Is Your Child's Digital Life as Safe as You Think?

Is Your Child's Digital Life as Safe as You Think?

For children and young people, the internet is a normal part of everyday life. From playing online games and messaging friends to completing schoolwork and watching videos, technology provides opportunities to learn, communicate and explore.

However, as children spend more time online, they can also become exposed to risks that are not always obvious to parents and carers.

Cybersecurity for children is becoming increasingly important as more young people use online accounts, games and social media. Like adults, children have passwords and personal information that can be targeted by scams, hackers and other online threats.

With October marking Cyber Security Awareness Month, it is a good opportunity for families to review their online safety habits and make sure children know how to protect themselves.

1. Are your child's online accounts secure?

Many children have multiple online accounts, whether for gaming, social media, schoolwork or entertainment. Each of these accounts can contain personal information and may be vulnerable if not properly secured.

One of the most important things parents can do is help children create strong, unique passwords for their accounts.

Using the same password across different websites can create additional risks. If one account is compromised, someone may be able to use those login details to access others.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recommends using unique passwords and enabling two-step verification wherever possible.

Two-step verification adds an extra layer of security by requiring an additional check when signing in. This could be a code sent to a trusted device or confirmation through an authentication app.

Helping children understand these features early can encourage better online security habits as they grow older.

2. How much personal information is your child sharing online?

Children may not always realise how much information they reveal through social media, gaming profiles and online conversations.

Details such as their full name, school, location or daily routine can sometimes be shared without much thought. Even photos and videos may reveal information through backgrounds, location tags or visible landmarks.

Privacy settings can help control who sees a child's posts, sends them messages or accesses their profile.

Parents can review these settings together with their children, making sure accounts are appropriately private and that location-sharing features are only enabled when needed.

At Every Child Online, our Safe & Smart parental control guides provide practical advice for popular apps, games and devices, helping parents understand which settings they may want to adjust.

3. Would your child recognise an online scam?

Online scams are not limited to emails claiming to be from banks or delivery companies. Children and teenagers may also encounter scams through gaming platforms, social media and messaging apps.

These can include fake competitions, offers of free in-game currency, suspicious download links or messages pretending to come from someone they know.

Some scams attempt to steal account details, while others encourage children to make payments or download harmful software.

Teaching children to pause before clicking unfamiliar links, downloading files or sharing login details can help them recognise when something may not be genuine.

It is also important that they know what to do if they have already clicked something suspicious. Changing compromised passwords, checking account activity and speaking to a trusted adult can help limit further problems.

Our Safe & Smart phishing guide for parents explains common scams affecting young people and how families can respond.

4. Are parental controls enough to keep children safe?

Parental controls can be useful for managing how children use technology, but they are not a complete solution to online safety.

Depending on the device or platform, these settings can help restrict inappropriate content, manage spending, limit communication with unknown users and control screen time.

However, they cannot prevent every online risk, particularly as children begin exploring new apps and communicating more independently.

The NSPCC recommends combining safety settings with regular conversations about children's online experiences.

Rather than relying entirely on restrictions, parents can involve their children in reviewing settings and explaining why certain protections are in place.

This can help children understand online risks and develop the confidence to make safer decisions themselves.

5. Does your child know who to turn to when something goes wrong?

Even with appropriate security settings and online safety knowledge, children may still encounter situations that make them uncomfortable or worried.

This could involve receiving an upsetting message, being contacted by a stranger, experiencing online bullying or discovering that an account has been accessed without permission.

Children may sometimes hesitate to tell an adult, particularly if they are worried about getting into trouble or losing access to their favourite apps.

Having regular conversations about online experiences can help make these situations easier to discuss.

Parents do not need to understand every new platform or online trend to provide support. Asking children what they enjoy online, who they communicate with and whether anything has made them uncomfortable can be a useful starting point.

If something does happen, responding calmly and helping them work out what to do next is important.

Our Safe & Smart conversation guide provides practical advice for parents and carers on starting these discussions and supporting children through online difficulties.

Why is cybersecurity important for children?

Keeping children safe online is not about preventing them from using technology. It is about helping them develop the knowledge and confidence to recognise risks, protect their information and ask for help when they need it.

Small actions, such as reviewing privacy settings, improving account security and discussing suspicious messages, can make a difference to how children navigate the digital world.

Through Every Child Online's Safe & Smart programme, we provide online safety guidance for children aged 5–11, teenagers aged 12–17, and parents, carers and educators, covering topics including cybersecurity, online bullying, scams and digital wellbeing.

Whether you are looking for advice on a particular app or want to start a conversation about online safety, our resources are designed to help families make informed decisions.

Explore Safe & Smart's online safety resources for parents and carers and help your child build safer digital habits.