If your teen is heading back-to-school with their first mobile phone, these online safety tips may help

Claire Halliday

With students across Australia soon returning to school after the summer holiday break, many will be navigating their own mobile phone for the first time – and that means parents and carers will be navigating new conversations about understanding online safety.

But 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.

Snapchat’s Jacqueline Beauchere is Global Head of Platform Safety and has created tips and guidance for parents, careers and teachers on how to talk openly about online safety with teenagers.

Top tips for teen 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. 

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  • How does this work? 

Learning about your teen’s favourite apps and games can help you understand how to support them having a healthier and safer experience online. Snapchat’s guide for parents explains 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 important to protect personal information are life skills we all need to know, online and off. eSafety in Australia has great 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 have a range of parental settings on offer. 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 to determine the best approaches together. Help them understand what went wrong and how they might avoid tricky situations in the future. 

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  • Report it, don’t ignore it

Encourage your teen to confidentially report any concerns to the platform or service involved, 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).

Beauchere says it can be overwhelming to keep across online trends and how platforms work, but points to Snapchat’s research, which found that Australian teens whose parents regularly checked in on their online and social media activities enjoyed better digital wellbeing.

“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,” she says.

“Regular, open conversations with your teens about their online activities can help to foster safer and more enriching digital experiences, while also providing an open channel for them to raise any challenges or concerns. I’d also encourage parents, guardians and teachers to familiarise themselves with the key platforms their teens are using, including any reporting tools and parental controls.”

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Claire Halliday has an extensive career as a full-time writer - across book publishing, copywriting, podcasting and feature journalism - for more than 25 years. She lives in Melbourne with children, two border collies and a grumpy Burmese cat. Contact: claire.halliday[at]educationdaily.au