8 Things Every Parent Should Know About Online Safety for Children in 2025

Keeping children safe online feels like trying to hit a moving target sometimes. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on TikTok, along comes another app you’ve never heard of. Whether you’re raising your own children or you are a foster carer, the challenge remains the same: how do you protect children without wrapping them in digital cotton wool?

It’s not about becoming a tech expert overnight. It’s about building trust, setting boundaries, and staying one step ahead of potential problems. These eight insights will help you create a safer online space for the children in your care.

1. Start Conversations Early and Keep Them Going

Your five-year-old doesn’t need a smartphone to encounter the internet. They’re already bumping into it through tablets, smart TVs, even Alexa. Waiting until they get their first phone is like teaching them to swim after they’ve already jumped in the deep end.

Start simple. “We don’t tell strangers our real names online” works for a six-year-old. “Some people online aren’t who they say they are” makes sense to an eight-year-old. Foster children often arrive with patchy digital experiences, making these early chats even more important. You’re not trying to scare them; you’re building their digital common sense.

Keep these conversations flowing. Weekly check-ins work better than monthly lectures. Ask about their favourite games, who they’re chatting with, what videos they’ve watched. Make it normal, not interrogational.

2. Privacy Settings Change More Often Than Your Socks

Last month’s privacy settings might be this month’s security nightmare. Social media platforms love their updates, and they rarely make things more private by default. They want engagement, not protection.

Instagram, TikTok, Discord, they all work differently. Spend twenty minutes every few weeks checking settings. Yes, it’s boring. Yes, it’s worth it. Look for options to restrict who can message your child, who can see their posts, and whether their location gets shared.

Gaming consoles need attention too. Xbox Live and PlayStation Network have surprisingly detailed parental controls. Use them.

3. Teach Children to Spot the Warning Signs

Predators don’t jump straight to harmful requests. They’re patient. They build relationships. They make children feel special, understood, different from their peers. “Don’t tell your parents about our friendship” should ring alarm bells. So should requests for photos, personal information, or moving conversations to private platforms.

Role-play these scenarios. It feels awkward, but it works. “What would you do if someone online asked for your address?” “How would you respond if someone wanted to meet you in person?” Foster children can be particularly vulnerable here, as they’re often seeking connection and validation.

Don’t make them paranoid but make them prepared.

4. Create Tech-Free Spaces

Your dinner table doesn’t need Wi-Fi commentary. Your child’s bedroom doesn’t need a 24/7 connection to their social circle. Tech-free zones give everyone a break and create opportunities for real conversations.

We’ve all seen families sitting together, each staring at their own screen. It’s easy to fall into that trap. Charging stations outside bedrooms help children sleep better and reduce late-night scrolling sessions.

These boundaries work particularly well for foster carers fostering in Liverpool. Consistent routines around technology help create stability when everything else might feel uncertain for a child.

5. Monitor Smart, Not Sneaky

There’s a difference between being involved and being invasive. Checking your ten-year-old’s messages? Reasonable. Reading your sixteen-year-old’s private conversations with friends? Problematic.

Find monitoring tools that alert you to genuine problems rather than tracking every click. Many parents prefer solutions that flag concerning conversations or inappropriate content rather than recording everything.

Regular device checks work well too. “Let’s look through your apps together” shouldn’t feel like a police investigation. Make it routine, make it collaborative.

6. Learn the Platforms (You Don’t Need to Master Them)

You don’t need to become a TikTok influencer to understand TikTok risks. But you should know that direct messaging exists, that live streaming happens, and that content can go viral quickly.

Each platform has different dangers. Snapchat’s disappearing messages appeal to teens but worry parents. Discord’s voice chat creates connection opportunities and grooming risks. Instagram’s Stories feature can expose children to inappropriate content from accounts they don’t follow.

Most platforms publish parent guides. Read them. They’re usually more helpful than asking your teenager to explain (though that’s worth trying too).

7. Plan for When Things Go Wrong

They will go wrong. Your child will see something disturbing, receive unwanted contact, or make a poor decision online. Your reaction in those moments shapes whether they’ll come to you next time.

“Why were you on that website?” sounds like blame. “That must have been scary, what happened next?” sounds like support. Children who fear punishment stop reporting problems. Children who expect help keep communicating.

Have a clear plan for serious incidents. For cyberbullying, inappropriate contact, and exposure to harmful content, you need to know what steps you’ll take before you need to take them.

8. Stay Current (Without Losing Your Mind)

Online threats evolve faster than school uniform policies. New apps appear monthly. Scammers adapt their tactics constantly. You can’t keep up with everything, but you can keep up with the basics.

Follow a couple of reputable online safety organisations. Join parent groups that discuss digital issues. Many local authorities run online safety workshops, and they’re worth attending.

Foster care agencies often provide additional resources for digital safety, particularly for children who’ve experienced online exploitation. Use these resources.

Don’t feel pressure to understand every new trend immediately. Focus on maintaining open communication and clear principles that work across all platforms.

Intelligent Management

Online safety isn’t about eliminating risk; it’s about managing it intelligently. Children need digital skills for their futures, but they also need protection while they’re developing those skills.

The most effective approach combines education, supervision, and support. Children who trust their parents or carers are more likely to seek help when they need it. Whether you’re raising your biological children or providing foster care, building that trust creates the foundation for lifelong digital safety.

Start where you are, use what you know, and adjust as you learn. You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to be present and engaged.