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Online Safety for Children, Teens, and Families

This guide provides step-by-step tips for parents and guardians to proactively protect kids and teens from online risks and respond effectively when issues arise. It includes practical actions, recovery steps, and ongoing prevention strategies — with trusted resources to support your family’s digital safety journey.

Part 1: Proactive Protection Steps

Step 1: Create a Family Digital Safety Agreement

Set clear expectations for online behavior, privacy, and communication. Encourage kids to come to you with questions or concerns. Example: “If something online feels off or uncomfortable, you can always talk to me — no judgment.” Children need their parents’ help to make wise decisions online. The part of the brain responsible for judgment and decision-making isn’t fully developed until early adulthood. In today’s media-rich environment, children are often asked to make complex choices without the maturity or experience to do so — which can be overwhelming and risky.

Step 2: Strengthen Their Digital Defenses

Use parental controls and safe search settings. Enable privacy settings on social media and gaming platforms. Install security tools like ad blockers and content filters. Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on key accounts.

Step 3: Teach Red Flag Recognition

Is someone asking for personal info, money, or secrecy? Are they pressuring your child to act quickly or keep secrets? Is the message poorly written or from an unknown source?

Step 4: Review Devices and Accounts Together

Check app permissions and remove unused apps. Review friend lists and followers. Update passwords and use a password manager.

Step 5: Use Parental Controls Thoughtfully

Parental controls can help manage screen time, filter content, and monitor activity. It’s important to use them as part of an open conversation with your child. Let them know why controls are in place and encourage trust.
See: ConnectSafely Family Guide to Parental Controls – https://connectsafely.org/controls/ 

Helpful Resources

The following resources offer interactive tools, guides, and tips to help families stay safe online. They’re especially useful for engaging children and teens in conversations about digital safety.

Part 2: Ongoing Prevention & Education

Schedule regular “tech check-ins” to review apps, messages, and privacy settings. Watch short videos together on topics like scams, deepfakes, and online safety. Take a digital safety quiz as a family to spark discussion. Use trusted resources to stay informed and engaged.

Family Cyber Safety Checklist

Each item below includes a practical action and an explanation of why it matters.

• Set up a digital safety agreement
  Children need their parents’ help to make wise decisions online. The part of the brain responsible for judgment and decision-making isn’t fully developed until early adulthood. Agree with your parent or loved one that you'll help review suspicious emails, texts, or calls before they respond. This builds trust and creates a safety net to catch scams early.
• Enable spam filters and call blocking
  Spam filters reduce the number of scam emails that reach the inbox. Call blocking helps avoid robocalls and impersonation scams.
• Use strong, unique passwords and enable 2FA
  Weak or reused passwords are a common way scammers gain access to accounts. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection.
• Install browser security extensions
  Extensions like HTTPS Everywhere and ad blockers help prevent malicious websites and pop-ups from loading.
• Review privacy settings on social media
  Oversharing personal information (like birthdays, travel plans, or family names) can help scammers craft convincing phishing messages or impersonate loved ones.
• Print and post a Red Flag Checklist
  Having a visible reminder near a computer or phone helps older adults pause and think before responding to suspicious messages.
• Use Age Locks and Content Filters
  Enable age-appropriate content restrictions on devices, apps, and streaming platforms to block access to inappropriate websites, videos, and games.
• Set Privacy Settings on Apps and Platforms
  Review and adjust privacy settings to limit who can contact your child, view their content, or access their personal information.
• Use Monitoring Tools for Accountability
  Parental monitoring apps and dashboards help track activity and open the door for supportive conversations without being invasive.