Jeffrey DeMarco, Senior Technical Advisor, Protecting Children from Digital Harm, at Save the Children UK, shares five tips to help children and families to have an enjoyable and safe experience online.
Over the holiday season, some children might spend more time in front of screens, playing online games, on their devices or receive new video games as presents.
Parental controls can be part of an effective plan to help children and their families navigate online time, but it should be used as part of broader strategy that includes keeping dialogue open and encouraging children to talk about any uncomfortable experiences as well as playing games with children to build trust.
Illustrations - Laura Hewison
1. New devices means opportunity for new family agreements: Many children will unwrap new devices over the holidays. This can be used as an opportunity to reset your family’s digital habits. Sit together to agree simple rules about where devices stay at nighttime, who children can talk or play with and crucially what to do if something feels wrong. Adults can watch quietly and switch on privacy settings, spending limits and safer defaults.
2. Scams, sextortion and personal data: Talk calmly about fake ‘in’ game offers or people who ask for names, images or money. Make it clear to children that they will not be in trouble if they click on something or feel pressured and that you will sort it out together. Show them how to spot, block or report and ask for help.
3. Sharing and dignity: Holidays mean lots of photos or videos and selfies with family and friends being shared in family chats and school groups. Use this to talk about consent and dignity. Prompts like asking before posting other people, especially children, and that everyone respects a ‘no’. Encourage young people to notice when jokes become bullying and to tell you if an image is used to threaten or embarrass them so you can act quickly together.
4. Screen time is also about quality: Children may spend more hours online gaming, scrolling and chatting with their friends but instead of counting every minute, pay attention to what they are doing and how they seem afterwards. Which activities leave them relaxed or creative, and which leave them tense or upset? Use that insight to shape some gentle boundaries around sleep, movement and family time, focusing on better online experiences rather than just less.
5. Children and AI: Many children already use AI tools like chatbots for homework help and understanding topics and sometimes just for fun. Rather than banning them, sit together and agree on some rules such as no sharing personal details, no using AI to secretly finish schoolwork and not relying on it for health or emergency advice. Treat AI as something to question about what might go wrong and how it can be used well as a resource, not a replacement.
About Jeffrey:
Jeffrey DeMarco is a chartered forensic psychologist and leading expert in online child protection, digital safety and trauma-informed systems design. He’s currently the Senior Advisor on Protecting Children from Digital Harm, Save the Children UK, where he leads technical strategy and global engagement on online safety and digital wellbeing. Jeffrey has worked extensively with technology companies and civil society coalitions to design safer digital ecosystems for children.