Next week our Cybsersaftey Agents I and T have an important message to share with students and they are doing this through the story "The Fabulous Friend Machine."

Popcorn is a highly social chook with friends all over the farm and a vibrant social life. Everyone loves Popcorn. Then, one day in the chook house, she discovers a strange, glowing screen. It says, “Hello!” and she pecks “Hello!” right back. It’s a fabulous friend machine! Before long, Popcorn is spending all her time chatting on the screen with her new best mates and no time playing with her old farmyard friends… The Fabulous Friend Machine is a sweet cautionary tale about what can happen when you spend too much time online and aren’t careful about who you befriend.

Their key messages for students are:

• Make sure you balance screen time with other fun activities.
• Stay on sites that Mum and Dad approve.
• Limit the time you spend on devices.
• Don’t believe everything you see.
• Don’t talk to strangers.

We encourage you to continue these messages at home so our children can use technology in a safe and healthy manner.