While your child may not always share everything they do, establishing clear and open communication with them early on increases the likelihood of them reaching out with questions. 

Being non-judgmental and considering potential consequences when they come to you with questions can help foster a strong relationship with your child and prevent potential safety issues.

As a parent, you might feel like you don’t know enough about the internet or social media platforms. Try to educate yourself where you can and ask your child to educate you about the things you might not understand. This builds trust both ways and can lead to conversations you may not have had with your child before. Don’t shy away from the discussion or ignore the issue. By knowing more about the platforms your child is using, you can help protect them online.

In the online world, just like in the real world, there are potential risks when interacting with people. While most people are online to have fun or connect with loved ones, some may try to obtain money, information, or share inappropriate content.

Teaching your children about the importance of strong password protection, the significance of changing their passwords regularly, and the risks of engaging with unknown individuals online can significantly reduce the likelihood of safety breaches.

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 associated with every device in your home or any device your child can access when they're away from home. You can set up parental controls for each specific device, your home WiFi networks, and streaming services by using software that's designed for family devices. Additionally, you can establish barriers for in-app purchasing. By doing so, you can block, filter, or monitor your child's online activities, prevent them from accessing adult or explicit content and protect them from phishing scams or overspending with linked credit or debit cards.

Most social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X, require users to be at least 13 years old. If your child is of this age or above, ensure they understand the implications and responsibility of sharing their photos and information online. Setting profiles to private and screening any friend requests can help minimise risks online.  

It's important to educate children about the potential dangers of sharing photos, videos, or personal information online. These actions can lead to issues such as identity theft and loss of personal funds. Children should understand that anything shared online can become permanent, even if it is only shared with friends or for a brief period of time. This awareness can help them think before sharing anything online.

No amount of parental monitoring can compare to educating your child on how to identify negative online content. If children can learn to question the information they see online, pause and think before taking any action, this can greatly improve their online safety. Remind your child that they can chat with you or ask any questions about anything they see online.

It's important to know who your child is interacting with online so that you can encourage safe behavior and understand when and where you may need to intervene. Encourage your child to only interact with people they know in real life and explain the dangers of people pretending to be someone else online.

If you are unsure about what to do or have questions about online safety, consider reaching out to friends and family for advice. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can speak to a support person at Parent Line NSW or find more information on the eSafety website for the help you need.

If your child has been exposed to something that makes them feel uncomfortable, encourage them to seek support from a service such as Kids Helpline.