Keeping children safe online, step by step
Plain, practical guides on the risks children meet online, how to talk about them, and what to do when something goes wrong.
Children spend a lot of time on phones, in games and in messaging apps. Many of the risks they meet there are hard to see from the outside, and most children do not tell a parent straight away.
These guides explain the most common risks in plain language, with what to look for, how to respond and when to ask for professional help. They are written for parents, carers and anyone who looks after children. They do not replace advice from a professional, and each one says where specialist support is needed.
Start with the topic that worries you most, or read them in order.
All guides
- Warning signs
Signs a child may be being groomed online
Behavioural and conversational warning signs of online grooming, the patterns behind them, and how to talk to your child without blame.
- Threats and blackmail
What is sextortion, and what to do if it happens
What sextortion is, how it usually unfolds, why teenagers are targeted, and the steps to take: do not pay, keep the evidence, stop contact and report.
- Bullying
Cyberbullying: a parent’s guide
Signs that a child is being bullied online, how to respond, how to document it, how to work with the school, and when to escalate.
- Conversations
Talking to your child about online safety
Conversation starters by age band, a tone that keeps children talking, family agreements, and how explained alerts can open a conversation without reading messages.
- SafeCircle
What to do after a SafeCircle alert
A step-by-step response to a SafeCircle alert: read the reason and severity, talk without blame, keep evidence, block and report, and know when to involve school or authorities.
- Privacy and trust
Monitoring or trust? Finding the right balance
Why reading every message can backfire, how an alert-based approach works, being open with your child about monitoring, and giving age-appropriate independence.
- Gaming and scams
Scams and risks in games and online communities
Common scams in games and online communities: free-item giveaways, account takeover, in-game chat, moving to other apps, and spending. Practical steps for families.
Urgent
Is a child in immediate danger?
If a child may be in danger right now, or someone is threatening them, contact your local emergency number first. Our help now directory lists child protection, reporting and crisis services by country.
Try SafeCircle with your family
SafeCircle runs on your child’s Android phone and sends you an alert with a severity, a category, a short reason and a suggested next step. Message text is never sent to us. iOS is on the waitlist.
If your child is in dangerGet help now