ThinkUKnow - Working together to keep kids safe online

A recent survey of 18,000 kids by ABC’s “Behind the News” found that 56% of them spend more than two hours a day in front of screens playing games, watching movies and TV, and online. Nearly the same amount said they were spending most of their time on social media.

Tablets were most popular, followed by computers, TVs and smartphones. Smartphones in particular make parental supervision more difficult than ever. 

ThinkUKnow is a partnership between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Datacom, Microsoft Australia and the Commonwealth Bank, partnering with local communities via state and territory police. It is aimed at raising children’s cyber-safety awareness and educating Australian communities on how they can keep their children safe online. 

As a lead sponsor of ThinkUKnow, Datacom provides the behind-the-scenes technical and logistical support, as well as providing on-ground volunteers across the country delivering presentations to school kids and parents alike. 

The rules of parenting haven’t changed in generations – parents still need to connect and engage with their children’s interests on a day-to-day basis. However, Datacom updates and delivers this message with a pro-technology focus – without any commercial aspect or bias. There are no fast solutions.

As one of the most active partners in the programme, Datacom has 50 volunteers across Australia delivering open-forum presentations to more than 9,200 parents, teachers and carers across 270 schools, community groups and organisations last year. They in turn can spread the message further and help keep a generation of young people safe online.

Datacom provides the behind-the-scenes technical and logistical support,as well as providing on-ground

volunteers.