With students returning to school soon after the summer holidays, many with their own mobile phones for the first time, many parents will be navigating new conversations with their teens about staying safe online as the new school year begins. However, understanding digital safety can be daunting, and it’s often hard for parents and carers to know how to approach what can be a tricky topic for families to tackle.
It can be overwhelming to keep across online trends and how platforms work, but Snapchat’s research found that Australian teens whose parents regularly checked in on their online and social media activities enjoyed better digital well-being.
Jacqueline Beauchere, Snapchat’s Global Head of Platform Safety said: “With so much of our lives spent online, it’s important for teens to feel equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to help them navigate digital spaces safely and responsibly.
“Regular, open conversations with your teens about their online activities can help foster safer and more enriching digital experiences while providing an open channel for them to raise any challenges or concerns.
Jacqueline shares her top tips for talking to teens about online safety:
“Take an interest” Acknowledging how important a teen’s digital life is to them is a crucial first step. Taking an interest and initiating conversation can make young people feel understood and supported by a trusted guardian who’s always there to chat.
“How does this work?” Learning about your teen’s favourite apps and games can help you understand how to support them in having a healthier and safer online experience. Snapchat’s guide for parents explains what Snapchat is, how parents can use the app, and our rules to help keep people safe.
“Help them understand” You might not be a tech expert or know every platform or app, but you can help your teen understand how actions online may impact them in the ‘real’ world. Understanding the risks of talking to strangers – and even sharing with friends – and why it’s essential to protect personal information are life skills we all need to know, online and off. eSafety in Australia has excellent resources for parents and young people.
“Respect boundaries” It’s natural to be concerned about what your teen is doing online, especially if they’d rather you didn’t add them on a platform. Setting boundaries that aim to balance your teen’s privacy while focusing on their safety is challenging yet fundamental. Devices, platforms, and services offer a range of parental settings.
Look into what’s available on the apps your teen loves and explore ways to build trust by discussing these tools and agreeing with your teen on how to use them.
“Listen – and hear, don’t judge” Be mindful of your reaction if your teen comes to you looking for help. They might be embarrassed, ashamed, upset or scared, so let them know you are there to help, no matter what. Listen, hear, ask questions and work together to determine the best approaches.
Help them understand what went wrong and how they might avoid tricky situations in the future.
“Report it, don’t ignore it.” Encourage your teens to report any concerns to the platform or service involved confidentially so they can take action. Snapchat’s Family Centre tools allow parents to report accounts directly. In Australia, reports can also be made to eSafety or the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).
More tips and guidance can be found on Snapchat’s easy-to-understand Parent’s Guide at https://parents.snapchat.com