Online scams worry 53% in survey
Online scams are becoming harder to spot for 53% of Australians, according to a nationally representative Good Things Australia survey of 2,000 adults.
Only 30% said they felt confident they could avoid scams online. Just 31% felt able to tell reliable information from unreliable information online, while 28% felt confident managing privacy and safety settings.
The findings come as the Australian Government develops its proposed Digital Duty of Care. An exposure draft released in the week of 15 September 2026 would require online services to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harms to Australians.
Good Things Australia wants adults with lower digital confidence, especially older people, included as the reforms take shape. Much of the recent online safety debate has focused on children and young people.
Chief executive Jess Wilson said: “When more than half of Australians say scams are getting harder to spot, we can’t put all of the responsibility back on the individual.”
Banking, government services, appointments and everyday communication are moving online. However, the survey suggests many adults do not feel equipped to manage the risks that come with that shift.
More than one in five respondents, or 22%, said they wanted more education on how to stay safer online. Another 29% said rapid technological change left them feeling overwhelmed.
The research also found 22% needed help to keep up with digital change, while 23% said they had no choice but to do everything online. Those results point to pressure on people who lack confidence with basic online tasks.
Artificial intelligence was another gap. While 36% wanted to learn more about AI, only 27% said they currently felt confident using it.
Get Online Week runs 19 to 25 October
Get Online Week 2026 will run across Australia from 19 to 25 October. The free community events will offer practical help with spotting scams, staying safer online and understanding AI.
Good Things Australia is using the program to support adults who need more digital skills. The organisation said 97% of people who took part in Get Online Week 2025 reported learning something new.
