Emerging Online Safety Issues

Emerging online safety issues: co-creating social media education with young people

Principal Investigator: Justine Humphry, Jonathon Hutchinson, Olga Boichak

Funder: Australian eSafety Commissioner

Progress: October 2021 – Ongoing

Abstract: University of Sydney researchers are working alongside young people (aged 12-18) to co-design and produce social media safety videos for Instagram and TikTok. Ensuring the safety of children and teenagers online has never been more important, with the average Australian aged over 14 spending almost six hours on social media each week. As artificial intelligence, big data and algorithmic technologies develop, so too must our online safety responses. Dr Justine Humphry, Dr Jonathon Hutchinson and Dr Olga Boichak from the University of Sydney School of Literature, Art and Media are setting out to do just that – by creating a series of online tools in partnership with young people. Thanks to grant funding by the eSafety Commissioner, the project will be conducted in collaboration with Youth Action, the peak body representing young people and the services that support them in NSW, and Student Edge, one of the largest member-based student organisations in Australia that specialises in research among young people.