9 online safety tips for kids, teens, and parents

Kids have more information at their fingertips than ever before. Mobile devices and computers are used daily, be it for gaming, streaming, scrolling socials, or even schoolwork. These devices aren’t going away anytime soon, and neither are the cybercriminals who want to scam and steal at any opportunity.

And with the near-constant use of mobile phones, tablets, and computers comes more research about how it’s affecting us. A recent study from the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) highlights how uneasy parents feel about their children’s internet safety.

While 76% reported feeling safe when online, only 54% of parents said the same about their kids' internet use. Parents pointed to concerns like predatory behavior, oversharing personal information, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate content as their main concerns.

Protecting your kids’ overall online safety may seem like an impossible battle to win, but for most families, it really comes down to a few simple habits. So, here are the best online safety tips to help keep your whole family safer online:

1. Tighten account security

Passwords are your primary defense against hackers. Yet many people reuse the same password across multiple accounts, and simple, easy-to-guess ones at that. Teach your kids to create stronger passwords by avoiding common words and phrases, and personal details like birthdays, phone numbers, or family names.

Some good rules of thumb for a strong password are:

• Use at least 15 characters. Length is key to good security.
• Aim for true randomization with no discernable pattern (numbers, capital letters, lowercase letters, symbols), which a good password manager can achieve.
• In lieu of a traditional password, aim for a passphrase with four or more random words (the more words, the better).

Where available, turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). This adds a second verification step, usually a one-time password sent to a phone, email, or generated by an authentication app, so a stolen password alone isn’t enough to log in. 2FA can also be biometric authentication like Face ID or fingerprints. For kids, this also means tying their accounts to a parent’s device for an extra layer of security.

How much responsibility your child takes should match their age (and level of judgment). For younger kids, it’s best to create and store passwords yourself. As they get older, shift toward teaching them how to manage passwords securely, recognize false login alerts, and create new accounts responsibly.

2. Educate your kids on the dangers of the internet

Before your kids start using the internet freely for the first time, be honest about what they may find, including your specific concerns like online predators and cyberbullying.

No, you don’t need to get into all the specifics of your 1990s chatroom activities. But teaching them to recognize suspicious social behaviors, avoid unsolicited messages and links, and understand what types of info they shouldn’t share publicly (and why) are important first steps to keeping kids safe online.

Here are a few tips to make these conversations easier and ensure your kids stay safe online:

• Start the conversation early, before your child has full and free access to connected devices.
• Explain the why behind each rule so that limits don’t feel arbitrary or too strict without a logical reason.
• Revisit expectations as your child gains more online freedom.
• Watch for red flags, such as sudden increases in screen time or secrecy around devices.

These online safety tips are particularly important if you have neurodivergent children. Clear rules and direct conversations can make online safety expectations easier to understand and follow.

3. Limit what information your family shares online

People can make their families vulnerable to identity theft and other dangers by disclosing personal information online without even realizing it. And a child’s identity and personal information can have as much value as an adult’s identity, sometimes more, if overshared. A simple birthday party photo of your child can indicate full name, date of birth, current age, and location.

And it’s not just parents who overshare their kids’ information (a phenomenon called sharenting). Grandparents, other trusted adults, and even kids themselves can share personal details publicly without realizing how easily a crook can piece that information together and misuse it.

Giving away personal details can lead to cyberstalking, or worse. It can also lead to identity theft, especially as creditors don’t verify age on credit applications. Your child would never know their data was compromised until they start an application of their own once they’re old enough.

Be clear with family members and other trusted adults to limit what information they share about your kids online. This includes:

• Date of birth.
• Address.
• Social Security number.
• Phone number.
• School.
• Extracurricular activities.
• Current location.
• Regularly-visited locations.

4. Tell children not to engage with strangers

Offline, you’ve likely already introduced the idea that strangers can be dangerous. Remind them that strangers exist on the internet, too, and they’re often harder to avoid. People who want to exploit children rarely announce themselves as adults. They often pretend to be kids, share similar interests, and start conversations in low-risk places, such as game chats and DMs.

In one case reported by the BBC, an online predator posed on Snapchat as a teenage boy, groomed 11 to 14-year-old girls, manipulated them into sharing private images and conversations, then blackmailed them in sextortion campaigns. Ultimately, he was charged in connection to 41 victims across the UK and US.

Your kids can be targeted even in seemingly-safe games like Roblox and Fortnite. These games include private messaging and voice chat functionality, making them as much social networks as they are online games.

According to FOSI, 89% of kids already report feeling comfortable approaching their parents when they feel unsafe online. But, it’s important to reinforce this behavior by regularly checking in on social media best practices and encouraging an open dialogue.

5. Keep family social media accounts private

Public photos of children can be saved, copied, altered, or reused in ways parents never intended. Once an image is public, you lose control over where it ends up.

Recently, the AI chatbot built by xAI, Grok, had to urgently fix safeguards in its GenAI system due to users generating exploitative images of minors. Many of these AI-altered images originated from publicly available photos of children.

Privacy settings matter for everyone in the family, not just kids. Even well-intentioned sharing can create risk when content is visible publicly on the internet. Set clear social media guidelines and privacy expectations with all family members who have access to your children.

6. Teach kids to spot phishing scams

You may be sophisticated enough to know not to click on a URL that looks like it’s from your bank or a friend, but are your kids? Many scams aimed at children don’t look threatening at all. Rather, they look like gifts, mistakes, or friendly messages.

For example, one parent reported to CNET that their child was pestered almost daily on Roblox for their login details so the scammer could send them a “gift.” The parents monitored the communication, reported it, and the messages ultimately stopped.

Two common phishing scams to bring up with kids are:

• Giveaway scams: These usually look like promises of free in-game currency, skins, or credits. All they have to do is log in, share account details, or click a link. Encourage them to ignore these.
• Wrong number scams: A wrong number scam message starts with something harmless like “Hey, is this Alex?” and slowly turns into a conversation that leads to requests for personal information or other shady stuff.

Also ensure you encourage them to bring suspicious messages to you without getting in trouble.

During your phishing education session, educate your kids on basic phishing protection tips, such as:

• Don’t click links or open files sent by strangers.
• Don’t respond to unexpected messages, even if they seem polite.
• Never share passwords or sign in codes with anyone, even your friends.

7. Keep privacy settings on

Web browsers, mobile operating systems, and social media channels all have settings to protect your privacy. Still, it’s up to you to adjust them to fit your family’s needs.

On devices and browsers, you can:

• Turn on Safe Search in search engines and browser apps.
• Limit app permissions, especially access to location, camera, microphone, contacts, and photos.
• Use built-in parental controls to restrict downloads and prevent changes to settings without approval.

On social media and gaming platforms, you can:

• Set child accounts to private and limit messages to approved friends only.
• Disable public comments, friend requests from strangers, and automatic activity or location sharing.
• Review voice chat and direct messaging features and turn them off unless there’s a necessary reason to keep them on.

As kids get older, you can start reviewing these settings together. This includes teaching them about privacy options and how to manage conversation settings.

8. Use Cyber Safety tools and parental controls

You can’t catch every problem just by talking to your kids. By monitoring their devices and online activity while they’re young, you can spot issues earlier, whether that’s contact with someone unknown, signs of cyberbullying, or exposure to content that’s not age-appropriate.

While many devices and apps come with basic parental controls, a dedicated online safety tool, such as Norton Parental Control, can give you more visibility. For example, you can:

• Block or limit risky websites.
• Choose which apps are appropriate for them to use.
• Manage screen time and enforce downtime automatically.
• Get reports on how much time your kids are spending on devices.
• Monitor location or device activity when needed.

And it also helps that you can do all of this from one app instead of setting up parental controls in multiple apps and device settings.

9. Watch for signs of cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is repeated harassment that happens digitally through phones, social media, games, or messaging apps. It can include insults, threats, rumors, exclusion from group chats, or even the sharing of embarrassing or manipulated images. And unlike offline bullying, it doesn’t stop when you leave school.

Unfortunately, this isn’t rare. A 2023 study from the Pew Research Center found that about 46% of U.S. adolescents have experienced at least one form of cyberbullying. And consequences can be major. In late 2024, a 12-year-old girl from Australia died by suicide after allegedly being targeted by relentless cyberbullying on social media.

While extreme outcomes like this are rare, they stress why early detection and intervention matter. Recent research from Current Psychology also found that cyberbullying victimization is positively associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms later on. Because kids don’t always say what’s happening, watch for changes in behavior and step in as soon as possible before lasting damage is done.

Common warning signs of cyberbullying victimization include:

• Mood swings, irritability, or sudden sadness.
• Withdrawal from family, friends, or activities they used to enjoy.
• Sudden changes in device use, such as avoiding their phone or obsessively checking it.
• Avoiding social settings, school, or group activities.

While not every change is a reason to worry, patterns like this can help you notice more about what’s going on in your child’s life — and head.

Help protect every member of your family

While the internet is rife with risk, it also houses many valuable resources, like virtual learning opportunities, apps that simplify everyday tasks, and messaging platforms that keep us in touch with loved ones. A good cybersecurity solution like Norton Family can help ensure your family stays enriched by the internet, without you needing to constantly look over your kids’ shoulders.

Use Norton Family to help monitor your kids’ activity and protect their devices from cyberthreats. Limit screen time, distractions, and access to unsafe content all from one app.

FAQs

How do I teach my child internet safety?

Teach your kids about internet safety with the same importance as physical safety. Explain the potential dangers they’ll face online and how people could try to steal information from them or get them to engage in risky behaviors. Clearly outline your rules, expectations, and consequences.

How should parents monitor what kids are on?

The easiest way to monitor your children’s online behavior is with a comprehensive cybersecurity suite that includes parental controls. Look for solutions that allow you to monitor everything from screen time to sites visited. The best parental control tools should also allow you to block certain activities and sites.

Should you look through your child's phone?

Before you even get to that point, set clear rules and expectations up front, such as explaining to them that, as their parent, you reserve the right to check their phone at any time if you’re questioning their online safety. This way, your expectation is clearly communicated and can help them understand that you’re concerned for their safety, not invading their privacy.

How do I limit my child’s internet time?

Many devices have parental controls that let you limit how much time your child spends online. Some security tools, like Norton Family, offer these features.