Helping Australian families stay safe online
The internet has brought incredible opportunities to our doorsteps, but it’s just as important that it remains a safe space for families to explore and make the most of together. This Safer Internet Day, we’re sharing new ways we’re helping Australians stay safe online and feel more confident navigating the digital world
Increasing protections around images on Google Search
Today, we're introducing a new, simpler way for people to request the removal of non-consensual explicit content from Search, building on the range of protections already in place. To access this tool, click on the three dots on an image, select ‘remove result,’ then select ‘It shows a sexual image of me’. This new tool lets you select and submit requests for multiple images from search results in a single, simple form.
Here’s what else is new:
- Get ongoing protection: We understand that removing existing content is only part of the solution. For added protection, the new process allows you to opt-in to existing safeguards that will proactively filter out any additional explicit results that might appear in similar searches.
- Find support resources when you need them: Immediately after you submit a request, you’ll find links to expert organizations that provide emotional and legal support.
- Easily track your requests: You can now track the status of all your requests in one place in the "Results about you" hub. You'll also get email notifications when there's a change in the status of your request so you can stay up to date.
We hope that this new removal process reduces the burdens facing victims of non-consensual explicit imagery. As we expand on our existing protections we will continue to listen to feedback and work with experts to develop tools designed to keep people safe online. This new experience is rolling out over the coming days in most countries and we plan to expand it to more regions soon.
Empowering families with easier parental controls
Across our products, we’ve made it easy for families to choose and customise their experience through supervised accounts and parental controls. We created Family Link to help you set up a supervised account for your child, allowing you to approve what apps and games they can download on their device, keep an eye on screen time and help set digital ground rules for your family.
Now, Family Link’s design will allow parents to manage devices from a single page, plus view a device-specific usage summary, set time limits and more easily adjust controls from a consolidated screen-time management tab.
It also provides a way to manage the content your child can see, update or delete their account if needed, share location when they have their device with them, manage privacy settings and find the right balance for your family. Due to the Social Media Minimum Age Act, parents in Australia can no longer use supervision on YouTube for kids and teens under 16 - removing access to the suite of parental controls on YouTube developed in consultation with third party experts. YouTube Kids remains available for younger users and Australian teens over 16 can voluntarily choose to link accounts with their parents.
You can set up Family Link here.
Teaming up with educators and experts
Online safety is a shared responsibility, which is why we work closely with educators and experts like Life Ed Australia. Together, we’ve brought the Be Internet Awesome program to take online safety education beyond the classroom to reach parents, teachers, and students across Australia. With the help of the iconic Healthy Harold, we’re helping Aussie kids learn to navigate the digital world with the same confidence they have in the physical one.
The program is built to teach five fundamental topics of online safety and digital citizenship:
- Share with Care: Digital Footprint and Responsible Communication
- Don’t Fall for Fake: Avoiding Phishing, Scams, and Highlighting Credible Sources
- Secure Your Info: Online Security and Passwords
- It’s Cool to Be Kind: Combating Negative Online Behavior
- When in Doubt, Talk It Out: How to seek help from trusted adults if things aren’t right
We also know teachers are looking to stay across the latest digital trends. The Be Internet Awesome curriculum provides educators with ready-to-use lesson plans, worksheets, and discussion guides designed by experts. These resources make it easier for schools to equip students with the skills they need to navigate their online experiences safely.
Parents and teachers can access the learning and teaching resources through the dedicated Be Internet Awesome page and via Life Ed’s website. We look forward to continuing our work and building on our efforts to keep Australians safe online
