Taking control

Whether writing and sending messages or emails, or posting or sharing images and videos, it is important to make sure the content is appropriate, respectful and legal. Consider who will see what you post. Even though you may only have a few people in mind when posting or sharing online, there might be others who will see your posts.

Some tips:

• When sending messages or images, check you are sending to the right person before you press send.
• Check you have the permission of all the people in a photo, video or post before sharing and tagging them.
• If you are tagged in a photo, image or any other content that you don't want to be tagged in, you can choose to remove the tag in your settings.
• Get into the habit of doing something for a few seconds or minutes (like getting a drink of water) BEFORE responding to messages or content that is upsetting or confronting. 
• Our emotions can affect the decisions we make when posting, uploading or sharing content. Download the "Taking control" infograph in the Resource downloads to find out more.
• Send a funny image instead of sending an image you don't feel comfortable sharing.

Cyber bystanders

In a social situation, a bystander can be viewed as a ‘witness’ or ‘observer’ to an event. In cases of negative social behaviours such as school bullying or online aggression, bystanders observe the situation between a perpetrator (someone engaging in bullying) and the person being bullied.

Whilst not directly part of it, bystanders can influence the situation and how it unfolds by the way they react to the situation. For example, they can encourage the person engaging in the bullying or stand up for the person being bullied.

Bystanders can help shape a positive online environment by speaking up when seeing cyberbullying or negative online content (through asking the perpetrator to stop, reporting negative content or getting help from an adult). Bystanders can also make a difference by providing comfort to someone being bullied or harassed online through a supportive online post or private message. Research has found that when bystanders provide support, even in a small way, it does makes a difference to the mental health and self-esteem of the young person who was bullied.

All young people interacting in online environments can help shape a safe, supportive atmosphere for all users by being positive, proactive bystanders.

The law

It is important to consider the legal consequences of what you are posting – particularly images that you share. Download the “Reality Bites” infograph in the Resource downloads to find out more the legal consequences of sexting.

For legal information and practical tips about issues such as sexting, cyberbullying, identity theft and consent, visit R U Legal? developed by Legal Aid Western Australia.