New warning from Telstra to Think B4 U Post

The recent Safer Internet Day has seen broadband giant Telstra strongly advising Australian internet users to think more carefully about the data that they post over the internet.

The “Think B4 U Post” activity was announced during the Safer Internet Day and was designed to warn Australian broadband user against the posting of personal information that could leave them vulnerable to scams and identity theft.

Darren Kane, the officer of Internet Trust and Safety advised “Young people today may be digital natives, but that doesn’t mean they won’t take risks online. It’s important that parents supervise their children so they understand their online experience, know what they are doing and can talk to their kids about it.”

He went on to add “More and more people – particularly children and teenagers – do not realise that once they post something online, it can be widely accessed. It can also be there forever and something posted by a teenager can be seen by a potential employer a few years later.”

In order to fully support Safer Internet day the Australian Communications and Media Authority and Telstra joined together to help improve the understanding of the need for users to share information over the internet more responsibly and also to increase awareness of the many risks that sharing too much information can bring to the privacy and safety of individuals online.

The lack of emotional maturity and judgement shown by children when it came to avoiding the risks found online made the activity, “Think B4 U Post” more relevant according to Mr Kane.

He said “Therefore, its important adults teach children basic online guidelines, which are also suitable for people of all ages. New technologies, such as social networking sites and smartphones have meant personal information and images can be easily published online. Information posted online can be accessed by anyone – from friends, to family members and even future employers.”

Source – Telstra