How common is non-consensual tracking, monitoring and harassment among children in Australia?
eSafety surveyed 3,454 Australian children aged 10 to 171 years to determine the prevalence of online experiences and harms, including non-consensual tracking, monitoring and harassment2.
Key findings
We found a significant minority of children have experienced non-consensual tracking, monitoring and harassment
|
Trans and gender-diverse children are more likely to have ever experienced non-consensual tracking, monitoring or harassment
38%
of trans and gender-diverse children had at some point experienced non-consensual tracking, monitoring or harassment.
(20% had experienced this in the past 12 months.)3
|
Girls are more likely than boys to have ever experienced non-consensual tracking, monitoring or harassment
26%
of girls had experienced non-consensual tracking, monitoring or harassment at some point, compared with 23% of boys.
(17% of girls and 15% of boys had experienced this in the past 12 months.)
Experiences of non-consensual tracking, monitoring or harassment increase with age4
|
Children’s experiences of non-consensual tracking, monitoring or harassment
|
17%
had someone look through their phone (or another device) or their social media or read their messages without their permission.5
(11% in the past 12 months).
12%
had felt worried or scared because someone kept sending them messages, calling them or posting on their social media page, and they wouldn’t stop even when asked to.6
(6% in the past 12 months).
8%
had their exact real-time location tracked by someone using an app or a device without their permission.7
(4% in the past 12 months).
Notes
1 Part of a nationally representative survey of 3,454 children aged 10 to 17 years living in Australia between December 2024 and February 2025.
2 For more information about the methodology of the research, see the methodology report.
3 The smaller sample size for trans and gender-diverse children should be considered when interpreting these findings (n=83).
4 Arrows denote statistically significant differences between sub-groups. The proportion of children aged 13 to 15 and 16 to 17 who experienced non-consensual tracking, monitoring or harassment in the past 12 months didn’t differ significantly.
5 Source: H.1.1 Has anyone ever done either of these things to you online without your permission, making you feel uncomfortable, worried or scared? Important: If it was just someone like a parent or caregiver doing this to keep you safe, and you were comfortable with this, please answer ‘no’.
6 Source: H.1.2 Have you ever felt worried or scared because someone kept sending you messages, calling you or posting on your social media page and they wouldn’t stop, even after you asked them to? Only answer ‘yes’ if this unwanted contact went on for at least two weeks and if they tried to contact you at least 10 times. Important: If it was just messages or calls from friends or family that were a bit annoying, or things like spam or advertising, please answer ‘no’.
7 Source: H.1.1 Has anyone ever done either of these things to you online without your permission, making you feel uncomfortable, worried or scared? Important: If it was just someone like a parent or caregiver doing this to keep you safe, and you were comfortable with this, please answer ‘no’.
Helpful resources
eSafety’s Parents section has information for parents and carers, including information and advice about helping children stay safe online.
eSafety’s Kids and Young People sections provide useful information to help children and teens stay safe online.
Last updated: 01/07/2025