Keeping Kids Safe Online with Susan McLean

Keeping children safe online is a concern for every parent. Children can have a technical skill that is far more advanced than their cognitive development and it is not easy to know how and what boundaries to set.

Today's guest is Susan McLean. Susan is Australia's foremost expert in the area of cyber safety and was a member of Victoria Police for 27 years. Widely known as The Cyber Cop, she was the first Victoria police officer appointed to a position involving cyber safety and young people. In 2003, she was a Victoria Police Region 4 Youth Officer of the Year. She has also been awarded the National Medal and Victoria Police Service Medal. Susan established a consulting firm in March 2007 called Cyber Safety Solutions and has grown to be the most highly respected and in demand cyber safety consultancy in Australia.

Show Notes:

• [1:21] - Susan shares her background in law enforcement and her first online appointment was in 1994.
• [2:17] - She was led to America in her quest to learn as much as she could about cyber safety. The training she was a part of was The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Team training and more trainings in Texas.
• [3:35] - When Susan returned to Australia, she outlined a plan of action for law enforcement in Australia.
• [4:14] - When Susan's support retired, she lost all internal support at that time. Others claimed she was making things up to create a job opportunity and that because she was a woman, she couldn't do this job.
• [5:07] - Susan quit her job because she became passionate about this concern and took a risk in developing her own consultant agency. She works extensively with schools, parents, and teachers.
• [6:46] - Now, law enforcement takes cyber crime more seriously.
• [7:51] - Susan says that although there is acknowledgement of cyberbullying and online safety issues, there is still a lack of training of front line police officers.
• [8:50] - Susan describes JACKET teams in Australia and how it works in her country.
• [9:30] - The amount of arrests is phenomenal, but Susan would much rather there were no arrests because we can educate young people to not fall victim to these types of crimes.
• [10:27] - Susan shares that most arrests are made within Australia but that there are international crime gangs specifically in sex trafficking and sexual exploitation that are elsewhere.
• [12:08] - The statistics in Australia show that a quarter of all teens have been cyber bullied at some point. This can mean a lot of different things. It's almost always an extension of schoolyard bullying.
• [12:47] - Nude photos are also prominent and fit the definition of child exploitation offenses.
• [13:58] - To be an effective parent in the 21st century, you have to parent in the digital space.
• [14:43] - The internet is 100% an adult world that you are putting your child into. Risks cannot be removed but you can identify and limit the risk with boundaries for your child.
• [15:18] - Young people's technical skill far outweighs their cognitive and brain development. There is a massive gap between what they can actually do and what they can understand.
• [16:29] - Susan explains that if your child is under 13, you should be in complete control over everything your child does online.
• [17:33] - Start with one platform that you can manage when you feel they are ready for it. Constant monitoring and parent judgement on maturity is necessary.
• [19:01] - Susan recommends having a rule in place that you will check all accounts and devices a certain number of random days per month.
• [20:33] - Checking lists of friends and contacts, the child has to explain who they are to the parent's expectations. If you can't invite them over for dinner, they don't belong on their list.
• [21:55] - Susan shares how the majority of in-person sexual abuse or exploitation are with people the victim knows. But online, the majority are people who are unknown to the child or teen.
• [23:02] - If you are familiar with the person and are unsure if it is their real account, ask them.
• [24:27] - Parents also need to have conversations prior to online use to make sure their children are not being the ones doing the bullying.
• [25:45] - If you are the caretaker of any child or minor, you have to be aware that they are targets.
• [26:03] - Susan explains that the majority of inappropriate photos are taken in bedrooms and bathrooms with the doors closed. She shares examples of ways a parent can prohibit devices with cameras in those rooms.
• [27:48] - Especially during Covid, the limitation of devices and children online became difficult.
• [28:28] - One of the biggest mistakes parents make is giving their child or teen a phone thinking it will keep them safe. They are handy, but they are not safety devices.
• [30:18] - Susan also lists the other issues that come with extensive use of electronic devices, including posture, muscular and skeletal problems, and eye strain.
• [32:27] - Every adult has a responsibility to keep children safe on and offline.
• [34:34] - Susan recommends several websites for parent and child education on cyber safety that include games and kid friendly language.
• [37:59] - Susan is also the author of Sexts, Texts, and Selfies which is an internationally available book. The only changes based on the country are the laws and legislation.
• [40:12] - It is everywhere no matter the crime. Cyber safety is absolutely crucial.

Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.

Links and Resources:

• Podcast Web Page
• Facebook Page
• whatismyipaddress.com
• Easy Prey on Instagram
• Easy Prey on Twitter
• Easy Prey on LinkedIn
• Easy Prey on YouTube
• Easy Prey on Pinterest
• CyberSafety Solutions Web Page
• Susan McLean on Twitter
• Susan McLean on Facebook
• Sexts, Texts, and Selfies: How to Keep Your Children Safe in the Digital Space by Susan McLean