Principal News
Welcome to the start of Term 4, a busy term as we wrap up the year, with a great deal happening.
All the very best wishes for Year 12 as they commence their exams next week and I look forward to working alongside staff and students as we close the year out.
A Safety Message:
'Stranger danger' used to mean warning kids not to talk to unfamiliar people on the way home from school. Today, those strangers are just a click away.
In this Online Safety Advisory:
What are random chat apps and what are the risks?
What parents and carers can do
What are random chat apps and what are the risks?
Strangers can appear on screen in real time through anonymous chat platforms that pair users randomly for video or text conversations.
Today, those strangers are just a click away – often appearing on screen in real time, through anonymous chat platforms that pair users randomly for video or text conversations.
But for children and young people, they can quickly become gateways to inappropriate content, manipulation, and sexual exploitation.
The risks are not hypothetical – they are happening now, and they are serious.
In this online safety advisory, we examine the unique dangers of anonymous chat platforms and offer parents and carers guidance on how to protect those most at risk.
The safety issue: Hidden dangers of anonymous chat apps
Anonymous chat platforms let people connect with strangers instantly. Often, there are limited registration and age check requirements.
Sometimes, this is by design.
For children, what sounds like off-the-cuff fun is also a perfect storm for potential contact and abuse by adult predators. Here's why:
If there is no age checking: Children can slip into adult spaces with ease.
Random pairing: Users are matched with strangers, often without filters.
Live video: Inappropriate content can appear in seconds, without warning.
Anonymity: Predators can hide their identity and intentions.
Recording risks: Conversations can be saved and misused without consent.
Why it matters now
The problem isn't new – but it’s getting worse.
Increased access: Kids now carry video-enabled devices everywhere.
Pandemic habits: Lockdowns pushed more young people online, often unsupervised.
Tech evolution: AI and real-time video make interactions faster and more difficult to moderate.
Legal pressure: Platforms are facing lawsuits and public scrutiny, but many still operate with minimal safeguards.
What is eSafety doing?
eSafety is taking a leading role to tackle online harms – in Australia and worldwide – including those linked to anonymous random chat platforms.
Legal powers under the Online Safety Act
The Online Safety Act 2021 gives eSafety the authority to:
improve transparency and hold platforms to account through the Basic Online Safety Expectations
require companies to build in safety by design features, have effective moderation tools, dedicate enough resources, and act on user reports
order the removal of unlawful content, with action required within 24 hours.
Spotlight on randomised communication
eSafety's guidance is clear: online anonymity can fuel abuse. Platforms must stop predators from hiding behind fake identities.
Education and resources
From parent guides to school toolkits, eSafety offers practical advice on:
talking to kids about online chat
recognising grooming behaviour
reporting and blocking abusive users.
Raising public awareness
eSafety communicates through this website and through traditional and social media to highlight the risks of sextortion, grooming, and exposure to harmful content – especially through online spaces such as anonymous chat platforms.
What parents and carers can do
You don't need to be a tech expert to protect your kids. Here's what works:
Set up device restrictions with tools such as Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link.
Block high-risk sites for children such as OmeTV and Chatroulette (also known as 'Chatruletka'). Even these apps say they are not for under 18s.
Use parental control apps like Bark or Qustodio to help keep an eye on online activity.
Talk early and often
Ask open-ended questions such as 'Have you ever chatted with someone you haven't met face-to-face?'
Tell kids they should never meet someone in person if they have only spoken online – especially not in a private place.
Avoid shame – make it safe for kids to share uncomfortable experiences.
Role-play scenarios with your children to build confidence and awareness.
Teach digital boundaries
Reinforce rules about sharing personal info.
Encourage caution and privacy when using device cameras.
Show how to block and report users.
Build critical thinking
Help kids spot manipulation tactics.
Discuss why some people hide their identity online.
Encourage scepticism and self-protection.
What the tech industry should do
The responsibility for safety should not fall on families alone. Platforms must step up by:
Implementing effective age assurance: Go beyond simple age gates and use tools that accurately establish a user's age.
Resourcing safety teams properly: Especially for moderating live video content.
Using AI responsibly: To detect and block harmful behaviour in real time.
Designing with safety in mind: Only enable anonymity and random pairing when strong safeguards are in place.
Being transparent: Publish safety practices and abuse statistics.
Protecting childhood starts here
Anonymous chat platforms may seem like harmless digital playgrounds. However, for children and young people, they can become like online quicksand – pulling them into unsafe interactions before anyone realises.
The risks are real and the consequences are serious. The solutions demand a united effort from parents and carers, educators, tech companies, and regulators.
True online safety is much more than blocking harmful content. It means building trust, teaching resilience, and designing digital environments that put children's wellbeing first.
Further resources and reading
eSafety Commissioner
Online chat and video chat safety
Anonymous communication guidance
The hard-to-have conversations
Child grooming and unwanted contact
Common Sense Media – parent reviews of chat platforms
www.commonsensemedia.orgExternal link
Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE)