What is internet safety for kids?
Internet safety for kids is the practice of protecting children from online risks, such as exposure to harmful content, contact with strangers, cyberbullying on social media, and data theft. It’s also about giving them the knowledge and boundaries they need to use the internet safely and responsibly.
For parents, internet safety for teens and young kids involves a combination of honest conversations, technical tools like parental controls, and close attention to the platforms and apps their child uses.
Why is internet safety important for kids?
Children are curious, trusting, and often unaware of the risks that come with being online. Fake profiles, too-good-to-be-true offers, and manipulative messages are sophisticated enough to deceive adults. Children don’t have the same life experience to draw on, which makes them far more vulnerable.
The consequences of online harm can follow a child well beyond the internet. Cyberbullying affects mental health and school performance.2,3 Images or personal details shared online can be impossible to fully remove, leaving a child with little control over who sees them or how they’re used. Exposure to inappropriate or disturbing content can cause lasting psychological harm.
Most of these risks are preventable. The sections below detail what you can do about each one.
What are the online dangers kids face?
Some online dangers that kids face are long-standing — like cyberbullying and predators — while others, like AI-generated deepfakes, are relatively new. Understanding each one helps you have conversations grounded in real, named risks rather than general caution.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is the use of digital platforms, such as social media, gaming, and messaging apps, to harass, humiliate, or threaten someone. Unlike in-person bullying, cyberbullying follows a child home and can happen at any hour. Yet most kids don’t tell an adult when it happens.
Cyberbullying statistics show that 70% of UK adults believe families are responsible for protecting younger children from cyberbullies. That responsibility is hard to act on without awareness. Knowing the signs — and making sure your child feels comfortable telling you — is one of the most effective ways to respond early.
Online predators and grooming
Online grooming is the process by which a predator uses the internet to gain a child’s trust, with the intent to sexually exploit them. This type of cyber harassment typically happens through social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps. It also occurs on dating sites, which children sometimes access by misrepresenting their age.
Predators rarely reveal their intentions upfront. Instead, they spend weeks or months building a relationship with the target. They share personal information to encourage kids to reciprocate, then push boundaries incrementally. Children who feel isolated, misunderstood, or overlooked are particularly at risk.
Inappropriate content
Not all dangerous online content is intentional. Children can stumble across violent, graphic, or sexually explicit material while browsing the web, watching videos, or playing online games.
Accidentally clicking on an ad or following a link in a comments section or forum is enough to expose a child to deeply disturbing material. Children often don’t report what they’ve seen out of embarrassment or fear of losing access to their devices.
Identity theft and scams
Minors are prime targets for child identity theft because they often have no established credit file, and parents may not check whether a credit report exists in their child’s name.
Scammers who obtain a child’s name, Social Security number, and date of birth can use that information to open accounts, apply for loans, or commit other forms of fraud. The damage may only surface years later, sometimes when the child applies for a student loan, credit card, or an apartment that requires a credit check.
Children can also be used as an entry point for payment fraud. Scammers use fake gaming offers, prize giveaways, and phishing links to trick children into entering payment details — their own card if they have one, or a parent’s card accessed through saved payment options.
PRO TIP
If your child has their own card, is an authorized user on your account, or can access your card through saved online payment options, talk to them about credit card fraud so they can spot and avoid it with confidence.
AI-powered threats
AI-powered threats are among the fastest-growing dangers children face online. Criminals use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create convincing fake content, clone voices, and craft personalized scam messages that are far harder to detect than traditional online scams.
One of the most deceptive tools scammers use is the deepfake. A deepfake is an AI-generated video or image that looks entirely real but is fabricated. Scammers use this technology to clone the appearance or voice of a child’s friend, classmate, or family member, then use that fake identity to send messages or make video calls the child is likely to trust.
Criminals also use AI to generate explicit imagery of children, either from scratch or by manipulating photos taken from social media. When scammers use that imagery to target a specific child, the tactic becomes a form of extortion known as deepfake sextortion.
AI also makes traditional scams harder to spot. Scam messages — once easy to identify by their spelling errors and awkward phrasing — now read as polished and convincing. Regardless of the format, the goal of any AI-powered scam is the same — trick a child into handing over personal information, money, or images.
Internet safety tips for parents
No single tool or rule can keep kids safe online. The most effective approach combines open communication, education, practical habits, and the right tech tools.
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1. Model good habits and keep the conversation open
Kids pay more attention to what you do than what you say. If you overshare on social media, spend hours on your phone during family time, or ignore suspicious links without explaining why, your child picks up on that.
CHECK IN WITH YOURSELF
- 1.Do I practice the same online habits I expect from my child?
- 2.Would my child come to me if something online made them uncomfortable?
- 3.Do I know which platforms, games, and apps my child is actually using?
- 4.Do I give my child specific advice they can act on, or do I stick to general warnings?
Start by staying informed about the online world your child actually navigates. Keep up with emerging scams, look up the platforms and games children are most frequently targeted on, and stay curious about the apps your child downloads. The threats change constantly, so your awareness needs to keep pace.
More importantly, create a judgment-free space where your child feels comfortable bringing difficult online experiences to you. Children who fear punishment or device confiscation are far less likely to report a problem — and that’s when real harm can happen. Make it clear that no matter what they’ve seen, shared, or clicked on, they can always come to you.
2. Explain why privacy matters
Start the conversation with your child by explaining what personal information is and why sharing it online carries risk. Personal information includes your child’s full name, home address, phone number, school name, date of birth, and account credentials.
When any of these details are shared online, bad actors can piece them together to commit fraud or track a child’s location in real life. Use examples your child can relate to. Telling a stranger online which school they attend is no different from telling a stranger on the street.
PRO TIP
Teach your child to never post in real time. When the family is on vacation, sharing photos and updates should wait until you’re back home. Posting while you’re away is essentially an open announcement that nobody’s home, and that information can reach the wrong people.
Personal photos should be part of that conversation too — and it’s one of the harder ones to have. Children sometimes share explicit images willingly with peers, but they can also be forced, tricked, or coerced into sharing them by other young people or adults online. Once an image is shared, the child loses control of it.
The photo can spread through peer groups, leading to bullying or isolation. In the worst cases, perpetrators can use those images to blackmail a child or groom them for further abuse. These conversations can be uncomfortable, but an uncomfortable conversation now is far better than what your child could face without one.
3. Create strong passwords together
As soon as your child sets up any online account, introduce them to password security and make it a collaborative process. Their passwords should be strong, complex, and unique to keep their accounts secure.
Weak or reused passwords are vulnerable to password attacks. Brute force attacks, for example, use automated tools to run millions or even billions of guesses per second until they find the right combination, which is why short or simple passwords can be cracked almost instantly.
The do’s and don’ts of creating a password:
- Use at least 12 characters, including lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special symbols.
- Avoid personal information — no names, birthdays, or pet names.
- Avoid real words. The less your password resembles an actual word, the harder it is to crack through a dictionary attack.
- Never reuse the same password.
- Store passwords in a password manager — a far safer option than writing them down.
- Never share passwords with friends, even close ones.
- Change passwords immediately if an account is compromised.
Signs that an account may have been compromised include unexpected login notifications, emails about password reset requests your child didn’t make, or accounts posting content nobody recognizes.
A reputable password manager like NordPass will also alert you if any saved credentials appear in a known data breach — one more reason to use one. You can also check if your child’s email address has been exposed at haveibeenpwned.com.
PRO TIP
Kids love secrets, so frame password security as exactly that. Tell your child that a strong password is their secret code, and the stronger it is, the harder it is for anyone to steal it.
4. Set up social media safely
Most major social platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook, require users to be at least 13 years old to create an account. That age limit exists for good reason — younger children are more susceptible to manipulation, targeted advertising, and harmful content.
When your child does reach the right age, don’t just let them sign up — set up their account together. Every major platform has built-in tools and features designed to give parents more control and children more protection. For example:
TIKTOK
TikTok’s Family Pairing feature lets you link your account to your child’s and control privacy settings, screen time limits, and content filters. TikTok is relatively safe for kids when this feature is active and a parent stays involved in the settings.
Instagram’s Restrict feature lets you limit your child’s interactions with specific users without notifying them. When you or your child restricts someone, that person’s comments are hidden from other users, their direct messages get moved to a requests folder your child doesn’t have to open, and that individual can no longer see when your child is online, which makes it a low-confrontation way to reduce contact.
SNAPCHAT
Snapchat’s Family Center in-app tool gives parents visibility into who their child is talking to and lets them adjust key settings, without showing the content of private conversations. Snapchat is relatively safe for kids when they only connect with people they know in real life and understand that disappearing messages aren’t a reason to share content they wouldn’t share anywhere else.
Beyond adjusting the platform settings, teach your child habits for staying safe on social media:
- They should keep their profile private so only people they approve can see their posts.
- They should report and block accounts that send harassing or inappropriate messages.
- They should know that the other person isn’t notified when they unfriend, block, or restrict them.
- They should never share sensitive information, such as passwords, home addresses, or bank details, through direct messages, even with people they know.
Also, ask your child if you may follow them on their social media accounts. Most kids will agree if the request is respectful rather than controlling. Set one ground rule up front — you won’t comment on their posts in ways that might embarrass them in front of their friends. Skip that step, and they’ll find ways to keep you out.
PRO TIP
Teach your child to ignore offers of free in-game currency or perks — these are almost always scams. On platforms like Roblox, fake promises of free Robux are one of the most common tactics fraudsters use to trick young players into clicking malicious links or handing over account details. Roblox is relatively safe for kids because it provides parental controls and content filters. However, those tools work best when your child also knows how to recognize the signs of a scam.
5. Explain public Wi-Fi risks
Public Wi-Fi is not fully safe. Free hotspots in public spaces like coffee shops, shopping centers, libraries, and train stations are convenient, but they often have little or no security.
On an open network, attackers may be able to observe some metadata, such as domains being contacted, or exploit insecure sites and devices. HTTPS protects much of what you send, but public Wi-Fi still increases the risk of interception, fake hotspots, and other attacks.
Explain the risk to your child in simple terms: Using unsecured public Wi-Fi is a bit like having a conversation in a crowded room — people nearby can hear what you’re saying.
You have two practical ways to protect them. They can use mobile data instead of public Wi-Fi for activities that involve logging in to accounts, making payments, and sharing personal information. Alternatively, you can set up a VPN on their device, which encrypts the connection between the device and the VPN server and helps protect against local network snooping on public Wi-Fi.
Once it’s set up, a VPN works automatically in the background, so your child doesn’t need to do anything differently. If you already use NordVPN, a single account covers up to ten devices simultaneously — enough for the whole family.
One NordVPN account covers up to ten devices. Set it up once and protect every screen in the house.
6. Warn your child about online gaming scams
Online gaming is one of the most common environments where children encounter scams. Fraudsters use gaming forums, in-game chat, and fake download sites to target young players. Fake games are often designed to look colorful and appealing, with free downloads as the lure, but they’re actually malware that can infect a device.
Always agree to download new games together. Check whether the game and the developer are reputable, read reviews, and download games only from trusted sources like the official App Store, Google Play, or the game’s official website. Our guide to online gaming security threats covers the most common tactics fraudsters use and what to watch for.
PRO TIP
Teach your child to ignore offers of free in-game currency or perks — these are almost always scams. On platforms like Roblox, fake promises of free Robux are one of the most common tactics fraudsters use to trick young players into clicking malicious links or handing over account details. Roblox is relatively safe for kids because it provides parental controls and content filters. However, those tools work best when your child also knows how to recognize the signs of a scam.
7. Teach your child how to spot phishing
Phishing is a type of scam where someone poses as a trusted source — a brand, a game platform, or a friend — to trick a person into handing over personal information or clicking a malicious link. Scammers frequently target children because they’re less likely to question a message that looks official.
Before you can teach your child to spot phishing, you need to identify it yourself. Take a few minutes to read through common phishing email examples so you know what to look for. The signs are often subtle, and they’re getting harder to detect because scammers use AI to craft convincing messages. Recognizing the signs is the first step to prevent phishing.
Teach your child to be skeptical of:
- Emails or messages offering free gaming credits, gift cards, concert tickets, or prizes.
- Links in direct messages from people they don’t know — or even people they do know, if the message seems out of character.
- Messages asking for a password, personal details, or payment information through a chat or email.
- Suspicious direct messages on gaming platforms claiming to be from customer support.
PRO TIP
Set a simple household rule — your child should never click a link or share personal information without checking with you first.
8. Talk about AI risks and deepfakes
Talking to your child about AI-powered scams and deepfakes doesn’t need to be scary, but this conversation needs to happen. Start by explaining, in plain language, what deepfakes are and how scammers exploit this technology to trick both children and adults.
Share these practical steps with your child:
- If a video call or voice message from a trusted contact seems strange — the request is unusual, the timing is off, or the call comes from an unknown number — hang up and call them back on a number you have saved.
- Never share personal images or sensitive information based solely on a digital request, even if it appears to come from someone they know.
- Always pause before acting on online requests that involve money, images, or personal details and check with a parent first.
As your child gets older, it’s also worth explaining that criminals also use AI to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — explicit material that depicts children without involving a real child. They’re unlikely to come across this content intentionally, but they should know it exists.
PRO TIP
Make clear that any image or video depicting a child in a sexual context is illegal and must be reported. If your child comes to you, take it seriously and report it to the relevant authorities — showing them that reporting leads to action is as important as the conversation itself.
9. Know the warning signs of online harm
Children rarely tell their parents when they receive a suspicious message, come across upsetting content, or feel uncomfortable about an online interaction — not because they don’t trust them, but because they worry about losing access to their devices, getting in trouble, or making things worse. And parents often don’t realize their child is struggling until the situation is serious.
Watch for these warning signs:
- Sudden secrecy with devices — closing tabs, flipping screens, or taking calls in private.
- Withdrawing from family conversations or activities they previously enjoyed.
- Mood changes directly after using a device — distress, anger, or unusual silence.
- Using devices late at night or accessing them after bedtime without permission.
- Receiving unexpected gifts, money, or game credits from someone online.
- Becoming anxious or upset when unable to access their phone or another device.
- Mentioning a new online friend they’re reluctant to talk about or introduce.
- Displaying knowledge of adult or sexual topics that seem beyond their age.
If you notice these signs, approach the conversation with curiosity rather than accusation. Ask open questions — “I’ve noticed you seem stressed lately, is there anything going on?” — rather than launching straight into an interrogation. The goal is to make your child feel safe enough to talk, not defensive enough to shut down.
10. Use built-in parental controls
Many devices and platforms come with parental control tools built in. Google SafeSearch, Apple Screen Time, and Google Family Link are three well-established options. Google SafeSearch filters explicit search results, while Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link give parents control over screen time, app access, and content filters across a child’s device.
Google SafeSearch
Google SafeSearch filters explicit content, including sexual material and graphic violence, from search results. It offers three settings: “Filter,” “Blur,” and “Off.” For children, set SafeSearch to “Filter” to help block explicit images, text, and links from search results.
Google automatically applies the “Filter” mode when its systems detect that a user may be under 18, but it’s worth setting it manually so you stay in control. To turn it on, go to google.com/safesearch, select “Filter,” and you’re all set.
Apple Screen Time
Apple Screen Time is the built-in parental controls feature on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. It gives parents detailed control over how their child uses their device.
You can set daily limits for specific apps, restrict access to explicit content in Safari and the App Store, prevent in-app purchases, schedule downtime when only certain apps are available, and set communication limits to control who your child can contact.
How to enable Screen Time:
- If you have Family Sharing, open “Settings” on your own device, tap “Screen time,” then tap your child’s name under “Family.” Follow the on-screen instructions to apply limits and lock settings with a passcode.
- If you don’t have Family Sharing, open “Settings” on your child’s device, tap “Screen time,” then tap “App & website activity” and turn it on. Scroll down, tap “Lock screen time settings,” and create a 4-digit passcode.
Google Family Link
Google Family Link works on compatible Android devices and Chromebooks. It lets you approve app downloads from Google Play, set daily screen time limits with school time and downtime schedules, apply content filters on Google services like Chrome, Search, Play, and YouTube, view your child’s app activity, and locate their device on a map. You can also ring their device remotely and check its remaining battery life.
How to get started with Google Family Link:
- 1.Download the Family Link app on your own device.
- 2.Open the app and follow the on-screen steps to create or link your child’s Google account.
- 3.Follow the prompts to link your account to your child’s.
- 4.Set screen time limits, content filters, and app permissions from the Family Link dashboard.
PRO TIP
iPhones, iPads, and Android devices also have built-in screen lock features that go beyond parental control apps. They can prevent your child from switching away from a specific app, disabling a VPN, changing permissions, or making unintended purchases. Our guide to locking your child’s screen on iPhone and Android covers how to set these up.
Laws protecting children’s data
Laws around children’s data privacy vary by country, but a few key frameworks are worth understanding. In the US and EU, specific regulations set clear rules for how companies can collect, use, and share children’s data online, and they’re a big part of why so many platforms have minimum-age requirements.
COPPA IN THE UNITED STATES
In the US, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires websites and apps to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal data from children under 13. Covered services must also post a clear privacy policy, give parents access to the data collected about their child, and delete it on request. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces COPPA — parents can report suspected violations at ftc.gov.
The GDPR IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
In the EU, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets a default age of 16 for digital consent, but member states may lower this to a minimum of 13. In practice, many EU countries have done so — for example, Spain and Italy set the age at 14, and France at 15 — meaning the applicable age varies depending on where a family is located.
If a child under 13 uses a platform that sets a minimum age of 13, it’s important to understand what is actually happening legally and practically. Some major platforms don’t offer a parental consent pathway for younger children. Instead, they prohibit under-13 users entirely. This means that if a child creates an account by entering a false date of birth, they are violating the platform’s terms of service, and the platform may have no knowledge that a child is present.
In this situation, COPPA protections may not functionally apply because those protections are triggered when a platform has actual knowledge that it’s collecting data from a child under 13. When a child bypasses age verification by lying about their age, the platform’s data collection practices for standard adult users apply instead, without the additional safeguards COPPA would otherwise require.
Some platforms do offer verified parental consent mechanisms for younger users, and in those cases, you are effectively consenting to the platform collecting and processing your child’s data. Before doing so, you should understand what data the platform collects, how it uses that data, how long it retains it, and what content your child may encounter.
A FEW PRACTICAL STEPS WORTH TAKING:
- Know your school’s digital safety policies. Most schools have acceptable use policies covering what devices, apps, and platforms students can use during and after school hours. Ask for a copy and review it with your child.
- Be aware of local laws on cyberbullying and harassment. Many countries and US states treat cyberbullying and online harassment as legal matters, though laws vary in scope. Screenshots, message logs, and video recordings can serve as digital evidence. If your child experiences serious harassment online, document it before reporting.
- Check the terms of the platforms your child uses. Age limits and data policies are listed in the terms of service. The key points are usually summarized in the platform’s “Help” or “Safety” sections.
Internet safety rules for kids
The list below brings together key online safety tips for kids — a simple rule book you can share with your children in an age-appropriate way. It’s not designed for children to read independently but to help parents frame conversations about safe behavior online. Here are the rules worth teaching:
- 1.Never share your full name, home address, phone number, or school name online.
- 2.Don’t accept friend and follower requests from people you don’t know in real life.
- 3.Tell a trusted adult if a message, image, or online interaction makes you feel uncomfortable, scared, or confused.
- 4.Never agree to meet in person someone you only know online.
- 5.Don’t click links in messages from people you don’t know, and check with a parent first.
- 6.Keep your passwords private — even from your closest friends.
- 7.Think before you post. Once something is online, it’s very difficult to remove.
- 8.Never share your location or post photos that reveal where you are in real time.
- 9.If a message or video call from a friend or family member seems strange, stop and verify through a different channel before responding.
- 10.Never share photos of yourself with someone you don’t know in real life.
- 11.If you click a suspicious link, share personal information by mistake, or see something that upsets you, tell a trusted adult. You won’t get in trouble for being honest.
Other tools parents can use to protect their children online
Beyond parental controls, two network-level tools are worth considering:
- A VPN configured on your home router routes every device in your household — including smart TVs, gaming consoles, and your child’s tablet — through an encrypted connection without requiring a separate app on each one. It encrypts your household’s internet traffic, which makes it much harder for third parties to intercept data. It also masks your home IP address, which helps reduce exposure to DDoS attacks — attempts by criminals to overwhelm your network and knock it offline.
- DNS-based content filtering works at the router level. Services like Cloudflare for Families and OpenDNS let you block malicious domains and reduce exposure to adult content across your entire home network by changing your router’s DNS settings. Note that DNS filtering is not foolproof — determined users can bypass it — but it adds a meaningful layer of protection for most households.
How NordVPN helps parents protect their family online
Managing your child’s online safety manually — monitoring every app, checking every platform, and updating every device — isn’t realistic. Threats change too quickly for any parent to keep up.
NordVPN gives parents one tool to secure the whole household. One NordVPN account covers up to 10 devices — enough for the whole family. The service encrypts your internet connection and routes your traffic through a VPN server, which helps keep your family’s browsing activity more private and your network more secure.
All NordVPN plans include Threat Protection that helps block ads, trackers, and unsafe domains. All plans also include adult site blocking — a content filter that blocks adult material on your child’s mobile device and can be turned on with a single toggle in the app.
Plans above Basic also include Threat Protection Pro™, which works alongside the VPN on Windows and macOS to actively stop threats your family encounters online:
- It scans downloads and flags malware before files reach a device.
- It blocks malicious websites before they load.
- It filters out phishing attempts before your child can interact with them.
- It alerts you to scam and fraud sites in real time.
- It scans your child’s inbox and flags suspicious emails before they’re opened.
Protecting your children online is no child’s play.
Stay safe with the world’s leading VPN
Disclaimer: NordVPN may only be used by people who are 18 years of age or older, as set out in our Terms of Service. The trademarks referenced are for illustrative purposes only. NordVPN is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the owners of those trademarks.
FAQ
References
1 Faverio, M., and Sidoti, O. (2025). Teens, social media and AI chatbots 2025. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/12/09/teens-social-media-and-ai-chatbots-2025/
2 Gohal, G., Alqassim, A., Eltyeb, E., et al. (2023). Prevalence and related risks of cyberbullying and its effects on adolescent. BMC Psychiatry, 23, 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04542-0
3 Ragusa, A., Núñez-Rodríguez, S., Vaz, P., et al. (2024). Impact of Cyberbullying on Academic Performance and Psychosocial Well-Being of Italian Students. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 11(8), 943. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11080943
