Safer Internet Day 2026: know what online abuse looks like and how you can report it
Tuesday, 10 February 2026, is Safer Internet Day. An internationally recognised, annual event in which we are all encouraged to think about how we can create and maintain safe spaces online.
With technology having greater reach than ever before, our online behaviour has the capacity to dramatically impact our own lives and the lives of others. Even though the connectivity with loved ones, and our chosen communities, is a fantastic benefit of digital interactions, the increasing prevalence and sophistication of cyber attacks, data breaches and online abuse can harm any one of us.
This Safer Internet Day, we focus on being vigilant about online abuse
Research has identified that almost half of Australian children, and 67% of adults, have experienced online abuse. Of further concern, young adolescents are being increasingly exposed to harmful content, while LGBTIQ+ and First Nations Australians face double the national average of online hate speech while participating in online activities.
Young people are being exposed to risks stemming from online tactics such as:
- blackmail and coercive control in relationships, often facilitated through social media and messaging platforms.
- doxing, where a person publishes information about someone online without their consent.
- sexual extortion, including threats to share or the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.
Learn more about types of online abuse on the eSafety Commissioner’s Safer Internet Day website.
What you can do to protect yourself from online abuse
At Deakin, we strive for everyone to feel respected and welcome. Here are some simple steps you can take immediately to protect yourself online.
- Be mindful of your online behaviour. Are you using social media and online platforms responsibly? It’s important you check your social media privacy settings, restrict the amount of information you share online, and remember to always be kind. A good rule of thumb: if you wouldn’t say it to their face, don’t say it behind a screen.
- Protect your privacy and accounts. When studying or working online, remember to keep your accounts safe by using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Create strong, secure passphrases and lock your computer, even if you step away momentarily. MFA is super simple and offers a second layer of security/protection to your accounts by verifying if it is really you that is accessing your account.
- Know what online abuse looks like and, if you see it – report it. The eSafety Commissioner’s Safer Internet Day website features a hub dedicated to helpful resources for uni students, including information on how to recognise types of online abuse, relating to issues such as online dating, sexual extortion, and cyberbullying, and what to do if you experience an online safety incident.
More information is available
Remember you are not alone if you are targeted online. If you, or someone you know, is impacted by cyber harassment or abuse, you can report the behaviour (outside of external reporting channels) to a lecturer or Safer Communities at Deakin. Where relevant, you can also report cyber harassment via the University’s Student Conduct and Student Complaints process.
- Got a question, or IT issue? Contact Deakin’s IT Help.
- The Australian Cyber Security Centre also has lots of helpful information about how to protect yourself online and what to do if you’re hacked.