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4 tips for keeping your teen safe online

Teenagers are spending more and more time online. From group chats for school projects to watching TikTok videos, teens have more ways to connect with each other than ever before. But this brings risks with it. Being reachable all the time, anywhere can put young people at risk of bullying, grooming, or even just heightened peer pressure. Social media bans for under-16s have been floated, but are unlikely to take effect. So how can parents keep their children safe in such an unpredictable environment? We’ve put together a list of tips.

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Open up

A teenager speaks to their mum while holding a phone, sitting at a desk or dining table.

Open up

When your child feels safe to talk about what they’re experiencing online, they’re more likely to open up. By creating a space where they can come to you when they’re ready and not feel judged, you can learn more about what might be bothering them and how you can keep them safe.

Open up

You’d also be able to point out potential signs of danger, like pupils leaving mean comments on their posts or people they don’t know sending them friend requests. 

By having these open conversations, you can also tell them what might be on your mind. Privacy settings, the content they’re exposed to, or what sort of information about their lives they’re posting online. Your child might come to you about message exchanges they’ve had, or the type of content they’ve been engaging with. If they know that you’re coming from a place of understanding instead of blame or judgement, you can work constructively to improve their experience online.

Get involved

If you don’t engage with the social media platforms your child uses, you might struggle to understand what the real risks are. Set up your own accounts and befriend your child if they feel comfortable. Pay attention to the kind of content you’re seeing, and how the algorithm works. When you engage with a post, do you start to see more on the same topic? 

Make a note of any users or content you’re concerned about and bring them up to your child when you have open conversations. Make sure you’re not blaming them if they have engaged with that content, but simply point out the risks in an understanding, compassionate way.

Girl at bus stop on mobile phone

Understanding online grooming

We're spreading the word about online safety, to help prevent children from being groomed online while still enabling them to express their creativity and individuality. Learn more tips about keeping your child safe online.

Set boundaries together

Set boundaries together

Most social media platforms offer customisable privacy settings. When young people feel like a breach of the rules would get them in trouble, they might choose to hide it. By setting the boundaries together, you can come to an agreement where your child feels listened to and involved. It will also make them feel more confident to come to you if anything goes wrong. 

A teenager sits with their mum on a sofa, looking at their phone together.

Discuss their aims

With the rise of influencers on social media, teens are starting to try and grow public followings at younger and younger ages. Some children as young as nine have posted ‘get ready with me’ videos on TikTok. If your child wants to become an influencer, consider asking them the following questions: 

  • Do you understand that anybody can follow and view your content? 
  • Are you aware of how your content might get misused? (some examples include stalking, grooming, and training for AI models) 
  • Would it perhaps be better to wait until you’re 18? Talk about options between now and then, such as some free online video editing courses, to make it feel like the wait is worthwhile. 
  • If your child is below the age of 18 but having a social media account is necessary for work such as acting, become a co-admin on their accounts and monitor their DMs, comments, and replies. You can separately ensure that they have privacy on their personal, private social media. 

 The internet can feel daunting, especially for parents who want nothing more than to keep their children safe. But by understanding what the risks are and communicating openly with your teen, you can help make it possible for them to enjoy their time online, and feel safe while doing so.

Author: Tarini Tiwari