Children to get digital licence to safely use the internet under Labor plan
Would you feel more comfortable if your child earned a licence before being let loose on the internet? A new plan will see them do just that.
Australian children will earn a digital licence to use the internet safely under a new plan by Labor.
Under the plan, announced on Monday, the eSmart Digital Licence program would be rolled out nationally in schools for students aged 10 to 14, with a new junior version for children aged five to nine.
It is a similar concept to how children earn their pen licence to upgrade from writing in pencil.
Labor has promised $6 million in funding, if elected, to roll out the program nationally over three years and fund an eSmart Media Literacy Lab program for secondary school students aged 12 to 16 to help them engage with news online.
The programs are delivered by the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, a charity established in honour of young children Alannah and Madeline Mikac who were killed along with their mother in the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
The programs are currently available for schools which can afford it or have philanthropic support.
Alannah & Madeline Foundation chief executive Sarah Davies said the charity wanted every Australian student to have access to their “curriculum-aligned, and evidence-informed” programs.
“It is critical that legislative and industry changes are coupled with initiatives that build digital intelligence and media literacy skills in children and young people, as well as in schools, early childhood settings, families, and support services,” Ms Davies said.
Labor’s education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said the digital licence was the “pen licence for the digital age” and agreed the resources should be available to all children.
“It’s crucial all our kids learn the skills they need to keep them safe online,” she said.
Labor’s assistant Communications and Cyber Security spokesman Tim Watts said it was a timely announcement with more kids spending more time on screens during the pandemic.
“Unfortunately, the experts tell us we’ve also seen more kids exposed to the ugly side of being online,” he said.
“We need to act now to ensure every Australian child has the skills and knowledge they need to stay safe online.”
The existing Digital Licence and Media Literacy Lab programs are both a gamified learning experience.
The junior version, which does not yet exist, will be developed as part of the plan.
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