Netsafe says a rise in reports relating to the Harmful Digital Communications Act shows the importance of having a "united response" when it comes to protecting Kiwis from experiencing online harm.
The organisation says it has recently seen a 24 percent increase in harmful digital communication reports compared to the same time frame a year ago.
"The blurred line between our online and offline lives is nearly erased, with the internet becoming crucial to the way we work, learn, and live," says Netsafe CEO Martin Cocker.
"This makes online safety relevant to everybody."
Netsafe is hosting the country's first-ever online safety week between July 26-30. Cocker says the week is about raising awareness of the need to be savvy in protecting yourself online.
"Personal experiences of harmful digital communications are on the rise, losses to cybercrime and scams continue to mount, and surging levels of misinformation is undermining trust across society."
Cocker says although many people have a misconception online safety is just an issue for the very young or the very old, it actually affects Kiwis of all ages.
People aged between 22 and 40 years old made up 37 percent of all reports the organisation has dealt with in the past year, he said.
"One of the things we are observing is an increase in the number of people coming to us who have been harmed by digital communications, but whose experience falls narrowly outside the provisions of the Harmful Digital Communications Act," Cocker said.
"Our team works hard to find solutions and provide advice for any person harmed online – but it is important to recognise the gaps that exist in the system today and how complex the online environment is. It is clear more needs to be done to develop safety technology, regulation, and education - and Netsafe is committed to playing our part."
