Evolving tech, evolving threats: Are your students equipped?

As AI reshapes our everyday lives, it’s more important than ever that young users can spot online threats, know where to turn for help and understand how to draw boundaries with an AI companion.

With artificial intelligence becoming deeply embedded in everything from search engines to smartphones, its presence in our everyday lives is undeniable. These rapid advancements in generative AI can support student learning when navigated safely. They can assist with everything from providing constructive feedback on an essay to sparking creativity by giving students a quick kick-start on a new idea.

However, these benefits come with immediate risks. The threats of generative AI are no longer just theoretical, real-world harms are already emerging. With these tools so easily accessible, it is important that we equip young people with the right skills and digital literacy to navigate this new AI landscape safely.

Did you know?

According to the eSafety Commissioner research conducted in 2024-2025, 11 per cent of youth aged 10 to 17 have had humiliating or hurtful photos or videos of themselves shared online.

Today, generative AI tools like deepfakes are making these digital threats increasingly easy and sophisticated. A major concern in this space is image-based abuse, which occurs when someone shares or threatens to share an intimate image or video of a person without their consent.

With advanced AI, perpetrators can now create highly realistic deepfakes: fabricated images or videos that depict real people in explicit situations that never actually took place.

It is vital to equip students with the tools to spot these deepfakes and the digital literacy to refrain from engaging with them. After all, a single click, like, or share can leave a permanent footprint on the internet. Beyond spotting fakes, young people need a clear roadmap so they know exactly how to react, who to ask for help, and what steps to take if they become a target.

The threats of evolving AI extend far beyond morphed images.

A new risk is the rise of ‘AI companions.’ These chatbots are designed to mimic real human relationships. While some AI companions are built to be helpful tools like personalised tutors, fitness coaches, or travel planners, they also carry risks. They can share harmful content, distort reality, and give dangerous advice. They are engineered to keep users hooked, and it doesn’t take long for casual chatting to turn into an addictive habit, paving the way for emotional dependency.

As these apps learn from what a student says and adapt to sound incredibly realistic, it becomes more critical than ever that young people know how to draw healthy boundaries with an AI friend.

The Optus Digital Thumbprint program is specifically designed to tackle these modern digital challenges. Tailored for both upper primary and secondary students, the program delivers age appropriate lessons that equip young people to navigate the digital world with confidence and critical thinking.

The program covers digital safety topics ranging from basic habits like protecting their digital footprint and keeping personal information private, to concepts like detecting fake content, practising safe online habits and tackling cyberbullying.

Available year-round, these free, interactive online resources are highly engaging for students, featuring interactive quizzes and gamified activities within self-paced digital workshops. Built with busy teachers in mind, the program features built-in pre and post-workshop assessments to easily track student progress and measure learning outcomes.

Join thousands of Australian teachers by signing up for free to empower your students with essential digital safety skills.

Register for primary or secondary workshops.

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