A Guide to Internet Safety for Kids in 2025

Three of the most important things you can do to keep your kids safe on the internet are:

1. Build a trusting relationship with them so they're not afraid to discuss things that happen online with you.
2. Prioritize open communication and regularly talk with them about the latest online threats and their dangers
3. Set clear boundaries around device use and find ways to view age-appropriate online content together.

• Use only apps and platforms with verified parental controls and strong reputations.

• Supervise internet access and teach basic online safety rules, like not clicking on unknown links or accepting friend requests from strangers.

• Use parental controls to filter content; only allow access to vetted websites and apps.

• Keep devices in shared spaces, and teach kids about 'safe strangers' online. 

• Start conversations early about digital footprints, encouraging them to be cautious about sharing personal information and pictures online.

• Teach them how to recognize red flags, like too-good-to-be-true friendships and pressure to keep secrets.

• Engage in deeper discussions on critical thinking and social dynamics like cyberbullying, peer pressure, and misinformation.

• Encourage critical thinking by asking, 'Why do you think this post/person is trustworthy?'

• Limit your child's social media use until they're mature enough to understand the implications, and use monitoring tools that can flag potentially harmful messages.

• Set clear boundaries for social media use, but avoid outright bans, as this can lead to secrecy.

• Keep the conversation open. At this age, it's not enough to simply block content; instead, explain why things are risky and how they can protect themselves.
• High schoolers benefit from developing resilience, understanding their online reputation, and striking a balance between online and offline life.
• Teens need autonomy, but parents should stay informed about their apps and groups, discussing digital footprints, sexting risks, and how algorithms can manipulate emotions.
• Encourage breaks to promote positive mental health.

1. Be clear about the danger: While it can be hard to talk to your kids about scary subjects like online predators, it's important that they know what's out there.

Discussing what behavior to expect from new and familiar people can keep them safe. Fostering a healthy suspicion of new people online can keep them skeptical if a friendly stranger reaches out to them. It's also important to make them aware of fake images and accounts generated by AI and to teach them how to spot them.⁵

2. Guide online behaviors: Don't let kids go online or use social media alone until they understand the basics of online etiquette and the risks associated with oversharing. 

Without that foundation, they may share personal information, images, and details with strangers, putting themselves at risk. Boundaries, such as asking permission before accepting or sending friend requests, are a good start for staying involved in your child's online life.

Social media has not been proven safe for teens and children, so it's essential to exercise caution when allowing social media use too early and to prioritize in-person relationships with genuine friends.

4. Monitor online activity: Use a shared email account for your kids' online profiles, and if your family has a desktop, keep it in a common room.

Screen time limits and blocked websites for their own devices can keep them in safe online areas or at least under your digital wing until they're old enough to go online on their own.  

3. Rein in camera use: With cameras widely available on phones and other devices, it's important to monitor the types of images your kids send and receive online.

Limit access to a camera until they have a firm understanding of what images are safe to share and receive online. Help them understand that once an image is online, it's there forever—no takebacks.

5. Keep kids out of dangerous places: Talk about the risks of direct messaging, chatrooms, and social networks, and set up rules and time limits if you allow your kids to use them. Always follow age restrictions for websites and apps.

6. Don’t let your guard down: Unfortunately, even “safe” places still require vigilance. There are kid-focused games and websites where predators may pose as children.

Consider limiting your kids' online communication to people they've met in person to narrow any potential risk.

7. Install parental control software: Parental control apps, such as Qustodio, can be used to protect multiple children in your household across multiple devices. This ensures kids can only access age-appropriate content and blocks dangerous sites and apps, whether on their phone, tablet, or computer. Make sure to also take advantage of parental controls within gaming consoles and streaming apps to restrict content by age, set screen time limits, and control settings for chat and web browser features.

• Cut off communication with the predator.
• Change online credentials, including screen names, usernames, and passwords.
• Save screenshots or copies of messages and images from the predator.
• Report the activity to website administrators and law enforcement.
• Seek professional help for your child as appropriate.
• Let your child know it’s not their fault.

• Don't share personal information like addresses, phone numbers, school names, sports club names, or credit card information online.
• Ask an adult before sending or accepting friend requests and messages from strangers.
• Be picky about the photos you share online. You can't control what other people do with them or who they may share them with.
• Be suspicious of links, attachments, and gifts strangers send online. Don't accept anything from a stranger, and never click on a link from an unknown source. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 
• Never agree to meet strangers alone IRL, even if they claim to be a kid too.
• Don't hesitate to ask your parents or another trusted adult for help. You may feel embarrassed at first, but they can help you more than anyone.

1. Teach kids how to navigate the internet: "Mature" websites featuring violent or sexual content can often be a gateway to malware, viruses, and other cyberthreats, not to mention the impact of seeing such content. Talk about proper online etiquette, how to enter safe search terms, how to identify a secure website (https), and when to ask an adult for help.

2. Let kids know what to watch for: Teach them that bad stuff can come from many sources, including email and direct messages. Talk about inappropriate websites, pop-up ads, and when and where it’s okay to click on something (when in doubt, do NOT click).

It also helps to know a little about their world, too. Learn more about favorite games and activities that are popular with your kids and their classmates. If you find these things inappropriate, it's worth discussing with your kids why you're concerned. 

3. Explain email safety: Make sure kids know not to click on things or open attachments in emails and not to respond to messages from people they don’t know. Have them ask an adult before they download anything. Phishing affects everyone online, so be sure you and your kids know the basics.

4. Set up firewalls and content blockers: Utilize the built-in safety applications that come with your devices and consider adding more for extra security. Block all websites that aren’t rated safe for children. Use a content filter or firewall that is designed to protect children from harmful content.

5. Be prepared: Have a plan in place in case your child is exposed to graphic content online. Know what the proper responses are so you can focus on helping your child manage their feelings.

6. Use phones built for tweens and teens: Consider getting a kids phone (ages 12-18) with built-in protections like parental controls, social media monitoring, and limits on internet and app access. 

1.Be aware of the warning signs of child identity theft

• Over 1.25 million children in the US were ID theft victims in 2021.
• Just like adult identity theft, there will be signs if your child's identity is stolen.
• Don't respond to phishing messages via email or text, and teach your children the same behavior. 
• Once your teen is old enough to create their own social media accounts (likely in high school), ensure they understand the importance of keeping their accounts private and not accepting follower requests or responding to messages from unknown online profiles.
• Teach your teens and tweens about catfishing, pig butchering, and other romance scams, and how to avoid online scams.
• Teach your teens and tweens how to identify legitimate websites to prevent information theft while shopping and gaming online.
• Watch the mail for credit card bills and pre-approvals under your child's name. Some parents have even received notices from the IRS! If the thieves are especially bad, your child's name may be passed on to debt collectors.¹³

2. What can parents do about child identity theft?

Our resident cybersafety expert, Pete Canavan, recommends a few proactive measures. 

• Start by signing up your family for identity theft protection with a credit monitoring service.
• For children under 16, be sure to put a freeze on all three credit reporting agencies and bank account systems.¹⁴
• Freeze utility accounts if they exist with the National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange. 
• Be sure to store your child's important documents in a safe place and shred any that are no longer needed.
• When your child passes along an old electronic device to a sibling or friend, or if they sell or donate it, be sure it's been completely wiped of any identifying information.  
• Get a password manager to keep online accounts secure and protected from security breaches (i.e., if the login from another site is compromised, then your other accounts remain safe because they use a different login password).

Learn more:

• The Best Internet Safety Tools for Families

3. If your child has been a victim of identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.