Each day, we spend hours on the internet. While most of the time, you’ll likely have a good experience, there are times when you may run into problems.
From bullying and harassment to scams and privacy breaches, there are many ways you can find yourself in trouble.
Have you ever experienced something difficult online? Unsure what to do?
Head to Netsafe!
Netsafe is the leading online safety organisation in Aotearoa. They provide support for Kiwis who are facing issues on the internet. They receive over 500 reports a week like bullying, harassment, self-harm, hate speech, school incidents, and scams. With so much experience in dealing with online issues, Netsafe definitely knows their stuff and most importantly, knows how to help you.
If you head to their website, you’ll find a wide variety of resources as well as information on how you can contact them directly (Netsafe’s contact details are also listed at the end of this article).
Netsafe is a fantastic organisation that protects and supports Kiwis all across the motu. Just a few weeks ago, they ran Netsafety Week 2022! This was a week full of events and special resources that focused on getting everyone involved in creating safer online spaces.
This year’s theme for Netsafety Week 2022 was: Diversity Matters. Online Safety Done Together.
Since NZ Compare was a proud official supporter of Netsafety Week 2022 and we greatly value diversity, we wanted to spend some time to show you some of the amazing resources that Netsafe has for the cultural, marginalised and under-represented communities of Aotearoa.
We also want to highlight the great resources that Netsafe has for parents and tamariki.
For all of Netsafe’s resources, head to their website!
Various communities across Aotearoa may experience abuse, harassment or bullying based on their race, culture, ethnicity, nationality or colour. So, Netsafe has created multiple resources around race-based abuse.
Two important resources on their website, Get Help For Race-Based Online Abuse and Support With Hate Incidents are helpful guides for anyone dealing with these sorts of online issues.
These resources provide an explanation of what race-based abuse is, what hate crimes or incidents might look like, whether the Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA) might be applicable to your situation, and what you should do if you are being discriminated against or abused.
So, if you find yourself on the receiving end of race-based abuse, make sure to check out these resources. They’ll help you figure out what to do.
Many members of the LGBTQIA+ community face discrimination or harassment on the internet based on their sexuality, gender, sex characteristics or identity. Evidence shows that it’s more common for Rainbow people to be abused online compared with cisgender, heterosexual people. Therefore, it’s important that LGBTQIA+ people get all the help they require!
Netsafe has a bunch of useful resources for Rainbow people including Support For LGBTQIA+ People. This resource covers what harassment for LGBTQIA+ people can look like, information on the Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA), and what Rainbow people can do if they experience any problems online.
The resource also includes links to places where people can access additional support, including LGBTQIA+ organisations like RainbowYOUTH, OUTLine, and Intersex Awareness New Zealand.
It can often feel lonely or isolating when you face abuse online as a member of the Rainbow community, but it’s important to remember that there are lots of places you can go for support. Have a look at these resources and share them with your whānau, particularly if you have any LGBTQIA+ rangatahi.
Netsafe worked with Spectrum Care to create easy-read guides for anyone with an intellectual disability and the people who support them.
These resources have been specifically designed in a way that makes them easy to read and understand. They are perfect for those who may have learning, communication or intellectual disabilities. They can also be used by those supporting people with disabilities (support workers, whānau, etc.) in order to make discussion around staying safe online easier.
At the moment, Netsafe offers easy-read guides on: general online safety, cyberbullying, staying happy online, romance scams, online relationships, and how to get help.
Netsafe will continue to add more easy-read guides and encourages you to contact them if you believe there is a topic they should cover.
Everyone deserves to be able to easily access vital information about staying safe online. These resources do just that!
Being a parent during the digital age comes with many unique challenges. So, Netsafe has created a bunch of resources and even a toolkit, to help parents out with any online problems that they themselves or their tamariki may encounter.
These resources provide extensive information to parents about the types of challenges that their children may face online and offers advice on the best ways to support the kids when they are on the internet.
These resources are available in multiple languages like Te Reo, Simplified Chinese, Tongan, and Samoan.
Netsafe also has a section on their website dedicated to helping young people. These resources discuss issues that specifically relate to our tamariki and rangatahi. Online bullying, creating safe relationships, privacy on Snapchat, and the impacts of sharing explicit images (nudes) are just some of the important topics that are covered.
So, parents and children alike, head to Netsafe’s website to discover all these crucial resources that will help you navigate this ever-changing digital landscape!
We encourage you to head to Netsafe’s website and check out all their fantastic resources! They will provide you with useful advice to many of the issues you may face on the internet.
If you or someone you know encounters a difficult situation online, then make sure to reach out to Netsafe. They provide confidential support and can help you solve any problems you face on the internet.
You can contact Netsafe by:
(Their helpline is open from 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 5pm on weekends.)
Related services that may be of help to you:
If you are concerned about your immediate safety or someone else’s safety call 111.
For more tips on how to stay safe online, check this out!
