSSHefXIZIIjrVV1kMRIcA66GLA7Y8cY3qfOQeZPQ I’m currently in Year 12 and love studying all things cultural and sociological. What drove me to become a part of the Safe on Social team was contributing to fostering a more equal and safe online world and the opportunity to educate people to promote a healthy relationship with the internet. My skills regarding managing cyber/creative burnout and acknowledging and responding to online criticism and hate will positively impact readers and the community.

The Australian Privacy Watchdog currently has TikTok under investigation. As we have shared on numerous occasions, there are some big risks with TikTok use. This investigation confirms that the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) agrees: “We are considering privacy concerns raised in the Internet 2.0 report in line with our regulatory action policy.” The OAIC said, "platforms and apps must be transparent in how they treat their users’ data and protect their privacy, particularly for vulnerable users such as children, and should only collect the reasonably necessary information to deliver the service.TikTok checks its users’ device location at least once an hour; continuously requests access to contacts even if the user originally denies it; maps a device’s running apps and all installed apps; and more as part of broad permissions asked of users" We thought it would be appropriate to explain how a teen uses TikTok and another creepy feature of the app that is being exploited by many. This by Gwyneth - 17yrs. Let me paint a picture for you: You are at a mixed school event where you are introduced to several like-minded students within your year group who you instantly get on with. Afterward, you realise, much to your dismay, that you did not grab their name or details and worry that this now means you will not be able to speak with them again. Insert social media! Your modern-day superhero is here to save the day. You grab your phone, start looking up the event you attended, and then scroll through the users following the account. Halfway down the list, you notice a recognisable face and realise it was the keynote speaker at the event. Clicking on their account, you start looking through their posts and find one with a comment saying: "wow, you're amazing!" Clicking on this account, your search has finally started to pay off, for the commenter is none other than one of your newly met friends. However, the search is not complete just yet. You head to their recent post and notice it was taken at the event featuring the friends you were with and all their handles! You briskly follow each person and then spend the next two hours scrolling through each of their accounts, learning more about your friends via their social media accounts and the content they create. Depending on who you are, this may appear highly absurd or a very logical way to find people online. For me, and I assume quite a lot of Gen Z's, this is a relatively routine that is undergone, something that, more and more, is becoming a normal part of the human experience. And due to the increasing trend of stalking other users' social media accounts, popular apps such as TikTok have responded to this trend in their unique ways, which leads me to the climax of this post...How do social media, specifically TikTok, take advantage of the 'stalking' culture? This feature is not new and can already be seen on LinkedIn. However, as TikTok has recently reinstated the viewer's list, let us consider why we should or should not get behind this. This would be handy advice for an aspiring content creator hoping to work with brands on TikTok by promoting their business through their account. Users could use the function to monitor whether brands were viewing their performance and then proceed to get in contact with these brands in hopes of partnering on a collab. Another way this could be useful (and please bear with me on this one) is to check whether a love interest has been viewing your account, and you could use this as a way of scoping out their interest in you (just trying to be creative in the different ways this could be used ;D). However, this has not been the update of their dreams for some. Having your 'stalking' tendencies visible for other users to view may be the cause of embarrassment or turn someone off using the app. How do I set up this function on TikTok? To view the profiles who have recently listed your account, follow these steps: 1. Head onto your TikTok 2. Press on the Profile icon 3. Click on the three-line menu icon on the top right-hand of your screen 4: Select Settings and Privacy 5. Specifically clicking on Privacy, go to Profile Views 6. Lastly, turn the Profile View History toggle on How do I make sure my Profile View History is turned off? If you are not wanting to partake in this function and want to ensure that no one is able to view your name on their Profile View History list (which also means you cannot view accounts that have recently clicked on your profile), then follow these steps: 1. Head onto your TikTok 2. Press on the Profile icon 3. Click on the eye icon positioned on the top bar 4. Locate the gear icon and view the options 5. Turn the Profile View History toggle off 6. No one now will be able to see who you have 'stalked' Is the 'Profile View History' worth it? I do not have this app feature turned on, nor do I believe the function is currently useful because only accounts with the Profile View History in use are collated in your list. Hence, this does not provide an unambiguous representation of every user who has visited your profile. Is there value to this feature in terms of safety? When questioning the reasoning behind viewing who has seen your profile, the only reason I would enable this feature is to monitor who has been visiting my account to ensure that there are no unsafe 'stalkers' trolling my account. Examples would include users creating fake accounts of you by posting the videos you have created and/or users analysing locations you are seen posting in and using this information against you. We are always trying to keep parents and schools one step ahead. For access to our early bird rates for our new online learning courses, click here: www.safeonsocial.com/esafety

Friendship. It’s one of the things we as teens crave the most. Everyone wants the perfect friendship almost as much as the perfect relationship. Still, during times of isolation and global crisis, we often seek new ways to get that meaningful connection. The friendship app Wink first peaked at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 but quickly gained traction again. The app's first version was mainly a Snapchat add-on and a way to find new friends to snap. Over the last few years, the app has become more stand-alone and now has chat features within the app without the need to take it directly to Snapchat. So how does it work? In a format similar to Tinder and other dating apps, it is based around swiping left and right on potential friends (left for no and right for yes). When creating an account, you can add up to 6 photos, a bio, a voice intro, and your interests to help find people with similar passions. You can also verify your profile which helps you reach more people and gives you different messaging options. The app allows you to choose who you interact with by picking an age range between 12-17, genders, and either only in their country or worldwide. Wink + users (the app’s paid subscription) can also choose to see only verified profiles and have other benefits like further boosting your profile, giving unlimited swipes, and the option to replay rejected profiles. You use app currency called ‘gems’ to swipe on profiles and purchase different app backgrounds. Gems can be earnt by returning to the app daily, making friends, and keeping up daily chat streaks. When you swipe right, the user sends a request to the other person to be friends. If the person accepts, Wink automatically sends ‘Hi’, ‘Hey’, ‘What’s up’ or ‘’ to start your conversation. When chatting with your friend, you can send photos, GIFs, audio messages, and inbuilt question stickers called ‘icebreakers’. You can also audio, and video call through the app if you both have verified profiles. Any images sent through the app are screened for inappropriate content, and Wink claims, "If you share inappropriate content on Wink, your account will be shut down.” In theory, the app sounds good, (who doesn’t want to make new friends?) but in reality, it’s treated like a dating app. Shirtless pictures, drugs, and Snapcodes/usernames are all against Wink’s photo guidelines but are featured in most profiles. Many bios make sexual comments or ask for sexual favours, with taglines like, ‘hmu’ (hit me up), ‘send pics’, ‘single’, ‘down for anything and much more. The Wink team works hard to take down inappropriate profiles, but when one gets taken down, three more pop up in its place. Like many dating apps, Wink gives many avenues for users o take their communication off the app. Users can link their Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok accounts to their Wink profile. As a parent, it’s hard to know exactly what your child is doing online, but by teaching them skills to handle problems and allowing open communication, you can be better prepared for any issues that may arise. The app has created teen and parent safety guides, and I highly recommend that you and your child read them before using the app. They further cover how the app works, what is and isn’t allowed on Wink, and what to do if your child runs into a problem. Educate your child on the importance of not sharing their location, full name, and other personal information with anyone they meet online. Make sure your child knows how to report and block; take screenshots for evidence if bullying occurs. The recommended age on the app store is 12+ as a guideline, but I believe it should be much higher. The negatives far outweigh the positives, and the app is a breeding ground for catfishing and grooming. Even though you may find the occasional nice person, friendships are better made in real life. About the author - Madison 15yrs I’m super excited to be working with the Safe on Social Youth Advisory Committee because I love researching, learning and using my knowledge to guide other people. I’m passionate about online safety, and I enjoy working with other people. When I’m not studying, reading, or designing my future house, I’m at the beach, hanging out with friends, or doing makeup. I love drama and hope that I can be on TV or in movies one day.

Our Youth Advisory Team shares their lived experience. We hear what is happening right now through them, rather than relying on outdated information passed through approval gates before it is shared. It's real; it's raw..........it's right now. *****Trigger warning - Online Grooming***** Navigating the complex world of social media isn’t easy, especially in this day and age when the number of followers and likes is the be-all and end-all. Like many other naïve teenagers, I would follow strangers to receive a follow back; I had a public profile, and I did not care about the strange messages I began to receive. I was warned by my parents against strangers online, but because child grooming was not prevalent, because it was not something that I was exposed to, I did not think that it was a thing… until I experienced it myself. One day I received a message from an unknown account, a simple hello. I thought nothing of it but didn’t feel the need to respond. These things happen. Not all the time, but it does. People will message you asking to like a post, click on a link or leave a comment. Most of the time, with a simple swipe, the message was deleted, and that was that. However, this person who felt the need to contact me on Instagram didn’t stop with hello. Texting became more frequent. I ignored the account. The comments on my posts became more targeted. I ignored the account. The comments turned to calls. I ignored the account but eventually couldn’t ignore it any longer. So, I asked them to stop. This stranger was online, but I engaged in their little game and asked them to leave me alone. I could not block them; this would only result in losing a follower. However, this response only encouraged the person sitting on the other side of that screen. They did not stop. They would ask me questions based on my posts. From “what a cute dog. What is her name?” to “wow, what a beautiful view.” It eventually turned into “where do you live?” “what are you wearing.” I was arrogant. I thought I could manipulate the manipulator, but you cannot. They tried to be my friend, and in all my attempts to trick them, it worked, if only for a short while. They told me about their school, friends, and life, and I could relate to their words. They would start to get angry with the stress and pressure they were under when I did not get back to the person immediately. They would message harmful comments until they tried to blame me for their anger, that it was my fault that they could not control their temper. I was fed up, and I blocked them. They messaged my friends. They found my other accounts. It just did not end—message after message. Day after day, there was no stopping this person. They asked for pictures that were not appropriate; then, they would apologise and claim that they did not mean what they said, that it was a joke and that their friends had sent the message instead. They tried to make me feel like they were the victim, that this stranger on the other end of the phone was innocent in these mind games. They made me feel guilty and ashamed. Stupid and naïve. But I was over it. Enough was enough. This had gone on long enough. It was time to call the police. Within the next week, two officers knocked on our door and came in to chat with me. This person was a frequent flyer, someone they had been watching for a while. They had no way to track them down. I was directed to stay off social media for a time. To move on and forget what happened. I did, of course. These were the police, who knew what was best for me in this situation and did what they could, but I wish I were better equipped to deal with the problem before it got completely out of hand. How does child grooming begin, and what does it look like? Child grooming is when people online – sometimes adults – manipulate children and build a relationship with them, only to abuse them later after trust has been earned. - Child groomers visit websites popular amongst children, often pretending to be a similar age to talk with them frequently through online chat rooms. - The person uses personal information they have found online to build a relationship and form a connection. - The child groomer aims to isolate the child from friends and family through manipulative processes. - The groomer tests how far a child is willing to go online, sometimes asking for sexually explicit material. How to prevent this from happening to you: - Have your account set to private - Only accept follow requests from those you have met in person - Don’t use your real name for the account - Delete requests from strangers - Don’t follow your own accounts Tips for parents on how you can protect your child: - Be actively involved in their digital lives. - Encourage your child not to post personal details and to have a private account. - Guide your children in what is appropriate to post on social media. - Teach your child to recognise the signs of child grooming. - Watch your child for any signs of pushing others away or changes in behaviour. - Build an open, trusting relationship that allows children to tell you about what is happening online. Ensuring your children know that you will help them with any issues they may have online can help prevent them from keeping any problems to themselves and issues from getting worse. - Keep a look out for changes in your child's behaviour. If they start to be more secretive about what they do online, it could be a sign of grooming. - Make sure your children know that they should never meet up with strangers they meet online. They need to understand that talking to someone online doesn’t mean they aren’t a stranger. The most important thing to remember is that no matter what happens, a child who has been a victim of child grooming is not at fault. These people are masters at what they do, and while they present a real issue in the online community, the likelihood of being a victim may lessen as long as precautions are taken. TO REPORT ONLINE GROOMING FROM ANY COUNTRY PLEASE VISIT: https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/virtual-global-taskforce/ Hi, My name is Tealia - I am 16 years old, and I joined this committee to make a difference and be the support that my peers deserve, the voice for those who cannot speak up, and the guide to help navigate the rocky world of social media. ​ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tealia - I am 16 years old, and I joined this committee to make a difference and be the support that my peers deserve, the voice for those who cannot speak up, and the guide to help navigate the rocky world of social media. I want to help my peers be heard and make their online experiences more positive. I bring to this committee my strength, dedication, and support. I am excited to help.

Trigger Warning: Sextortion, Victim Blaming, Self-harm. Being a girl and a teenager in this day and age is hard. It is tough. It is incredibly challenging as the teenage years call for the cliché love and the desperate yearning for validation. Movies like the 'Notebook' and 'Ten things I hate about you' just further fuel the hormones to find the one - but we all know it's just teenage infatuation. Sometimes, when you finally find that connection with someone, it might not be how you imagined it. The need for validation or to be liked can mean that that connection can linger on well past its used date and may cause an increase in low self-esteem and self-worth, which further fuels the need to be told that you're beautiful, intelligent, or just who they are looking for. That search for connection and validation made Roxy Longworth in the UK the target of sextortion. In an interview given to This Morning on ITV, Roxy explained how, at the tender age of 13, she was coerced into sending illicit images of herself to a boy four years older than her. Roxy was the average 13-year-old girl who, like others, used social media and her phone to engage in conversation in the hope of building new friendships and relationships. However, this innocent use of social media and her device took a turn when she was encouraged to send nude pictures of herself to a boy she spoke to online. However, the nude pictures didn't just appear on this boy's device for his satisfaction. He sent them to a host of Roxy's peers and people she didn't know. A message from one of the boy's friends showing her the photos he now has and a phone call from her school confirmed that her images were spreading like wildfire. This boy took advantage of her vulnerability, pressuring her constantly with threats of spreading rumours about her until he finally coerced her into 'doing what everyone else is doing. She felt helpless, and when in search of assistance to help end this nightmare, Roxy and her mum turned to her school. And you know what they did? They asked her to write a reflective essay on what she had done and what she had done. A school, the place supposed to be a foundation of values and morals, a place of safety for so many students, turned her down and guilted her over what had unfolded. I would naturally turn to my school for help if this happened to me, but I have to be honest; reading this story makes me question this. I wonder if I would feel supported enough to be able to present myself to my school in the case of something as serious as Roxy's experience and not be expected to explain myself. How is it possible that Roxy, the victim in this particular case, was blamed? How is it even humane that they are to blame when a child's dignity is violated? And what happened to the boy in Roxy's story? The one who initiated the illegal sharing of nude images of a 13-year-old girl? The boy who pressured Roxy time and time again to send the images. The boy threatened to make up nasty rumours and ruin her reputation. The boy said the pictures were just for himself but decided to send them around like fliers for the world to see. Nothing. Nothing. They were let go, free of sanction. But Roxy was left to think about her actions, and she was shamed and left to feel that the world was against her. How is our society so blatant in the way we treat our victims? We should be the shoulder that victims can lean on, extend our helping arms to those who fall into the pit of sextortion, and punish the deceitful where necessary. Our society often insists that 'with age comes maturity,' but that doesn't seem to be taken into consideration with the perpetrators in a situation like Roxy's. Is it because we are becoming too familiar with stories of sextortion that we, as teenage girls, are expected to know not to do it? Is it because cyber misogyny is just an expectation when a girl enters the realm of social media? Should we know better? All our lives, we are brought up to believe that sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will never hurt us. This is rubbish. And every child that has been told this now needs to unlearn it. Words DO hurt. Words have POWER. Words can make a person question who they are, what they believe, and how they should act. And words online are permanent. It's these words that made Roxy think that she had no choice. These initial words eventually created a tormenting ripple and saw Roxy drop out of school and now face severe mental health issues. Does this happen to every girl that falls into the pit of sextortion? No, but it is increasingly common. They are often seen as the 'bad girls' who distract and lure the boys or just being attention-seekers. It's heart-wrenching to see girls such as Roxy being manipulated or made to feel this way at such a young age. Entering adolescence challenges a person's identity and makes them vulnerable to the world. As a 17-year-old, it pains me to see other girls my age being shamed and ridiculed for sextortion, as more often than not, it happens due to the extortionist being assertive and issuing threats. The fragile and naive minds fall into the bubble to satisfy the needs and want of others, and trust me, finding your true identity and being seen and heard is a huge thing for teenagers. While watching or reading about Roxy's experience, you might wonder, "why couldn't she just not send the images?" or "she should be old enough to understand." To that, I say - she was a child. A child. Children make mistakes – it is how we learn. At the age of 13, children are still learning the basics of algebra, and they're not yet equipped with the life experience or coping mechanisms to help them deal with threatening and high-pressure situations. To Roxy, the assurance the boy gave her seemed truthful; she had no reason not to trust him. And the load that her school then placed on top of the shame and guilt she was already feeling would have been enough to make her young mind implode and her trust completely disappear. 13 is way too young to feel cynicism towards the world. In situations like this, please do not blame the victim; they are already doing that to themselves. Instead, provide them with support and strength, as they need it more now than you can imagine. Reassure them that if they share a photo that is deemed intimate in nature and someone shares or uses it against them in any way, it is safe to speak up. If they speak up, you can help them. There is nothing to fear or need to be ashamed of and no judgment, only support from you through all available means. Roxy is just one of the millions of girls whose vulnerability is used as a lever to satisfy the needs of others. She is one of the millions who is often sidelined and victim-blamed. She is one of the millions who contemplate self-harm when their most intimate selves are publicised. As a society, we need to do more, and we need to do better. About the Author - Arya 17yrs I am an individual who enjoys meeting new people and, most notably, making a difference that helps our ever-so-expanding world. Being an avid social media user has enabled me to be a part of our digital community, a norm in our society. Therefore, making our collective digital interaction more safe and secure is one of my many interests that drove my passion for being a part of Safe on Social.

This new TikTok trend works through interactive live streams, which are accessible through the app. These livestreams are often suggested based on your preferences and content you have previously liked, although it is not uncommon to be offered these livestreams randomly. The host will likely direct you to a link where you can purchase a 'lucky draw' A.K.A. a scoop on their Livestream. This is a variation of a 'lucky dip' plot where the host randomly selects collectible items such as charms, crystals, bracelets, etc. The result of your hefty purchase and downright gamble is nothing more than what you would have gotten had you visited your local market on the weekend, only a lot more expensive. Many of these TikTok accounts have received numerous complaints stating their product was either poorly made or didn't even contain all the items they were promised – who would have guessed? The platform caters to this form of grossly overpriced and unethical hustle through its lack of regulation. Clickable links directing users to other sites such as social media accounts, donation pages makes it very easy for people such as these Scooping accounts to direct users to their websites to purchase these 'lucky dips.' These livestreams give the person who has purchased this a sense that they are the 'main character' and create an overwhelming impression that they have won a big prize due to the enthusiasm and persuasion of the host. This causes people to continue to buy into this stuff, regardless of whether or not they understand the considerable waste of money; some people enjoy the attention, and to be honest, I do not blame them. People are always happy to receive validation, even if that may be from strangers… so a person cheering with excitement as they scoop a bucket of mediocre crystals and gems? That would seem like a treasure trove to many people, especially young people. This is one of the reasons these hosts can convince users that their product is worth the absurd price tag and how the platform's inability to combat this creates an environment full of immoral fraudsters who can exploit many online. This may have a significant impact on teens and young adults. Research shows that 16% of 18-24-year-olds will buy into different financial scams, compared to only 1% of those aged over 55 years old. This may lead to some becoming wiser with their money, or it could scar and create a lifetime of trust issues extending beyond the concept of money. The fact these good-for-naught tricksters are taking advantage of this viewership demographic in the wrong ways shows the lack of regulation by TikTok and that they need to intervene. I believe this is a gross and immoral way to capitalise on people's lack of information and need for attention, etc. It should be spoken about more, treated the same way as spam emails and pyramid schemes, and taught about all the same. About the Author – Codey I am 17 years old and from Auckland, New Zealand. I am in my final year of high school (Year 13 here in NZ, Year 12 over in Aus), and plan to pursue tertiary education in law when I graduate. I have joined the Youth Committee in the hopes of spreading a positive message and hopefully, I can make a personal impact on those who read what I write, and hear what I say. At the same time, I wish to be a role model both online as well as in real life. I hope that along this journey we can all learn from each other and strive to become better versions of ourselves

Language is changing and evolving all the time, and online language or "internet speak" is changing too. Languages are meant to work for us, to help us communicate, and emojis simply aren't cutting it anymore. Tone tags are the next step in the online evolution of our language. Tone indicators, or tone tags, are best described as an online language feature. They are relatively new and have been increasing in usage over the last few years. Originating on platforms such as Reddit, Tumblr, and Twitter, they have spread quickly to pretty much every social media that exist and are even beginning to be used by some people when texting. Tone tags are used at the end of messages or posts and are a slash followed by a few letters that are shorthand for the tone you are trying to convey. They help to show the tone of a message that might be hard to figure out the meaning without. For example, the message "I love you!" might seem either platonic or romantic, but by using a tone tag at the end, it is easy to clarify. Instead, you might send "I love you! /p" showing the person that you love them in a platonic way. The use of tone tags can be incredibly helpful, as without being able to hear someone's voice or see a person's face, it can be hard to tell the intent of a message. So much of our communication relies on nonverbal cues that don't exist in written language. Many people from older generations prefer talking on the phone to texting because of this fact. Making it easy to see the need for tone tags. They are also particularly beneficial to neurodivergent people who often already struggle with interpreting tone in person, making the struggle that much harder when communicating online. The intentional misuse of tone tags is extremely harmful. They were created to help clarify messages on the internet; the people who use them and rely on them take tone tags at face value and expect you to use them accordingly. Tone tags are not to be used as an excuse to be mean, and you cannot just add /j (joking) to the end of an otherwise nasty message. People will call you out on it. Tone tags should be used accurately to the best of your ability (if you choose to use them) as their primary purpose is to clarify. The choice to use tone tags is up to you. They can be used on any social media platform as frequently or infrequently as you like. You can even use multiple tone tags in the same message, for example, "I don't think we can be friends anymore /j /LH" (joking, light-hearted). If you are new to using them and are scared of not knowing when to use them, go with your gut. As long as they are accurate to what you're trying to convey, there is no wrong way to use them. Now that you know what those letters at the end of people's posts and messages are and why people use them, you probably want to know what they mean. Below is a list of the more commonly used tone tags and their definitions. /j - joking /hj - half joking /s or /sarc - sarcastic /srs - serious /lh - light hearted /nm - not mad /gen - genuine /pos - positive /neg - negative /t - teasing /th - threat /p - platonic /r - romantic /nbh - nobody here /nay - not at you /ay - at you /f - fake /q - quote /l or /ly - lyric /c - copypasta (copy paste) /ref - reference /m - metaphor /li - literal/literally /hyp - hyperbole This list should help you get started, but don't think you need to memorize all the ones I've listed. Using one or two can be great, and I've put the most used ones near the beginning. If you're unsure, you can always ask the person using them, or your answers are usually a quick google search away. You might come across ones you've never seen before too. And that is okay. Nobody knows everything, especially when it comes to internet slang. Instead of ignoring tone tags or looking down on them, we should be embracing them just because they aren't the proper English you might find in a dictionary as they might make your life a little bit easier. I am Charlie, a 15-year-old student from Christchurch, New Zealand, and my pronouns are they/she. I am a creative, outgoing person and am always up for a challenge. I believe that everyone should know how to use social media confidently and safely in our increasingly digital world. I am proud to be a member of the Safe on Social Youth Advisory Committee.

Meta, the parent company of the social media giant Instagram has recently added parental controls and partnered with organisations. To provide features and resources to parents of teens regarding how to navigate Instagram safely. It is to be noted that teenagers will not stop using social media just because their parents do not want them to. Instead, these parental controls will give peace of mind to the parents while allowing their teenagers to access social media. The parental controls are designed to allow the use of Instagram under supervision. Parental controls will let parents and caregivers see who follows their teen, set time limits on Instagram, and weekly access reports on new connections made during that time. I will say ‘teenagers’ or teens due to the requirement for Instagram users to be at least 13 years old to make an account. Although I understand that children younger than this have access to social media, there is no verification process to ensure all users are above the age of 13. Parents and caregivers will now be notified with these controls when their teen reports an account or post, giving the teen the option to explain why they reported it. Meta hopes that the teen explaining why they reported an account or post will allow for healthy conversation regarding social media use. I have only ever written accounts or posts with an obvious explanation as to why I would report it, for example, posts showing illicit drug use, fake accounts using stolen images of people I know, and posts bullying someone. There are countless other examples of content that should be reported, and I believe that conversations could be had due to a teen reporting instances like these. But because of this might choose to avoid reporting or interacting with accounts or posts, knowing that they will have to acknowledge it again by talking with their parents about why what they reported was inappropriate or illegal. If a teen reported something, it is already obvious that they recognize that it is wrong in some sense. Do you believe they need an adult to explain why the account or post is bad when they already acted against it? I think teens will avoid the report button to avoid having these conversations, leaving posts or accounts to still exist on Instagram, potentially harming other app users and having more significant implications. Ultimately, the relationship between the parents and their teenager must be positive and trusting for these conversations to succeed. After these reports, Instagram plans to provide resources and links to information regarding anti-bullying, mental health, and eating disorders. Some hashtags are banned already; for example,#anorexia or #depression, when typed into the search bar, do not come up with posts or accounts and instead provide links to organisations that offer help. However, not all hashtags that could be considered potentially harmful are banned, meaning posts and accounts of a negative nature still exist; such as orthorexia (a lesser-known eating disorder) or a wide range of other hashtags, giving users and teenagers direct access to posts containing precisely what they are looking for. If Meta recognised that there is a broader range of searches and interests their users have that can be made, which ultimately contribute to the multitude is issues associated with the layout of the Instagram app. It is important to note that these parental controls can only be implemented when both the parent and teenager agree to their use. Giving us teenagers the autonomy over the plethora of lawsuits and negative publicity directed at Instagram and its parent company has led me to assume that the parental controls and access to a resource are the Companys's attempt to amend its reputation and past. The list of lawsuits against the company exceeds a number my brain probably cannot compute. The company has faced lawsuits from governments and parents, involving issues as severe as national data leaks, eating disorders, and suicides. From a financial standpoint, Meta needs to remedy these issues to keep afloat; the billions of dollars that the company has lost from these lawsuits over recent years has led to the development of parental controls and the partnering with organisations that specialise in key issues. I could not imagine that many teenagers would be happy for the parental controls to be used to monitor their Instagram use. I would not be too pleased with these controls; even with the limited amount of time I spend on Instagram and the limited number of friends I have on my private Instagram account, I have nothing to hide. It’s just an invasion of privacy, it feels like. As parental controls can only be used when both parties agree to it, I don’t see it possible for cool and calm conversations to be had surrounding this use of such controls. I do, however, believe that the banning of particular hashtags and links to helpful organisations are steps toward gaining the trust of parents. I am not saying banning hashtags will solve most of the issues because teenagers, believe it or not, are smart humans and will always find another source to access the information they want to see if they try hard enough. New hashtags will be created surrounding the same topics that could be harmful to them, so Meta must stay on top of this issue to protect its users and avoid legal ramifications. Nonetheless, the access to resources for teenagers and parents will be a positive to come out of Instagram’s new updates. I am confident that these resources will benefit users when they so need them. My name is Jade. I am 17 from regional NSW. I am passionate about bringing awareness to the safety of social media users because it is ever so present in my own life and the people around me. ​ I believe it is a hugely influential aspect of our lives as it shapes culture and social expectations and has significant impacts on our mental health. Ongoing education in regards to social media is necessary for the future.