(Australia) Conroy's filter will not make the internet safer

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    Date: 
    9 February 2010

    Today marks Safer Internet Day, a day observed by more than 50 countries across the globe to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology, particularly among children and young people.

    Children wade into the world of technology at increasingly younger ages - by the time they become teenagers, the technological divide between generations can pose challenges for parents who want to guide their children safely through the virtual world.

    Young people reportedly spend about two-thirds of their online-time on social networking sites, which have paved the way for a sharp increase in cyber bullying.

    Cyber bullying - the use of the internet, mobile phones, and other digital technologies to threaten or abuse - means bullying can take place without time or geographic constraints.

    Up to 10 per cent of Australian students have reported being bullied by means of technology over a school term, predominantly among secondary students.

    So how do we make the internet safe for children and young people?