The Australian perspective: Efforts to counter cyberbullying

Australian young people have easy access to technology with 90% of 5-14-year-olds using the Internet and over 90% of students aged 15 owning a smart phone (one with Internet access, television and multi-media) (Australian Communications and Media Authority [ACMA], 2010). Additionally 70% of 12-14-years-old use social networking sites (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012). Australian research has shown that although most of these young people use this technology appropriately and gain advantages in access to information and social communication, there are also those who use it to cyberbully others.