The eSafety Commissioner (Australia), released September 2022
The eSafety Commissioner has launched new resources to help the LGBTIQ+ community safely navigate the online world, featuring guidance on a range of issues, from dealing with trolls to meeting people online.
LGBTIQ+ people are more than twice as likely to experience online hate speech than other Australians, with 30 per cent targeted compared to 14 per cent of the general population, according to eSafety research.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the new LGBTIQ+ learning lounge resources and ‘Play nice, stay safe’ digital campaign provide advice about key topics like responding to online hate and how to have safer relationships online.
The LGBTIQ+ learning lounge resources were co-designed with LGBTIQ+ community members from diverse genders and backgrounds. They are informed by community consultation, feedback from existing programs and in-depth research. This includes eSafety’s Protecting LGBTIQ+ voices online report which highlights how people who identify as LGBTIQ+ are affected by adult cyber abuse and online lateral abuse (abuse between members within a community).
The LGBTIQ+ learning lounge covers 3 main topics – meeting online, dealing with online abuse and building resilience. Each topic houses multiple sections with content relevant to the community, providing an easy and accessible way for individuals to find the support they need.
Anyone experiencing online abuse should report it to the platform; if the content isn’t removed you can report it to esafety.gov.au/report.