12/09/2025
Following the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University, you may come across online content that is distressing.
Online spaces should be safe for everyone. If you see violent, distressing or harmful material:
1️⃣ Don't share it further – even if your intention is to help or raise awareness, you may cause distress to others.
2️⃣ Report it to the platform to help get the material removed quickly.
3️⃣ If the material is not removed, or if it's seriously harmful, you can report it to eSafety: eSafety.gov.au/report
Your actions could protect you and others from seeing that content again. Find more guidance and information at: eSafety.gov.au/help-with-distressing-content
eSafety is engaging with platforms about this material and asking them to apply content warnings and labels to protect children or others who do not want to see it. For some of the most graphic material, we are assessing the material to determine what other steps may be appropriate. All online platforms have a responsibility to protect their users by quickly removing or restricting illegal harmful material.
👨👩👧👦 Parents and carers may want to take extra precautions against their children seeing disturbing content online. eSafety has a range of helpful resources on:
➡ Having agreed rules as a family: eSafety.gov.au/parents/resources/family-tech-agreement
➡ How to get started with parental controls: eSafety.gov.au/parental-controls
➡ What young people can do themselves: eSafety.gov.au/young-people/disturbing-content
🏫 Schools can circulate our guidance to their educators, wellbeing staff, and parents and carers. We can provide them with strategies to reduce the risk of children and young people being exposed to this content, and to support those who are. See our Toolkit for Schools: eSafety.gov.au/educators/toolkit-schools
If you or a child have seen disturbing content online, talking to someone can make it easier to decide what to do and how to deal with its impact. Get support: eSafety.gov.au/about-us/counselling-support-services
