In this episode of Together, guest Dr Emma Barker-Clarke, a specialist in violence prevention education, delves into the nuanced experiences of young people facing online harms, particularly peer-to-peer digital sexual harassment and sextortion. The conversation underscores the importance of centring young people’s voices, providing education that is tailored to their realities, and challenges the adequacy of existing legislative measures to protect youth in digital spaces. Emma also shares valuable insights from her research with young people, advocating for a collaborative approach involving parents, educators, and policymakers to foster safer online environments for children and young people.

Cyberbullying is a common issue impacting young people today. It includes everything from hurtful messages, to image-based sexual harassment and sextortion.

In today’s episode, we interview Dr Emma Barker-Clarke, an educator and researcher specialising in sexual violence and family violence prevention. Emma has focused her career on understanding and addressing online harm, particularly how these issues manifest and impact youth.

Topics include:

• Understanding Peer-to-Peer Harm: Emma explains how young people's experiences of online harm, particularly through image-based sexual harassment and sextortion, often occur between peers rather than strangers, creating complex social dynamics.
• The Role of Education in Digital Safety: The discussion highlights the importance of schools and educators in providing comprehensive, non-judgmental education on digital sexual ethics, consent, and recognising online harm.
• The Gap in Current Legislation: Emma discusses the limitations of current legal frameworks like New Zealand's Harmful Digital Communications Act and the need for reforms to keep up with evolving digital threats, such as deepfakes and sextortion.
• Youth-Led Research Insights: Emma shares findings from her youth-led research on online harms, emphasising the need to involve young people in shaping the questions and narratives around their digital experiences.
• Empowering Young People and Families: Emma discusses practical strategies for parents and caregivers, including open communication and knowing where to seek help, like Netsafe and other online safety resources.

And more.

Enjoy the show!

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