Inappropriate content
Download: Common cybersafety issues - inappropriate content (Word 2.4Kb)
This section of the website provides information to assist teachers and schools in dealing with inappropriate content.
Children and young people using the internet can be exposed to material that is inappropriate for them. This could be material that is sexually explicit or offensive, violent or encourages activities that are dangerous or illegal. Some websites promote extreme political, violent, racist or sexist views. This material can be accessed through website browsing, through newsgroups, shared in peer-to-peer networks or sent by email or instant messaging services. Inappropriate content may be potentially harmful or disturbing for children and young people.
Children and young people can access inappropriate material inadvertently, for example by misspelling a word in a search engine, or they may intentionally seek out this content. Material that is considered inappropriate can vary depending on family and cultural standards and values. The age of children and young people is also an important factor, as is the manner in which individual children process, filter and apply information and cope with associated emotions.
Viewing this material on computers or mobile phones may impact on the behaviour of individuals or groups within a school setting. Parents may also seek guidance from the school on how to deal with the issues that their children’s exposure to inappropriate content raises.