6 Essential Tips for Parents to Safeguard Children Online

Finding the right balance between monitoring and giving freedom is key to keeping your child safe online.

1. Teach Internet Safety Rules Early

As soon as your child learns to open a browser, introduce them to essential internet safety guidelines. Explain that the online world can pose risks such as scams, bullying, or even harm to their devices, but following simple rules can prevent these dangers. Key rules include:

• Avoid making any purchases, including in-app transactions.
• Never download music, games, apps, books, or other content from unverified websites.
• Do not communicate with strangers on messaging apps or social networks—even if they claim to be children, they might be adults.
• Keep personal information private: home address, phone number, parents' income, or school name.
• Refrain from posting revealing photos or sharing geolocation, especially if taken at home or school.

Educational games like "SafeSurf" and "CyberSmart" help teenagers aged 12 and up learn about internet safety and handling cyberbullying. Younger children can play these games with parents or teachers for guidance.

Liya Sharova
Internet safety expert and founder of the "Stop Threat" security school.

The longer parents can support their children in exploring the internet responsibly—such as creating social media profiles, posting photos, updating antivirus software, and playing games—the better.

2. Encourage Open Communication About Suspicious Content

Research shows that one in five children aged 12–13 do not seek help when experiencing cyberbullying, and only 17% talk to their parents about it.

To ensure your child feels comfortable sharing concerns about friends, bullies, inappropriate photos, or messages, foster a trusting and non-judgmental relationship. Children are more likely to open up if they know they won’t be criticized.

Kids often hide information because they fear parental reactions like anger, internet restrictions, or arguments. Calm and friendly communication is essential to protect them from real harm.
Liya Sharova.

Inform your child that if they face online problems, they can contact the "Children Online Support" helpline at 1-800-250-0015, available weekdays from 9 AM to 6 PM EST for psychological and informational assistance.

3. Allow Device Use Only in Shared Spaces

Avoid hovering but encourage your child to use gadgets in common areas where you can see their screens. If they resist, explain this is for their safety.

4. Implement Parental Controls on Home Devices

According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Education Center, 62% of children aged 9–15 access adult websites via search engines, 21% watch adult videos, 31% lie about their age online, and 20% deliberately seek adult content.

While you can’t control every device your child uses, securing home devices is vital. To do this:

• Install reliable antivirus software.
• Use parental control programs.
• Enable safe search filters in browsers.
• Set up child-friendly browsers like "Kidoz" or "Gogul".
• Allow access only to child-appropriate websites, such as those with ".kids" domains.
• Install kid-friendly apps like YouTube Kids or streaming platforms with parental controls.

Completely shielding children from adult content is nearly impossible as they often bypass restrictions and share content at school. By third or fourth grade, many are already aware of topics like pornography and drugs.
Liya Sharova.

5. Connect on Social Media Thoughtfully

Social networks offer insight into your child’s interests and feelings, helping maintain open communication. Add them as a friend, share links, and like their posts. Avoid criticizing their friends or pages, and don’t overwhelm them with comments, as discomfort may lead them to create secret accounts.

Being friends with your child online helps you stay informed about their world. Watch their favorite YouTubers together and know who they interact with.
Liya Sharova.

6. Respect Privacy: Don’t Read Messages Without Permission

Reading your child’s private messages without consent violates their trust and privacy. Show respect by refraining from this. If controlling urges are strong, consult a psychotherapist to build a trusting relationship instead.

Yana Fedulova
Psychologist, PhD.

Accessing your child’s messages without permission can severely damage trust, with consequences worse than the content you might find.

If you accidentally read their messages, focus only on content that poses real danger, such as discussions about fights, drug offers, invitations from strangers, or intimate photos. If you find such content, calmly apologize for invading privacy and explain the risks involved, maintaining a supportive atmosphere no matter how difficult it is.

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