October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and it’s the perfect time to take a moment to reflect on your kids’ online activity and what you can do to help them develop better habits online.
According to a recent report by UK Communications regulator Ofcom, 96% of children aged five and up now spend time online, so, if you’re a parent, you can be pretty confident yours are online too. That’s not a reason to panic though — kids spending time online isn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, that’s where so much of life happens these days.
The internet and social media give young people opportunities to make friends, have fun and learn new things. But, if our kids aren’t properly prepared to navigate it, the online world can also expose them to real-life dangers — from online bullying, to exploitation and mental health issues.
As a parent myself and the founder of a cybersecurity company, this is a topic I think about a lot. I wanted to share some lessons I’ve learned along the way, to help you start this conversation with your kids and support them in developing good online habits as they grow up in the online world.
Before you can help your kids navigate the web, it’s important to have a good understanding of how your kids are already using social media and other websites. Do you know what accounts they have and who they’re talking to online?
For parents of younger kids, this can often be easier to navigate but, as your kids get older — and especially with teenagers — it can feel like an invasion of privacy. It’s important to try not to approach this in a way that seems like surveillance, but one of guidance. If your kids feel like they’re being scrutinized, they might not feel comfortable being honest, and may even try harder to hide some of their online activity.
Instead of simply asking, “What are you doing online?” try sitting with them while they play games or watch videos. Show interest in the apps or games they enjoy. This approach gives you insight into what they’re consuming and how they engage with their peers online, without making them feel like they’re being watched.
Additionally, help your kids understand the concept of their digital footprint — that everything they post online leaves a lasting mark. Even seemingly private, temporary content, like Instagram stories or Snapchat messages, can be shared or screenshotted. Encourage them to think before posting or sharing.
The key is to be mindful, and to create an environment at home where your kids feel comfortable talking about the content they’re consuming and where they spend time online.
Having regular conversations with your kids about the digital world is essential. Start early and tailor the conversation to their age. For younger children, you might focus on simple ideas like not sharing personal details. For teens, you can have more nuanced discussions about cyberbullying, online relationships, and digital etiquette.
With teenagers, avoid framing the conversation as a lecture. Instead, ask them about their experiences and listen to their concerns. Make it a dialogue, not a monologue. This collaborative approach helps them see you as an ally, not an authority figure monitoring their every move.
If you foster a culture of open communication at home, your kids will find it easier to talk to you about their online activity. Make it clear to your kids that they can come to you if they encounter something troubling online, whether it’s inappropriate content, harassment, or privacy concerns. Reassure them that they won’t be judged or punished for bringing these issues up.
You can also build trust by sharing your own online experiences. Talk about your digital habits or even mistakes you’ve made. This helps your kids understand that learning how to stay safe online is a journey for everyone.
For younger children, child-friendly apps like YouTube Kids, which have built-in safety features, can be valuable tools. Setting up parental controls on devices can help limit access to certain websites and protect them from inappropriate content. Regularly review the apps and games they use and set clear boundaries when it comes to age-inappropriate content.
If you’re thinking, “My kids are too young to be on social media,” you might be surprised. In the same Ofcom Study mentioned earlier, 40% of 8-17 year-olds admitted to using a fake age to get access to a new site or app. And 51% of children aged under 13 – the minimum age for a lot of social media platforms – reported using these websites and apps. That means, even if your kids are quite young, they could still be online.
You can use content filters and app permissions to prevent your kids from downloading age-restricted apps or accessing inappropriate content. These tools act as safeguards while still allowing kids to explore the internet independently.
Too much screen time can negatively impact sleep, mental health, and academic performance. And, while limiting screen time might sound like a drastic measure, let’s be honest, this tip isn’t just for the kids — we could all do with setting better boundaries around how much we use our devices!
You can use on-device settings to set screen time limits but it’s also important to explain why these limits exist — talk about balance and well-being rather than just restricting your kids’ activity. This way, you’re equipping them to make their own decisions about screen time and their health going forward.
Consider introducing family-wide screen-free times, like during meals or certain hours of the day. Leading by example by limiting your own screen time can make a big difference in promoting healthy habits at home.
As online scams become more complex and elaborate, they’re also becoming harder to spot. And kids are not immune to them.
Make sure to teach your kids how to identify phishing attempts, malicious websites, and online scams. Explain the importance of not clicking on suspicious links or sharing personal information with strangers. If they’re old enough, show them what phishing emails look like, so they can recognize the signs of a scam.
It’s also important to talk about social engineering attacks. People online might pretend to be friends or authority figures to manipulate your kids into sharing personal information. Encourage them to be skeptical and cautious, even if someone seems trustworthy.
These kinds of risks are constantly evolving so it’s a good idea to regularly read up on the latest advice yourself.
One of the best ways to help your kids stay safe online is by giving them the right tools. Teach them to use strong passwords and introduce them to password managers like 1Password.
These tools can help your kids generate secure passwords and store them safely, and make it easy to set up and manage two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible to add another layer of protection to their accounts. They can also help your kids avoid phishing scams by only letting them autofill credentials on legitimate websites.
Tools like 1Password can also help to teach safe sharing practices. Whether it’s schoolwork, login credentials, or personal photos, if your kids understand how to securely share files and information, they can avoid sending sensitive details over messaging apps or public forums.
Creating healthy online habits doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, patience, and regular conversations. The online world evolves quickly, with new apps, games, and platforms emerging all the time. Knowing the landscape will help you understand potential risks and how to talk to your kids about them and, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, there are lots of online communities for parents where you can get support and insight from peers.
Don’t forget that mistakes happen. Whether it’s clicking on a harmful link, sharing something inappropriate, or getting involved in online drama, we all mess up sometimes. Create a safe space for your child to admit when they’ve made a mistake, help them understand how to fix the issue and prevent it from happening again.
By staying involved in your child’s online world and providing them with the tools they need to navigate it safely, you can help them develop strong digital habits that will last a lifetime. And, if you do your job right, you’ll soon find your kids teaching you.
In 1Password’s infancy, Sara Teare made sure that all the legal paperwork was done, taxes were filed, and bills were paid – all so founders Dave Teare and Roustem Karimov could focus on the fun side of building a product. When Sara reflects on how 1Password has grown, she’s awed by everything she’s helped build with the support of 1Password’s loyal customers and employees. Working with a team of people who are passionate about what they do drives Sara’s excitement. Now, making it a point to be involved in several projects, Sara gets to keep shaping the exciting future of 1Password as it continues to grow. When Twitter and her two kids aren’t keeping her happily busy, Sara loves playing card games and board games with her friends and family. In fact, most of Sara’s favorite stories start with “We were playing cards the
other night and…"
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