While your child may not always share everything they do, establishing clear and open communication early increases the likelihood of them asking questions when they need.  

Being non-judgmental when they have questions can help foster a strong relationship with your child and prevent potential online safety issues. 

As a parent, you might feel you don’t know enough about the internet or social media. Try to educate yourself where you can and ask your child about areas you might not understand. This builds trust both ways and opens the door for important conversations.  

Don’t shy away from difficult conversations or ignore the issue. By knowing more about the platforms your child is using, you can help protect them online.

Being online, just like face-to-face interaction, hold potential risk. While most people are online to have fun or connect with loved ones, some people may try to obtain:  

• money  
• personal information 
• inappropriate content. 

Teach your child the importance of:  

• strong passwords 
• changing their passwords regularly 
• recognising suspicious activity 
• not sharing personal information.

While discussing safety online, it is a good opportunity to talk to your child about being respectful online. See Emerging topics- Bullying and Emerging topics - consent for more information.

As a parent, it's important to be aware of the potential risks with devices in your home. Filtering, monitoring or blocking content can happen through:  

• specific devices, for example phones or laptops  
• home Wi-Fi networks 
• streaming services 
• in-app purchases.

This can help prevent scams or unwanted spending. 

It is important to explain to your child why you are setting parental controls and let them know you’re available when they need if they have questions.

Most social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X, require users to be at least 16 years old.  

If your child is 16 years or above, ensure they understand the implications and responsibility of sharing their photos and personal information online. Setting profiles to private and screening friend requests helps minimise risk online.   

Social media users can also ‘reset suggested content’. This allows users to refresh their suggested content, showing new content based on new interactions.

Teach your child to question what they see online and think before sharing or acting. Being cautious can greatly improve their online safety.  

Remind your child they can ask you any questions about things they see online.

It's important to know who your child interacts with online. Encourage your child to connect with people they know in real life and help explain that not everyone online is who they appear to be. 

If you’re unsure how to respond to your child about online safety issues, there are support services you can reach out to: 

• Parent Line NSW  
• eSafety website  

If your child has encountered something upsetting online, encourage them to seek support from a service such as Kids Helpline.