Safer Internet Day 2021 • Problem Gambling Foundation

This year we are proud to support Safer Internet Day 2021.

Safer Internet Day is a global event promoting a safer online world.

The community is relying on the internet more than ever before to remain connected. Given the role the internet has played in recent worldwide events, it's more important than ever before that people know how to stay safe online.

Here are five simple steps developed by NetSafe that we can all take to protect ourselves and our whānau online.

Be careful when giving out your personal details. Make sure your passwords are hard to guess and you have different passwords for all your accounts. Too hard to keep track? Consider using a password manager - there are plenty of apps that can help with this!
Do a social media check-up. Familiarise yourself with the privacy settings on the platforms you use and think twice about what you post.
Not everything you read is real. Like everything, information we consume needs a critical lens. Implement a fake news filter: ask, is this a reliable source? Are these facts credible? Is the article balanced? Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Try to be tolerant, kind and respectful online. If you are having a problem, NetSafe can help you resolve it and explain the laws designed to prevent and reduce harm.
Most importantly, let's kōrero about online experiences. This is particularly important for whānau: having regular, non-judgemental conversations with your kids about what they're doing can minimise damage if things go wrong online.

Keeping Safe from Online Gambling

Online gambling is a growing activity in the world. Unlike local gambling outlets, New Zealand has no laws that protect us from gambling products created overseas and available to us online.

We've put together a fact sheet with tips on what you can do to keep safe online - download it for free here.

Blocking Gambling Ads on Social Media

We've developed a few guidelines to help you make sure that your time on Facebook is free from gambling ads. You can download the free guides below.

DLE Edit Facebook Ad Settings (iOS).pdf
DLE Edit Facebook Ad Settings (Android).pdf

We've also heard that the Facebook in-app browser can sometimes circumvent ad-blocking software such as GamBan, so the guidelines below will help you ensure external links on Facebook open on Chrome or Safari instead of the in-app browser.

DLE Opening Facebook Links in External Browsers (iOS).pdf
DLE Opening Facebook Links in External Browsers (Android).pdf