A new survey commissioned by UNICEF Australia shows children and young people are generally aware of online risks and take steps to protect themselves, but some are still engaging in risky behaviours - particularly younger teens - highlighting the need for education, and the importance of privacy protections.
The YouGov survey sheds light on the digital behaviours of Australian teens aged 13-17. With 2,033 participants across the nation, the poll highlights key challenges that young people face online, particularly in areas of privacy, social media, and misinformation.
“Concerningly, nearly a quarter of Australian teens admit they frequently find ways to get around blocks that stop them from accessing certain sites or content. This shows the importance of creating safer digital platforms, instead of just restricting access,” said Katie Maskiell, Head of Policy and Advocacy at UNICEF Australia.
Some more of the key findings include:
- 36% of young people have provided a false age when asked to verify their age online. Other actions to gain access included using borrowed credentials (15%), using a VPN (11%), or an app or website to falsify their age (10%).
- 86% of young Australians take steps to protect their online privacy, but 1 in 7 do not engage in any protective measures.
- Over half (55%) of young people are willing to provide personal information such as phone number, a photo/selfie, or parental contact information to social media platforms to create an account. 11% say they would even be willing to provide their school name, and 9% their home address. Younger teens are more likely than older teens to be willing to share information.
- 72% express discomfort with their personal data being collected by apps and websites and nearly the same amount (71%) are uncomfortable with their friends sharing content of them without their permission.
- Many teens are aware of harmful content, with 71% always/often avoiding certain websites or apps known for such risks. Additionally, 41% always/often recognise when social media negatively impacts their mood and take steps to disconnect.
- Less than half (43%) of young people believe it is important to verify information before sharing, fuelling misinformation. 15% say they have shared information online that they later found out was false, while 7% admit that they have shared information online that they knew was false.
“The survey reveals that when it comes to social media, young people are willing to hand over significant amounts of sensitive data. This shows the importance of privacy protections when we are looking at age assurance technology,” said Ms Maskiell.
“It’s an interesting contradiction that children and young people have concerns about how their data is being collected and used online, yet many are still handing over sensitive personal information to access online platforms. This highlights the need for changes to laws to minimise the collection of children's data and more education and skill-building for young people.”
UNICEF Australia calls for stronger laws and better-designed online platforms to ensure a safer digital environment for young Australians.
"When it comes to shaping the future of digital platforms, children's voices must be raised in shaping the future. Young people possess a keen understanding of the online world and should be actively involved in all digital reforms,” said Ms Maskiell.
UNICEF Australia calls for change in three critical areas:
- Online safety: ensuring platforms prioritise safety through a statutory duty of care, and give full consideration to the best interests of children in the design and operation of services.
- Privacy and data protection: updating privacy laws to protect children's personal data and ensuring it is only collected and used in their best interests, including the development of a Children’s Online Privacy Code.
- Children and young people’s voices: meaningfully engaging young people in the design of legislation to better understand their needs and create appropriate ways to protect them.
"We believe that protecting children online requires collaboration between governments, tech companies, and young people themselves," said Ms Maskiell. "We must prioritise children's rights and ensure that all young people have access to safe and inclusive digital spaces."
Quotes from UNICEF Australia Young Ambassadors:
Ashwini (aged 16):
- “Young people do understand how to navigate ourselves through the online world. But that doesn't mean that there should be a lack of protection and accountability measures for us. So it's about ensuring safety as well.”
- “I think privacy for all young people, it's like a no brainer, right? If we ensure that protection measures are in place, it just makes it easier for young people to safely navigate through the online world.”
- “I have been able to get greater connection with people through social media and it’s given me a whole new platform to talk about what I believe. So many young people I know feel so unheard with this whole situation. We want more consultation before reaching a solution about a pretty big topic in our lives.”
Charlotte (aged 22):
- “Just as our parents back in the day would use fake IDs to buy alcohol, young people are just as tech savvy to get around age restriction technology. If young people want to access social media, they will find a way. Rather than the main players, they are going to reroute to alternative platforms which are unregulated and may put them in danger.”
- “As Gen Z digital natives, we understand the dangers of social media the most deeply. This is why we call on decision makers to include our voices in tech policymaking”
See UNICEF Australia's report: "A Generation Online"