A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Anna Ross, University of Melbourne; Elizabeth Paton, University of Newcastle, and Michelle Blanchard, University of Melbourne The media is a key source of information about mental illness for the public, and research shows media coverage can influence public attitudes and perceptions of mental ill-health. But when it comes to complex mental illnesses such as psychosis [...]
Paul Haskell-Dowland, Edith Cowan University and Brianna O'Shea, Edith Cowan University Passwords have been used for thousands of years as a means of identifying ourselves to others and in more recent times, to computers. It’s a simple concept – a shared piece of information, kept secret between individuals and used to “prove” identity. Passwords in [...]
Evita March, Federation University Australia There is an urgent need to understand why people troll. Recent Australian estimates show about one in three internet users have experienced online harassment. Across several research studies, I have attempted to construct the psychological profile of those who trolls to harm others. In my most recent study, conducted with [...]
Hugh Breakey, Griffith University Feature image: Wes Mountain/The Conversation, CC BY-ND Earlier this week, 150 high-profile authors, commentators and scholars signed an open letter in Harper’s magazine claiming that “open debate and toleration of differences” are under attack. Signatories included JK Rowling, Margaret Atwood, Gloria Steinem and Noam Chomsky. While prefacing their comments with support [...]
Ginger Gorman has literally written the book on understanding online trolling. In the process she's uncovered entire networks dedicated to harassing individuals off the Internet entirely, as well as poisoning the minds of the young and the vulnerable with hateful ideologies. Sadly, this is just one of the dangers posed by the online world. On [...]
Deepfake software has becoming increasingly sophisticated and easy to use, which means nearly anyone can now create explicit material using someone's image. Young Australian Noelle Martin found this out to her horror when she discovered explicit images of her face on the bodies of adult film actresses online. She had never had a boyfriend, never [...]
Digital conflict and military action are increasingly intertwined, and civilian targets – private businesses and everyday internet users alike – are vulnerable in the digital crossfire. But there are forces at work trying to promote peace online. It will be a tough challenge: In May 2019, Israel responded to unspecified cyberattacks by Hamas with an [...]
Many teenagers use mobile phones and social media almost constantly. And children are gaining access to these devices and platforms at increasingly younger ages. This is a challenge for parents who need to keep up with their children’s use, the evolution of devices, and how this changes how they have to parent. Studies show parents [...]
Increased digital participation has provided many positives for young people with disabilities, but greater potential risks can also be found lurking online for those who live with a disability, according to latest research from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. The potential risks – such as exposure to inappropriate content, excessive use, and image-based abuse [...]
We have never been more aware of the prevalence of child sexual abuse, but unfortunately this has yet to translate into a reduction of new cases. How can parents keep their children safe without being overwhelmed by paranoia? According to child safety experts, it comes down to awareness of 'grooming'. Predators will take various, but [...]
