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Technology & Digital Safety

Australians overwhelming believe spelling is important but they fear standards are slipping because of social media and text messaging. iStock image. For Kids News

Technology & Digital Safety

‘For the good’: How world-first social media ban will be explained

Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s will be promoted through a national campaign this weekend, as the government warns tech giants to comply or face $50m fines.

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Gen ZÃers Sophie Bator, 11, Sadie Mataira, Jacob Brennan, Charlie Brennan, 8 in Rundle Mall. Pictured on 8th October 2025. Picture: Ben Clark

‘Sigma, skibidi, delulu’: Decoding Gen Alpha’s baffling new language

Have you heard your kids shouting “6-7” and had no idea what they’re talking about? You’re not the only one.

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Preschool little girl in sleeping bag camping. Outdoors activity with children in summer. Fun and adventure camp, family and friends vacations or weekend trip. Portrait of child with flashlight

Susie O’Brien: Watch out for this item on school camp lists

My son’s camp list contained an item that made me nostalgic for the time when we used paper dictionaries, street directories and cameras with film. How do we explain these items to our teched-up Gen Z offspring?

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Art work for Anika Wells

Technology & Digital Safety

‘No excuse’: Minister meets with tech giants in countdown to ban

Australia’s unprecedented social media crackdown has tech giants scrambling to ban under-16s before the December deadline.

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Technology & Digital Safety

Why your deleted online posts can still haunt you

Experts warn AI tools are increasingly scraping data, making it easier than ever for your digital past to haunt you. But there are ways you can protect yourself. SEE THE VIDEO

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ExclusiveEducation

AI learning story - Melbourne dad Paul Richards with son Mason, who loves using the TeachingBlox program. Photo by Luis Enrique Ascui

‘Life-changing’ tool using sport to help Aussie kids learn maths

When Paul Richards’ sporty son Mason began falling behind in maths, a new tool changed everything — using footy and cricket to make studying finally click.

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Higher Education

Australian Catholic University has admitted its AI detection tool wrongly accused some students of cheating.

‘Robo-cheating’ fiasco hits major uni as AI-detection tool withdrawn

An Australian university used AI to accuse students of using AI to cheat in assignments, but now admits its detection tool was critically flawed. Not good enough, say victims.

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sub image art for mum baby apps story

Avoid the app trap: Experts share tips for newborn parenting success

Apps are not the answer to the nightmare newborn phase, a new study has found, as experts share their advice for navigating the highs and lows of becoming a new parent.

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Technology & Digital Safety

‘Monster’: European nation to follow Australia’s social media ban

A European nation plans to ban under-15s from social media after Australia’s groundbreaking reforms, with its prime minister warning “we have unleashed a monster.”

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Technology & Digital Safety

Teenager Boy Under Stress with phone

‘200 classmates had seen him naked’: Sexting crimes rampant in schools

An eSafety educator shares horrifying stories of sextortion and revenge porn as new data reveals many perpetrators of image-based sex abuse are themselves children.

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ExplainerTechnology & Digital Safety

Leelou safety app creator Jerry Farsoun (R) and John Herron (L), Ambassador and advocate for the app, and father of the late Courtney Herron, who was murdered in May, 2019 in Melbourne. Photo by Luis Enrique Ascui, CopyrighytsÃ‚Â©luisascui

Triple-0 bungle: Why calls can fail and what Aussies can do

After three deaths were linked to the Optus outage, experts warn Triple-0 isn’t foolproof — here’s why calls can fail, what to do in an emergency, and the new Aussie app that could help save lives.

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Controversy has erupted around the Netflix cartoon Dead End Paranormal Park after billionaire Elon Musk expressed outrage that character Barney Guttman, right, said they were transgender.

Musk joins push to cancel Netflix over cartoon’s trans character

Elon Musk has told his 227 million followers on X to cancel Netflix – causing its share price to sharply drop – amid a revolt over a ‘pro-transgender’ kids’ cartoon.

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Technology & Digital Safety

Oxford uni chancellor and albo for social media ban

‘Addictive model’: Global education leader hails Aussie social media ban

Oxford University’s chancellor and former British opposition leader Lord William Hague has backed Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s, urging Britain to follow.

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Technology & Digital Safety

Trigger warnings are ineffective at deterring vulnerable people from clicking on disturbing content, Australian research has found.

Slap a trigger warning on it (that’ll make them click)

Trigger warnings can have the opposite effect to their intent as a ‘forbidden fruit effect’ tempts even the mentally vulnerable, Australian research has found.

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/education/support/technology-digital-safety