Helping your child stay safe online
Being online is great for helping children learn, play and stay in touch with others. But it also comes with risks.
Online safety needs can change as children grow. Younger children may need more supervision and controls, while older children benefit from open conversations and guidance to make safe choices independently.
Tips to keep children safe online
Be aware of common risks
Learn about common risks online and what to look out for. This can help you and your child notice if something is wrong.
Common risks online include:
- hurtful messages or posts, known as cyberbullying
- violent or sexual content
- being introduced to extreme ideas, known as radicalisation
- building trust with a child to exploit them, known as grooming
- being tricked into sharing personal information or sending money through scams or phishing
- gaming, such as chatting with strangers or in-game purchases
- interacting with AI chatbots or online tools that may give misleading, incorrect or inappropriate responses
You and your child can take a quick quiz about online safety.
Find out more about common online risks from Internet Matters.
Talk openly
Having open conversations with your child can help build their confidence in navigating the digital world. It’s important they feel able to tell you when they’re confused or upset.
Check in with your child regularly through relaxed conversations.
Setting boundaries can reduce your child’s exposure to online risks. Have a conversation and agree rules about:
- which devices they can use, such as a mobile phone or tablet
- what apps and websites they can visit
- the times they can be online and for how long
Find more tips for talking to your child about online safety from the NSPCC.
Use safety tools
Parental controls can help you limit, manage and monitor what your child can see or do online. They’re available on apps, devices (like phones and tablets) and home broadband (wifi).
Find out about parental controls, including how to set them, from Internet Matters.
Set social media boundaries
There are many social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X. These allow people to learn, communicate and share content. But they’re open to everyone and can pose a risk.
Many social media platforms have age restrictions. Make sure your child is only using platforms that are appropriate for their age.
Look at the privacy and location settings on their accounts. You can set them to control things such as:
- who can send friend requests
- who can see and comment on their posts
- time limits
Check in regularly about what they’re doing on social media and how they feel while using it. Explain the risks and reassure them that they can speak to you if something worries them.
Show them how to block other users and how to report harmful content.
Find out more about social media from the NSPCC.
Monitor online gaming
Online games can have many benefits, such as supporting creativity, teamwork and problem-solving.
But there are risks too. This includes:
- chatting with strangers or being contacted by people they do not know
- exposure to inappropriate language, bullying or harmful content
- pressure to share personal information or move conversations to other platforms, such as social media or texting
- unexpected in-game spending or purchases
- spending too much time gaming, which can affect sleep, mood or school
You can help your child stay safe by following the age ratings, setting parental controls, managing spending, and talking regularly about who they’re playing with and what they’re doing.
Find out more about safety with online gaming from Ygam.
Support children with additional needs
Being online can also have positive benefits: it can help with sensory regulation, provide a way to learn new skills, and support communication and social interaction.
Some children, including those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), may need more support to stay safe online. They may be more trusting, find it harder to recognise risks, or be more likely to engage with people they do not know online.
You can support them by:
- having regular, simple and clear conversations about what is safe and what is not
- using visual prompts or reminders about online rules
- checking in more frequently about who they’re talking to and what they’re doing online
- setting clear boundaries and using parental controls to reduce risks
Rather than stopping your child from going online, aim to guide and support them to use the internet safely and in a way that works for their needs.
If your child has specific needs, you may find it helpful to speak to their school or support worker for tailored advice.
Resources for online safety
Here are useful resources for advice and guidance about staying safe online:
You can also find resources to help build digital skills for everyone.
We can send you resources on specific topics by email or to your home address. Email us at digital.inclusion@camden.gov.uk to ask for this.
Easy Read
You can find an Easy Read version of online safety advice from Mencap.
What to do if something goes wrong
Ask your child to explain what happened, in as much detail as they can. Try to stay calm and listen to them. Reassure your child they are not in trouble and did the right thing by telling you. Then decide what to do next. You can help them block or report the user, and help them change any passwords if needed.
Report any serious concerns to the website, app, social media platform, your child’s school, or the police. Keep any evidence, such as screenshots of messages. You can report online fraud to the police's Report Fraud service.
Contact organisations such as NSPCC, Childline, UK Safer Internet Centre and Internet Matters if you want more support or advice.
Get help
If you would like help, visit one of our drop-in digital support sessions. You can bring your devices and we’ll help you set things up.
You can also speak to your Family Hub support worker, or the safeguarding lead or head teacher at your child’s school – they can signpost you to specific help.