Tips for parents: keeping your kids safe online over the holidays

During the holidays kids may spend more time online so it’s important for families to support their kids and help them enjoy being online safely.

Many parents are concerned that they don’t know how to help keep their kids safe online. It seems the cyber safety landscape is changing so fast, and parents may feel they can’t keep up.

One important way to help your children is through awareness.

Optus Digital Thumbprint supports digital safety and wellbeing for young people and families.

The Program delivers free workshops in schools and has lots of online safety resources for kids, teens and parents that educate, inform and provide conversation starters for a range of topics.

1. Set clear guidelines and expectations

Start by discussing online safety with your children. Establish clear rules about screen time, appropriate content, and how to interact with others online. These will vary depending on the age and maturity level of your child.  For example, for young children, establish a space in your home where they can use tech under supervision.  As they get older and prefer their own rooms, agree that bedroom doors stay open and devices are charged elsewhere overnight.  We also know that it’s often difficult to know when your child should get their first phone or whether a connected watch might be a better entry point. You can use the Optus Digital Thumbprint’s First Phone Readiness Quiz to assess if your child is prepared for their first smartphone. This will help you evaluate their maturity and critical thinking skills.

Parents may want to consider giving their primary school-aged child a smart watches like Spacetalk Adventurer 2  which provide children the opportunity for more independence. Kids can message and chat to family and friends, and parents have peace of mind knowing there’s GPS location tracking and no access to web browsing or social media.

Read our review of the Spacetalk Adventurer 2.

2. Encourage open communication

Create an environment where your kids feel comfortable sharing their online experiences. Encourage them to talk about any challenges, such as encountering cyberbullying or unwanted contact. Optus Digital Thumbprint gives parents resources to help them to foster these conversations effectively, ensuring that your children know they can come to you with any issues they face.

3. Educate about cyberbullying

Bullying can have long-lasting effects on mental and physical health. The 24/7 nature of online life means that cyberbullying can happen to your child, in your home without you even being aware. But parents can help their families minimise the risk of online bullying through regular discussions about the impacts of cyberbullying. Optus Digital Thumbprint’s resources like Cyberbullying - What to Say When Things Go Wrong Online can inform parents to help kids understand that it's essential to report any incidents to a trusted adult, reinforcing that they’re not alone in facing these issues.

4. Monitor online activities

Parents can help keep their kids safe while they’re online by staying across what they’re doing online. Stay engaged in your children’s online lives by monitoring the apps and games they use. Teach them to set their profiles to private and limit the personal information they share, protecting their privacy on social media and gaming platforms. The practical tips provided by Optus Digital Thumbprint’s resources like Safeguard your child’s privacy on popular apps and games guide can help give you the information you need to support your child.

5. Use secure passwords and passphrases

Discuss the importance of strong passwords, passphrases, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) with your children. Having the same password for everything or sharing it with your best friend sounds fun, but it can make your child’s account an easy target for doxing.  This happens when someone hacks an account and pretends to be the account holder, often to cyberbullying or trick others. Optus Digital Thumbprint has developed a Passphrases, passwords and MFA for guide to help parents with these conversations, empowering young people to build a strong digital defence against hackers and online threats.

6. Teach your kids about online threats

Educate your children about the risks associated with online predators and scams. Use Optus Digital Thumbprint’s guides on Recognising Hackers, Scammers, and Fake Friends to help them identify potential dangers. Encourage discussions about the kinds of scams they might encounter to prepare them for unavoidable exposure.

7. Promote healthy online habits

Talk to your children about achieving a balanced digital lifestyle. It’s important to recognise signs that they may need a break from their screens. Discuss healthy screen habits regularly, reflecting on how technology can enhance their lives when used responsibly. Optus Digital Thumbprint emphasises the importance of balancing time online for mental and physical well-being.

Wondering if your young person is spending too much time online?  Take our Digital Balance quiz together.

8. Review apps and games together

Before allowing your children to download new apps or games, review them together. Discuss content and social features, ensuring they come from reputable sources. Optus Digital Thumbprint encourages parents to actively engage in their children’s digital choices, promoting informed decisions regarding apps and online interactions.

9. Stay informed about trends

Parents can also help their kids by staying across current trends in social media and gaming. The digital landscape is constantly evolving to better understand their kids’ world.  Resources like the Optus Digital Thumbprint can help parents stay updated on new platforms and technologies your kids may encounter, enhancing your ability to guide them effectively.

Parents can also attend a free Digital Thumbprint Parent Night seminar which gives parents and caregivers tips to manage the challenges of the digital world that young people face.

10. Lead by example

It’s very important that parents remember that role modelling is very important in relation to online behaviour. As a parent you can model positive online behaviour for your children. Show them how to interact responsibly and respectfully, as your own actions will significantly influence their digital habits. Set a precedent by demonstrating healthy technology use and open communication. The Optus Digital Thumbprint guide Balancing time online can help everyone in the family including parents to ensure their time online is balanced with other parts of their lives.  

According to Dom Phelan, a long-standing Optus Digital Thumbprint in-classroom program facilitator, parents may underestimate the role they have to play in keeping their kids online.

“In my experience, many parents feel helpless to guide their kids’ online experiences. After all, while their kids are digital natives, most parents are not.

“Also, some parents assume that school will teach them how to be safe online while others may simply not appreciate the potential risks to kids online.

“An important part of Optus Digital Thumbprint’s activities is helping parents come up to speed with the realities of life online and provides straightforward tips for parents to help their families stay safe online.

“So, this holiday season, prioritise your family’s online safety while making the most of the opportunities and connection that technology can bring.

“By using resources from Optus Digital Thumbprint, establishing clear guidelines, and engaging in open conversations, you can empower your children to navigate their digital experiences safely. Together, let’s create a safe and fulfilling online environment during this holiday season and beyond, Dom said.

Digital Thumbprint resources

For young people

1. Blocking unwanted contact guide
2. Cyberbullying quiz
3. Cyberbullying: what to do when things go wrong guide
4. Digital Balance quiz
5. Fake friends and fake profiles quiz
6. Hackers, scammers and fake friends guide
7. Lifehacks for a balanced time online guide
8. Passphrases, passwords and MFA guide and quiz
9. Protecting personal information quiz
10. Scammers and fake friends quiz

For Families

• Balancing time online guide
• Blocking unwanted contact for your child guide
• Cyberbullying: What to say when things go wrong online guide
• First Phone Readiness guide and quiz
• Passphrases, passwords and MFA for your child guide
• Recognising hackers, scammers and fake friends guide
• Safeguard your child’s privacy on popular apps and games guide
• Stay ahead of scams through family discussions guide

Further resources

eSafety Commissioner to report cyberbullying, image-based abuse, and illegal and restricted content

Australian Cyber Security Centre - Auto report cybercrime, including online threats and abuse, scams and hacks, data breaches, identity theft and fraud.

Scamwatch to report scams.

Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation to report online grooming and inappropriate contact

IDCARE to get identity theft, data breach, scam and cyber security support.

If your child needs to talk to someone about their feelings or worries, they can contact:

Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 for free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling services.

13YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7) for a free, private and confidential talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.

¹ Findings drawn from students completing evaluation surveys post participation in Optus Digital Thumbprint workshops.

Optus Digital Thumbprint supports digital safety and wellbeing for young people and families. Find out more at www.digitalthumbprint.com.au

Spacetalk Adventurer 2

Peace of mind for your, freedom for them.

It’s more than a watch, it’s independence for them and peace of mind for you with location sharing, wellness features and no social media*.

Buy the Spacetalk Adventurer 2 Kids Smart Watch on the Family Watch plan with Optus today.

*Functionality requires the Spacetalk app and a valid subscription via SubHub (included with Optus Choice Plus Family Watch Plan)

Interested in browsing more Smart Watches? Check out our wide range of Smart Watches or visit our deals for more.