Online safety advice for parents

For Parents - Cyberbullying Advice

Children being bullied online, particularly in games and via messaging apps, remains one of the top concerns of many parents and their children. Internet Matters have a range of guides and articles to support parents and carers which I have listed below:

• Talking to children and conversation tips for ages 6-10, 11-13, 14-17 and vulnerable children - HERE
• What is cyberbullying and what are the signs - HERE
• Helpful ways to prevent cyberbullying - HERE
• How to deal with cyberbullying - HERE
• Parents experiences of cyberbullying - HERE
• Useful resource - HERE

AI and nude images - information for parents to support children. 

For Parents - Protect Neurodivergent Children from Scams in Games

As we all know, neurodivergent children can be amongst those most vulnerable online, therefore more likely to become victims of things like scams. Those with ADHD, autism or other divergent ways of thinking might not recognise when someone intends to do harm.

Internet Matters have put together a brand new free guide for parents which explores how neurodivergent children's unique traits can leave them open to scams, particularly in games.

You can download the free guide HERE.

For Parents - Gadget Gift Guide

Ireland's online safety charity, CyberSafeKids, have put together a guide for parents and carers covering:

• The benefits and risks of popular smart devices and toys.
• What you can do to make them safer.
• Age recommendations
• And more.

You can download the guide HERE.

A Message from DFE

New kids online safety website launched as part of government campaign

We need your help in keeping children safe online. We’re launching a new website on 16 February 2026 to support families and encourage regular conversations about what they’re seeing online, asking simple questions, like “who shared this” and “why?”. Based on parents’ main concerns and needs, it provides:

• tips for parents’ conversations with their children
   

• actions to support each stage of their child’s life
   

• parental controls information
   

We are also signposting to trusted resources from charities and third parties, where parents can access other forms of support (like speaking to an expert).

The website will continue to grow and be developed this year, supporting the Online Safety Act and wider government aims.

Please share Kids online safety with parents.