In recent weeks we have received reports about some students exercising extremely poor judgement when using their College issued laptop. Every report is taken seriously, and thorough investigations were undertaken in each case. Upon completion, the evidence gathered proved that a very small number of students had been engaging in highly inappropriate online activity on their College issued laptops, the vast majority of which was outside of school hours. This activity, whilst not on school grounds nor in school time, was still carried out on College laptops and as such, is in breach of the Responsible Use of ICT Agreement and contravenes College rules and the student Code of Conduct.

The College has commenced completing random checks of the College laptops to ensure student use is appropriate and in accordance with the Responsible Use of ICT Agreement and College rules.       

Accessing age-inappropriate games, pornography, child exploitation material and engaging in illegal online activity will not be tolerated in our College community. Any student engaging in inappropriate online activity on College issued laptops will receive serious consequences and any illegal activity will also be reported to the Queensland Police Service.

Warning to parents about unvetted internet access

Earlier this week yet another worrying news story was circulated by the mainstream media outlets. This is nothing new, not in 2020 anyway. This year we have seen a plethora of concerning news articles from the devastating bushfires in January, to the race riots and looting in America and then months of reports outlining the global state of Covid-19 and its horrendous impact on communities at home and abroad. This week it was a bit different. On Tuesday, reports circulated about a disturbing video that was being distributed via social media platforms, such as TikTok, where a man live streamed his ultimate demise. To make matters worse, the video was hidden among links to seemingly innocent content, which resulted in many children accidentally accessing the video. What has been seen cannot be unseen.

This story sent a chilling reminder to families about the need to be more vigilant in supervising the online presence and activity of children.

Messages for students and parents

1. Students need boundaries
   The same parenting guidelines apply in both real world and virtual environments. Set limits. Discuss the boundaries with your children. Kids need to know that boundaries do exist, and they expect them too. It is vital that parents know what apps, social media platforms, software, games, and websites their children are accessing.
2. Is there really any privacy on the internet?
   Once something is sent or uploaded, the sender loses all control over that information, statement, email, photo and or video. Publishing something to a personal wall, page, story, or board, via any social media platform, does not mean it is private. It’s out there, and the author doesn’t really know where it could end up. Choose wisely before you publish anything. Defamation actions involving social media platforms is on the rise. Australia courts are also demonstrating a willingness to award damages to the victims of online defamation in social media situations.
3. The digital world is the same as the real world
   In the real world when a person engages in illegal activity, we expect that they will be caught, and a suitable punishment will be applied by the necessary authority. In some cases that may involve a prison sentence. When a person commits a cyber-crime, they do not go to a cyber-prison. Illegal activity, whether it be in real life or in a digital space, has real world ramifications.
4. People you meet online are always strangers
   It doesn’t matter how long you have been conversing with someone online. If you met them online, and had never met them in person beforehand, then they are strangers and must always be treated as such for child safety reasons.
5. Technology should never be in a student’s bedroom
   Parents would no doubt baulk at the idea of a stranger sitting in their child’s bedroom, however, if your child accesses the internet in the seclusion of their bedroom then that is what is happening. It is extremely difficulty to adequately supervise your child’s online activity if they are not in a public place within the home, such as the kitchen table or in the lounge room. According to the article Kids are being kept awake by their phones even when they are not using them, over 72% of all children have at least one device in their bedroom. JAMA Paediatrics published a study where they found strong and consistent evidence of a link between mobile devices overuse and reduced sleep quality in children. A lack of sleep can have some serious consequences on our brain, health and it will impact productivity and success at school.

If parents/caregivers have any concerns regarding your child’s digital footprint or their use of the College issued laptop, please contact the relevant Assistant Principal to discuss.

Katrina Walton, Craig Cullen and Matt Hodge

Assistant Principals Early, Middle and Senior Years