Program tackles online 'stranger danger'

9-12-2009 Australia:

Students across the country have been enlisted for the launch of a computer program aimed at protecting children online.

It tells them of the dangers and has been launched to co-incide with National Child Protection Week.

Students at St Mary's College in Adelaide were among those given a mission of saving a friend from an online stranger.

"We've got to figure out who's trying to contact us on the phone 'cause we don't know who this Kel guy is," they explained.

About 500 students from across Australia logged in to try to solve the virtual 'whodunnit'.

Police, schools and the Australian Communications and Media Authority are involved in the safety program and say many children are naive about the risks they can face.

Personal details

Sharon Trotter from the Authority says everyone needs to be wary of giving out personal details.

"When they sign up for things like social networking services often they're encouraged to give a lot of personal information out and they often do that without necessarily realising the consequences of that," she said.

The message sank in after students spent some time on the task they were set.

"Don't trust anyone that you just met on the computer or things like that," said one.

Greg Cox from the SA Education Department says schools are also keen to get parents involved in the safety process.

"I see my own daughter interact with lots of her friends - you know, it's a fabulous medium and we ought to encourage it as best we can but we ought to put some constraints around it as well," he said.

A scenario to teach young people about the dangers of cyber-bullying may be launched next year. ..Source.. by ABC News