Home isolation has well and truly started and if you have kept your eye on the social media download charts you'll know this app has exploded in popularity for both in adults and young people. Houseparty is currently sitting at #1 in the Social Networking category in the app store and there is no wonder. In a time were we face uncertainty (in isolation) where physically connecting with friends and family is no longer an option, we search for ways to connect with our friends and family.

What is Houseparty?
Houseparty is a private video chat app available on iOS, Android, and Mac OS. Houseparty allows users to group video chat, send text messages and leave Facemail (video messages). Houseparty allows users to simultaneously video chat with up to 8 others and within these video conferencing chat rooms you can launch and play fun virtual games. Like most social networking platforms today, the age restrictions on this application is 13 years old.

Naturally through our research we have deep dived into Houseparty so that we can break down all the things you need to know:

Things you must know:
Like many social networking applications this app does include security filters such as private profiles and setting connection permissions, however private is not set to as the default. If the users doesn't take the time to “lock” the room and choose Private Mode, others can pop into the video chat.  Users can initiate a chat or, if friends are already talking, invite others to join their conversation. For a more private chat, one can “lock” the room so others can’t join. When a person who is not a friend enters the chat, an alert is shown, giving users the chance to leave the conversation, or meet someone new. Houseparty also allows users to also share photos and text messages via the app.

Screen Shots:
During our investigation we made a concerning discovery in other users ability to screenshot a video chat and immediately share this more broadly. IF someone were to take a screenshot the group members are not notified that someone has taken a picture of the room. The person who took the screenshot/image is automatically provided a pop up asking 'where they would like to share the picture'. 

The content young people are exposed to in the app depends on the friends they are talking to, so users must pay attention to who is in their chat rooms, as no admins monitor them. Because video is live, there’s always a risk of cyberbullying and capturing conversations and the live video itself through screenshot and screen recorded and shared outside the app. Therefore it is important to have conversations with younger users and have them understand that while rooms might be locked they still don’t want to be sharing any personal information, images or demonstrate behaviours during the live video chats that could be captured/screenshot.

How to take control and minimise risks? 
Through our work here at the Cyber Safety Project we see so many young people getting excited to use new apps that they rush the sign up and set up process to get started and connecting with their friends. ​Take your time when signing up, address the default settings and talk to your children about responsible and respect behaviours online.

All Apps will offer varying degrees of safety measures within the settings. It is the users responsibility to utilise these accordingly. It's important to review every setting option carefully and make a considered decision before turning any of these ON or OFF. This should be completed before you begin using the application.

For Houseparty, during sign up there are a number of steps that you need to work through before an account is created and it is here you are able to take the most control. Be sure to know that you do NOT need to include you phone number or location, although the app will absolutely try to collect this.

Step 1 – Provide Email, Username, Date of Birth, Full Name

• Considerations should be given here as to appropriate Usernames and the perosnal details that are being provided to Houseparty. Include a false day and month of birth, do not include a phone number and never allow Houseparty to access your location. The app can still be utilised without providing these detaisl.

Step 2 – Find Your Friend

• Here is asks you to verify your phone number
  • In the top right-hand corner, there is a very faint grey ‘skip’ button that you can select without providing your mobile number
  • Within the Find Your Friends Section the user is prompted three times to connect House Party with their Contact List, Facebook and Snapchat

Step 3 – Permissions

• This section suggests to users to ALLOW access to Camera and Mic, Turn ON Notifications and ENABLE Location Settings.
  • Carefully consideration should be considered here as the application is still functional without enabling Notifications and Location services, however the app does direct the user to do so.
  • It is a good idea to opt out of allowing location access and notifications

Step 4 – Change Default Settings

• Select the Smiling Face Icon in the top left-hand corner, which will open Friends then select Setting cog icon, here you can switch on Private Mode.
• Encourage children to have Locked conversations, and only with friends and relatives they know well​

As the parent/career its critical that you understand the ins and outs of how Houseparty works before allowing your child to access the platform. Consider the risks and dangers associated to ensure you are equipped with the knowledge to then make an informed decision as to whether this application is appropriate for you child.

Join our upcoming webinar about 'Keeping Kids Safe On Social Media' where we will discuss ways to protect young people who love to connect and be social online.

#cybersafetyproject

Protect:
Most 'smart' tech based gifts require alignment and connection with a mobile phone or tablet App/Application. All of which will require users to create a User Profile and agree to the company's terms of service. Every App has its own set of service policies. We understand terms and conditions can be wordy and long and it is natural to want to move on quickly to the fun stuff. When scanning terms and conditions we recommend looking out for the following key elements:

• What are the legal age limits?
• Where is your data stored?
• How will your data be used?
• Is there a contact number or agency that you can contact directly if things go wrong?
• Are there links to parental control guides?

 
Prevent:

• Keep tech use and play to communal areas of your home - with the sound on!
• Play with the technology and games yourself
• Connect to the App regularly and monitor how it is being used, what data is being collected or uploaded.
• Talk to your children - regularly and often - about their online lives. This includes asking specific questions about how they are feeling when using the tech, who they are connecting with and how they feel after accessing the tool
• Develop a set of exit strategies with your children for if/when they feel things might be going wrong

 
TIP: Establishing an open and trusting relationship with your children about their digital habits enables you to have greater insight into their online behaviours and opportunities to prevent issues from occurring.  A child or teen is less likely to go to a parent if they believe they will banned from future use of a device, game or platform... So be strategic in how you respond when a child does come to you with a challenge or problem. Planning, prevention and protection are a critical combination for ensuring this trust between guardians and children is developed and maintained.
 
Safe Profiles:
When creating online profiles we recommend you:

• Create nicknames & non-identifiable email addresses
• Use avatars for profile photos
• Turn off location settings
• Set profiles to private

Artificial intelligence is absolutely everywhere! Kitchen appliances, smart TVs, smartphones, in our cars... it was only a matter of time before AI was integrated into children’s toys. The growth in the market of toys with integrated artificial intelligent has resulted in these tools becoming more affordable and hitting Christmas stockings all over the country.

​A smart toy is a toy that has a degree of artificial intelligence within it. These toys have the ability to learn and adjust the way it interacts with it's user. Using pre-programmed patterns (algorithms) these toys react to the user's actions and  The levels of intelligences within these smart toys does vary greatly however AI features include voice recognition, smartphone apps and touch sensors that allow the user and the toys to interact.

One of the toys that is gaining popularity along with security, ethical and privacy concerns is Hello Barbie.  Talking toys are not new, however Barbie now listens and responds to what the user says. The use of the inbuilt a microphone, sophisticated electronics and Wi-Fi connection will compute this information and make decisions about how it will respond to it's user, simulating a more realistic conversation. Hello Barbie uses similar technology to Siri, Cortana, Alexa other personal digital assistants. This ability to respond to a child’s conversation through artificial intelligence has raised privacy and ethical concerns.

With the ability for “Hello Barbie” to uniquely interact with users and even have and hold conversations, play games, share stories, and tell jokes “Hello Barbie” is being sold as a "real" friend to children. This raised the question about how this may influence a young person's social behaviour. Beyond the social implications of the doll, the capabilities of the recording technology also raises privacy issues. Smart toys also often have location-tracking features, a feature that can be compromised when connected to public WiFi networks could give then give you child’s whereabouts to people who should not have that information.

Many of the other smart toys on the market today, such as the popular Hot Wheels Brand also have accompanying software applications. These applications provide additional features to make the toy more fun or interactive. Some toys may not work without these apps and WiFi enabled which opens up opportunities for data to be collected about a user's game play. Be sure to thoroughly review an Apps Terms & Conditions as well as consider how your child's information is being collected if required to create a users account or profile alongside the use of this technology.

So, you're considering putting a AI gift under the tree this year? 
PLAN:

• Reading the privacy policy and terms of use to find out if the manufacture of the smart toy collects and stores user data. If so, how is that information store, who has access to it and how is this shared with third party providers?
  
• Play with the toy yourself before allowing your child to explore it's features. If it's AI is reactive, you may wish to test out some conversations or scenarios to see how it responds, the topics it raised or bias perspectives it may provide.
  

PROTECT:

• Turn off the toy when not in use, especially if it has microphones or cameras, so it doesn’t unintentionally pick up sound or video.
• Minimise the sharing of personal information. This applies when setting up a user account associated with a smart toy. Avoid sharing details like birthdays or a child’s personal preferences.

 PREVENT:

• Review the settings within the application that may be associated with the smart toy itself. Only connect and use toys in environments with trusted and secured Wi-Fi internet access. This means your secure home network may be appropriate however you might limit the use when it requires free/public network at a cafe (for example).
• Install any available software updates or security patches. You should be able to find this information from the toy maker’s website.​

It is frustrating to think that bullying continues to be a problem amongst young people today. Being teased and bullied online can be particularly hurtful to a child, who may feel as if there is no escape from the relentless ridicule. While we all know bullying is exists, do you know how to tell if your child is a target of cyber bullying? 

Statistics show that 1 in 5 young people under the age of 18 reported experiencing online bullying. Most children that experience bullying online are afraid or hesitant to tell anybody about their experience as a result of the fear that has been created such as deflated sense of self-worth or embarrassment, lack of confidence or do not feel that those around them can relate to how they are feeling.

What should I be looking out for?
The signs of online bullying are often similar to that of offline bullying. Like offline bullying, cyber bullying is defined as ongoing and deliberate hurtful or aggressive behaviour that occurs during time spent online. There is no exactness as to how a child may react if they are being cyber bullied. However, for a child experiencing cyber bullying there are some signs you may start to observe, particularly when they are using their connected technology. You may see a child demonstrate any one of the following behaviours:

• Frequent anger and outburst, mood swings, anxiety and tears during or just after technology use
• Spending less time (or more time) on their devices that they usually do
• Appearing edgy when devices need to be switched off or put away
• An unwillingness to discuss their online communication
• Reduced interactions with peers and friends through offline contexts
• Asking you to block comments or phone numbers 
• Restricting your view of their screen when they are using communication apps or social networking

I think my child may be experiencing bullying online, what can I do?
If you are concerned that your child may be experiencing online bullying here are some suggested intervention strategies:

1. Start by talking.
While getting all the details may seem like a good idea, your child may not feel entirely comfortable disclosing everything to you. In fact, your questions may feel like an interrogation. Instead, start by talking about your own online experiences, weaving in the good and the bad. It may seem strange or 'out of the blue' to hear you talking about technology in this way, so the earlier these conversations begin in your household, the more normalised conversations about this topic will become. It's also a good idea to regularly remind your children that 'there is nothing you could ever do that I wouldn't forgive', 'We all make mistakes and I am here to help you make things right', 'No matter what happens, I am always here to help'.

2. Discuss help seeking strategies.
Whilst we would all hope that our children come to us as the first point of call, for many children the thought of telling a parent is 'out of the question' for fear of technology being banned or getting into trouble. Help your child identify three trusted people (other than you) in their life that they could turn to for help when things are going wrong or they aren't sure what to do. This may be a grandparent, sibling, cousin, Aunt or Uncle or a teacher at school. Also ensure your children know how to access the kids helpline. 

3. Document and report misconduct.
Should you find material online that you believe is inappropriate conduct an involves your child, take a screenshot of the activity as evidence. There are laws about cyber bullying that you and your children should be aware of. When reporting serious cases of bullying, the police will require access to social media accounts as well as evidence. If you aren't sure if you should report cyber bullying, check out this resource from the eSafety Commissioner.

​Social Networking applications are taking greater responsibility for cyber bullying and inappropriate content appearing on their platforms. Most Social Networking applications have a reporting system in place aimed at flagging inappropriate content and abusive behaviour. Talk about these features and ensure your children know that when using these features they remain anonymous.

4. Limit online access.
If you start to see a behavioural shifts around the time your child is using connected technology such as; anger, anxiety or signs of depression, you may want to limit their access. Set clear rules and expectations that promote appropriate screen time use, including help seeking strategies when problems or uncomfortable situations arise. Many applications have great parental controls that can be helpful in monitoring your child's digital use including the use of screen time analytics through Apple Family Sharing or Google Family Link. 

5. Foster positive online protocols.
One of the best ways to prevent cyber bullying is to make sure that your children clearly understand what cyber bullying is and how to identify it. They must know that bullying is not tolerated in either offline or online spaces. Make sure they understand that they too must respect others online, reducing the likelihood of them becoming a target when they are conducting kind, friendly and respectful dialogue themselves. Another important step is to ensure your children make use of Privacy Settings within their apps or accounts. There are often settings that allow you to block specific users or turning on features such as 'hide offensive comments'.
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6. Promote kindness and positive in these places
Online communities, whether that be within games or social networks are regulated by those who participate [your children]. They are the creators of their online communities and set the tone for the environments in which they engage. Through gaming and social media we are regularly hearing of toxic, inappropriate and harmful dialogue. It's important that young people are calling out, blocking and reporting behaviour that they don't feel aligns with their own values or the terms and conditions set out by the digital platform. Help your child to promote and encourage kind behaviour towards their friends and make healthy choices when it comes to who they choose to engage with in online spaces.

7. Get your child actively engaged offline.
Help your child discover and establish positive friendships through offline settings such as engaging with sport, hobbies or extra curricular activities. Through a child's formative years, these face to face relationship offer positive offline experiences for children and allow for the development of authentic and life long friendships to flourish. Having offline friends can create an important support network and providing your children with someone to turn to when things go wrong for them online.
​
Preventing cyber bullying may feel like an impossible feat, but by taking small actions, advocating and building awareness are our frontline defence against this social phenomenon. Understanding and talking about online bullying must become a normalised conversation in every household.

If bullying has occurred, parents must be careful not to react with anger or take action without consulting their child. Young people often hide bullying from parents because they fear a parent will make things worse.

At school or at home we can promote positive values and teach our children the actions they can take to become UPSTANDERS in both online and offline settings. An Online Upstander is someone who is willing to take action to support a person being targeted by cyber bullying through standing up for them, telling a teacher or other adult, reporting inappropriate conduct or simply reaching out to a victim to ask if they are okay. Let’s continue to create a movement of Online Upstanders and create the positive online communities that we want!

3. Are they fishing for click-bait?
We have all done it. We are checking our digital news-feeds and we come across a post (often a sponsored posted) that sparks some curiosity around something you are interested in, celebrity gossip, humour or even current events by using an enticing title. The basic concept of ‘click-bait’ is to use a melodramatic and enticing title for an online article to manipulate and hook people into clicking the link and reading the content. “Man Hugs a Tiger… You won’t believe what happens next” and “90% of people can’t solve this riddle? Can you?” or perhaps give just the right amount of information to leave you wanting more.... such as “15 Tweets that prove NBA star Lebron James is a cheat”. 

To avoid begin hooked by click-bait -be vigilante, ask yourself "is the headline too funny, too positive, too scary, to unbelievable?". Work with young people to understand often, the motivation for “fake news” sites create pathways to advertising material. 

4. Have your emotions been triggered?
Check your emotions. Click-bait and fake news strive to pull you in by trying to get an extreme reaction. If the news you're reading makes you angry, outraged or even laugh, it could be a sign that you're being played and therefore it is fake news. Check multiple sources before trusting that the story is real. Creditable news outlets and their stories are ones that may trigger an emotional response, but, these outlets are motivated by truth and facts more than praying on your emotions to obtain readership.

An example of a headline designed to trigger fear, which may lead to people panicing and on-sharing:

Discover
Discover allows you to explore channels from established publishers who curate their own content. Snapchat discover is all about keeping you up-to-date on current events, pop culture, and more. Long gone are the days of Snapchat being used just to connect you and your friends. Now you can get the lowdown on breaking news,  events, and celeb gossip at your fingertips. On the Discover screen you can watch your friends’ Snapchat Stories, Publish your own Stories, Shows, and Our Stories. Given the popularity of Snapchat, appearing in the Discover section can mean world wide exposure and therefore the motivation to submit content to Our Story on Snapchat Discover. Given the Snapchat Discover is completely user generated, it is important to understand that if you are allowing your young people at home use Snapchat, they may be exposed to content, images and video material that is inappropriate or may not align with your values.

If you see something inappropriate on  Snapchat Discover or Snapchat Our Story, report it!
To report a Story on Discover…
> Press and hold the Snapchat that’s inappropriate
> Tap the white flag icon to report to alert Snapchat to this content
 

Let’s talk NUDES. Sexting or sending and receiving nudes isn't new. This type of behaviour has been around in one form or another for a long time, but in recent years the access to connected technology, new social networking platforms and peer pressure is seeing 'nudes' as becoming part of the ever day life of digital teens.  Sending nudes can often lead to devastating outcomes so let's break it down.
​
According to an eSafety Commissioner survey, 9 out of 10 teens (14-17 years of age) thought that sexting happened among their peers and around 4 in 10 reported that it either happened often, or all the time. Of the teens surveyed nearly 1 in 3 young people aged 14-17 years in Australia had some experience with sexting. This included sending, being asked and asking, sharing or showing nude or nearly nude images or videos. The statistics indicate that if young people aren't being asked to send these explicit images then it is something that is certainly being spoken about within their peer groups. Additionally, the social pressures to send nudes can also intensify the ongoing battle with self-image and self-esteem.
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In cases where the images have been seen by others (beyond the intended person) the consequences can be quite severe in terms of possible criminal prosecution, trouble with school authorities or serious social and psychological consequences including increased bullying, social isolation, shaming and severe anxiety, fear and depression.
Although the personal ramifications and social implications that come from sexting are regularly emphasized to young people, it is an imperative for them to be aware of the serious laws (which have recently changed) that can implicate minors that send, receive and possess explicit images of other minors.

Victorian Legal Aid make the legislation related to sexting and what is deemed child pornography very clear, “Sexting is a crime if you intentionally distribute an intimate image of a person under 18 to others, even if they agree to the sext message being sent. You could also be charged by police with child pornography offences.” Threatening to send an intimate image of a person to others, if the person believes that you will carry out the threat, may also be a criminal offence. While it can seem confronting, that fact that teenagers today are sharing these explicit images with one another means the term child pornography needs to be addressed. Victorian Legal Aid highlights that under Commonwealth law you could be charged with child pornography offences if you take, send, receive, make available, possess or store sexual or intimate photos of someone who is under 18 or who looks or represents someone under 18. Under these laws, there are serious consequences if you get caught.

To learn more please access the Legal Aid Website.
https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/find-legal-answers/sex-and-law/sexting-and-child-pornography

​So with all this information what is our advice on this very real and sensitive topic. The reality around sexting and sending nudes is very real. As responsible adults we can’t shy away from this important conversation. Asking questions about how your children feel and what they know can help you to gauge your child's level of knowledge and keeps you informed to guide and educate them about the risks and dangers of this very difficult space.

• What do your friends think about sending nudes? Do you agree with them?
• Do you know the law around sending and receiving nude images?
• Has anyone asked you to send a nude? How did that make you feel?

 
Enforce boundaries. Responsible use of technology is learnt, not simply acquired. Young digital citizens need guidance and  boundaries. Here are our non negotiables when it come to the use of technology in the home. You home digital device police should include the following (no exceptions):

• All devices are to be charged in a common areas each and EVERY night
• No devices to be use in the bedroom, bathroom or toilets. These risky and potentially damaging images aren't going to be taken in the lounge room or kitchen.

Keep your eyes peeled. There are some cheeky and deceitful applications that can be downloaded to store photos in other 'secret' folders or vaults. Applications like Fake Calculator and Photo Vault store images off the users Camera Roll into these 'hidden' folders make them harder find and use cloud/server storage so the images can be removed from the phone with the hope that explicit images cant be found.  Be sure to check all apps on your children's phones, even the icons that look like native apps like the Calculator, Weather or Notes apps - they could be a hidden/secret vault.