Keeping Kids Safe Online: A Guide for Parents

Talking Is the Most Important Protection

Technology helps, but it can’t replace a conversation. Set rules together and explain why they exist. The key thing is this: your child should know they can come to you if something odd happens online—without fearing a phone ban.

Setting Up the First Phone

• Create a separate account for kids and use the parental‑control features of the operating system: age ratings, screen time limits, app purchases only with approval.
• Turn off in‑app purchases or lock them with a password only you know.
• Secure the phone with a PIN and disable location sharing in photos.
• Install apps only from the official app stores.

Games and Chats

• Many games have chat rooms with strangers. Configure them so only friends can write, or disable chat altogether.
• Explain that strangers often pretend to be younger than they really are.
• Never send photos, home address, school, or phone number to unknown people—and never meet anyone without parental consent.
• Gifts, in‑game currency, or “help leveling up” from strangers are often bait.

Social Networks

• Check the platform’s minimum age requirement.
• Set profiles to private so only confirmed friends can see posts.
• Discuss together what to post: once something is on the internet, it’s hard to take it back.
• Before sharing photos, verify they don’t reveal your location—our photo‑check tool flags hidden geotags.

Spotting Scams

Kids are also targets for scammers: fake contests, “free” in‑game currency in exchange for login details, or messages like “Hi, I’m your new friend.” Our phishing quiz is a great way to practice spotting these tricks together.

If Something Happens

• Stay calm, listen, and avoid blaming.
• Preserve evidence: screenshots of messages and profiles.
• Block and report the person in the app.
• If there’s harassment, extortion, or sexual‑related images, contact the police immediately.

On the Go?

On the school bus, in cafés, or at the pool, kids often use open Wi‑Fi. A VPN encrypts the connection so no one on the same network can eavesdrop. Strong, unique passwords are equally important—ideally created together with our password generator.