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Digital safety for families
Digital safety for families, made simple
Practical steps for parents and guardians: set up devices, agree on family rules and talk about online risks. Free, with no sign-up, and built on NIST and CISA guidance.
🏡 Start here
Five steps for a safer digital home
Tick each step as your family completes it. Your progress is saved on this device.
Family digital safety plan
- Parental controls are on for every device children use
- Every account has a long, unique passphrase
- Two-factor login is on for email, games and banking
- Screen time and bedtime rules are agreed together
- Children know they can tell you anything online without losing their devices
🚩 Warning signs
When to look a little closer
None of these alone means something is wrong. Several together are a reason to talk.
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Sudden secrecy
Hiding the screen, panic when a device is picked up, or a new account nobody knows about.
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Money worries
Unexpected charges, in-game purchases or gift card requests from someone online.
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Mood changes
Withdrawing from friends, anxiety after being online, or trouble sleeping.
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New online friends
Secret chats with adults, or pressure to meet someone in person.
💬 Talking about it
Conversations that keep kids talking
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Ask, then listen
Ask what they enjoy online and who they play with. Listen before you give advice.
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Make it a rule of trust
Tell them: if something upsets you online, you can come to me, and you will not lose your device for telling me.
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Keep talking
Short, regular chats work better than one long lecture. Use games and news stories as openers.
📥 Free family guides
Printable checklists on passwords, parental controls, safe search and cyberbullying, ready to use at the kitchen table.
❓ Questions parents ask
Digital safety for families, answered
Where should a family start with digital safety?
Start with three things: parental controls on every device, long passphrases with two-factor login for important accounts, and an agreed family rule about screen time and where devices are used.
At what age should a child have their own device?
There is no single right age. Start with a shared device in a common room, and add a personal device when your child can follow the rules you have agreed together.
Do parental controls replace talking to my child?
No. Controls are a safety net, not a substitute for conversation. The strongest protection is a child who knows they can come to you when something goes wrong.
What should I do if my child is bullied online?
Stay calm, save the evidence, block and report on the platform, and involve the school. Our Cyberbullying Response Guide walks through each step.