Consequences of creating sharing or accessing inappropriate online content
Students sometimes create and/or distribute inappropriate content using mobile phone cameras and social networking websites. For example, the media has recently reported on ‘sexting’—that is, young people using mobile phones to share images of themselves or others naked or participating in sexual acts. Violent incidents of school bullying have also been published online.
Students should be aware that they may be committing a criminal offence when taking and/or sharing sexual images of themselves or peers who are minors. Creating and/or distributing sexual images with minors may constitute the production and/or distribution of child pornography. If you suspect or are made aware that such activity is happening in your school, you should contact the local police or the Australian Federal Police, or your education authority for more advice.
Educators should also be cautious if intercepting any content which may constitute child pornography, and should not interact with the information, forward or share it in any way. They should immediately seek guidance from local police or the Australian Federal Police.
Advice should also be sought regarding the creation and/or distribution of content that may demonstrate violence or bullying, or demonstrate illegal activities or any nature.
Along with the risk of committing a criminal offence, students should understand that, once inappropriate material (illegal or not) is published online through computers or mobile phone services, it may exist online forever regardless of any law enforcement action which may or may not be taken. Regardless of its legality, the persistence of such images and text may cause students embarrassment or other difficulties later in life. More information about protecting digital reputations is available within the Protecting personal information Common cybersafety Issue.