Online Safety: Parents
The online world changes quickly. The apps and websites below are commonly used by children and young people. They can be positive when used safely, but they also carry risks such as contact from strangers, unsuitable content, pressure from group chats, location sharing, online bullying, spending money and too much screen time. We encourage parents and carers to talk regularly with children about what they do online, check privacy settings and use parental controls where appropriate.
The most important safety step is regular conversation. Ask your child what they enjoy online, who they talk to, what they would do if something worried them and whether they know how to block and report. Children are more likely to ask for help when they know they will be listened to calmly. The NSPCC and Internet Matters both provide clear guidance for parents on online safety, privacy settings and parental controls.
| Website or App | What it is used for | Notes | Parent set up guide |
| YouTube | Videos, music, gaming clips, tutorials, Shorts and entertainment | YouTube is one of the most used platforms by children. Children may start by watching harmless videos but can be led to unsuitable content through recommendations or autoplay. Parents should use YouTube Kids for younger children, set up a supervised account, turn on Restricted Mode and regularly check watch history. Talk to your child about not believing everything they see in videos, especially “advice”, challenges, pranks and influencer content. | YouTube Help |
| Snapchat | Messaging, photo sharing, video sharing, streaks, stories and location sharing | Snapchat is popular because messages can disappear, which can make it harder for parents to see what has happened. Children may feel pressure to keep “streaks” going. Parents should check privacy settings, turn off location sharing using Ghost Mode and make sure only real-life friends can contact their child. Remind children that screenshots can still be taken and that disappearing messages are not truly private. | Snapchat Safety Hub |
| TikTok | Short videos, trends, music, comedy, challenges, advice and live content | TikTok’s “For You” feed can quickly show children lots of videos based on what they watch, like or pause on. This can include unsuitable language, risky challenges, adult themes or content that affects body image and wellbeing. Parents should use Family Pairing, set screen time limits, restrict direct messages and check privacy settings. It is also important to talk about trends and challenges before children copy them. Internet Matters provides parent guides for TikTok and other major platforms. (Internet Matters) | TikTok Family Pairing guide |
| Roblox | Online games, creating games, avatars, chatting and playing with others | Roblox is very popular with primary-aged children. The games are created by users, so the quality and suitability can vary. Children may play with people they do not know. Parents should set the correct age on the account, restrict chat, set spending controls and check which games their child is playing. Talk to your child about not accepting private chats, not sharing personal information and telling an adult if another player asks them to move to a different app. | Roblox parental controls |
| Messaging, group chats, photos, videos, voice notes and calls | WhatsApp is often used for family and friendship groups. Group chats can become stressful for children because messages can arrive late at night and arguments can spread quickly. Parents should check who is in group chats, turn off automatic media downloads and agree sensible times when the phone is away. Children should know how to block, report and leave a group if they feel uncomfortable. | Internet Matters WhatsApp safety guide | |
| Photos, Reels, stories, direct messages, influencers and friends’ posts | Instagram can affect how children see themselves because it often focuses on appearance, popularity and likes. Children may also receive messages from people they do not know. Parents should make accounts private, limit who can message or tag their child and talk openly about edited images, influencers, adverts and unrealistic lifestyles. Check that your child knows how to report unwanted contact. | Instagram parental supervision | |
| Google Search | Homework, images, quick answers, research and general searching | Google is useful for learning but children can find inaccurate, upsetting or adult content. Parents should turn on SafeSearch, use parental controls on devices and help children learn how to check whether information is reliable. For homework, encourage children to use trusted sites such as school resources, BBC Bitesize or child-friendly search tools. | SafeSearch |
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Google Classroom Microsoft Teams |
Homework, school messages, files and lessons | These platforms are usually managed by school, but children still need clear boundaries. Parents should encourage children to use them for schoolwork only, keep login details private and use respectful language in messages or comments. If a child receives an unkind message or sees something inappropriate, they should show an adult and not reply in anger. | |
| Minecraft | Building, exploring, gaming, creativity, coding and teamwork | Minecraft can support creativity and problem-solving. However, online servers may include chat with strangers, unsuitable language or unmoderated content. Parents should check whether their child is playing offline, with friends or on public servers. For younger children, private worlds with known friends are safer. Remind children not to share their real name, school, address or gaming passwords. | Minecraft parental controls |
| Fortnite | Online gaming, voice chat, teamwork, competitions and socialising | Fortnite includes live voice chat and online play with strangers. Children may hear unsuitable language or feel pressure to buy skins, passes or upgrades. Parents should manage voice chat settings, set spending limits and use platform controls on consoles or devices. Talk to your child about staying calm during games, not sharing personal details and reporting abusive players. | Fortnite parental controls |
| Discord | Gaming chat, group servers, voice chat, video chat and communities | Discord is often used by gamers and older children. It can include private messages, large public servers and adult spaces. Parents should check which servers their child has joined, restrict direct messages and make sure friend requests are limited. Children should only join servers linked to people or groups they know and should leave any server that makes them uncomfortable. | Discord Family Centre for parents |
| Spotify | Music, podcasts and playlists | Spotify is usually lower risk than social media, but explicit lyrics, podcasts and user-made content may still be unsuitable. Parents can turn on explicit content filters and check what children are listening to. It is also worth talking about volume levels, screen-free time and not using music or podcasts late into the night. | Spotify parental guide |
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Netflix Disney+ Prime Video |
Films, cartoons, series and streaming entertainment | Streaming platforms can include content that is not suitable for children, even on services that appear family-friendly. Parents should create child profiles, set age ratings and use PIN controls for adult profiles. Check viewing history and agree what children can watch before they start browsing alone. | |
| Twitch | Watching live gaming, streamers, esports and live chat | Twitch is live, which means content and chat can be unpredictable. Children may hear strong language, see adult conversations or interact with strangers in chat. Parents should supervise younger children, restrict chat where possible and talk about not donating money, subscribing or sharing personal information with streamers. | Twitch guide for parents and educators |
| Forums, memes, gaming tips, advice and discussion groups | Reddit is more common with older children and teenagers. It contains helpful communities but also adult, extreme or upsetting content. Parents should be aware that Reddit is not designed for younger children. If older children use it, discuss safe searching, avoiding adult communities and not asking strangers for personal advice. | Internet Matters parental control guides. |
