Helping your child stay safe, healthy and confident online
Starting secondary school often brings greater independence, new friendships and increased access to smartphones, gaming and social media.
The online world offers many benefits, but it can also expose young people to harmful content, unwanted contact, cyberbullying, scams and pressure to remain constantly connected. Parents do not need to understand every new app, but they do need to remain involved.
Talk regularly. Check openly. Protect sleep. Act early.
Four actions parents can take today
1. Talk before something goes wrong
Have regular, calm conversations about what your child is doing online.
Ask questions such as:
- Which apps do you use most?
- Who can contact you through those apps?
- Have you seen anything online that made you uncomfortable?
- Do you know how to block and report someone?
- Who would you speak to if something went wrong?
Make it clear that your child can come to you without immediately losing access to their phone.
A useful message is:
“If something goes wrong online, you will not be in trouble for telling me. We will deal with it together.”
Open communication remains one of the best ways to protect a child online. Coimisiún na Meán advises that parental controls are helpful, but they do not replace conversations about a child’s online experiences. [cnam.ie]
2. Check privacy, location and contacts
Parents should review settings with their child rather than monitoring them secretly.
Check:
- Whether accounts are private
- Who follows or contacts your child
- Whether location sharing is switched off
- Whether photographs reveal personal information
- Who can add your child to groups
- Whether messages disappear automatically
- Whether the correct age was entered when creating the account
- Whether purchases require parental approval
Remember:
A private account is not automatically a safe account.
Coimisiún na Meán provides guidance on parental controls for platforms including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X and Pinterest. These controls can help parents manage content, privacy, contacts and screen time. [cnam.ie]
Useful resource:
Parental controls and reporting guidance from Coimisiún na Meán
3. Protect your child’s sleep
Young people generally need eight to ten hours of sleep each night. Poor sleep can affect concentration, alertness, mood and the ability to cope with stress. [www2.hse.ie]
A phone beside the bed can create interruptions and the feeling that a young person must remain available throughout the night.
Consider the following family rules:
- Charge phones outside bedrooms
- Switch off non-essential notifications
- Set a consistent bedtime
- Use device downtime or screen-time settings
- Avoid screens for at least 30 to 60 minutes before sleep
- Ask adults in the home to model the same behaviour
No phones in bedrooms overnight is not a punishment. It is protection for sleep, learning and wellbeing.
The HSE recommends focusing on a healthy balance between screens and sleep, physical activity, social activity and hobbies. [www2.hse.ie], [www2.hse.ie]
Useful resources:
4. Agree clear family boundaries
Create a simple family agreement covering:
- When and where devices may be used
- Which apps require parental approval
- What information must never be shared
- How parents will monitor device use
- What happens if an unknown person makes contact
- What to do when upsetting content appears
- Where phones will be stored overnight
Rules should be clear, consistent and reviewed as your child becomes more independent.
Avoid relying entirely on technical controls. No parental-control system can identify every problem or replace a child’s willingness to ask for help.
Webwise provides a free family agreement template, online-safety booklet, app explainers and conversation starters for parents. [webwise.ie]
Useful resource:
Webwise Parents Hub
If something goes wrong
Stay calm
Your child may already feel frightened, embarrassed or responsible. An angry reaction may discourage them from seeking help again.
Listen first and reassure them that asking for help was the right decision.
Preserve the evidence
Before blocking or deleting content:
- Take screenshots
- Record usernames and account names
- Save links where possible
- Note the date and time
- Keep relevant messages
Do not repeatedly share harmful material while trying to collect evidence.
Block and report
Use the platform’s reporting system and block the account involved. Parents can report harmful content on behalf of a child or support the child in making the report.
Online platforms should provide reporting systems that are easy to find and use. If a platform does not respond appropriately or its reporting system is difficult to use, parents can consult Coimisiún na Meán for further guidance. [cnam.ie], [cnam.ie]
Contact the school
Please contact the school where an online issue:
- Involves students from the school
- Is affecting your child’s attendance or wellbeing
- Is continuing during the school day
- Involves bullying, threats or intimidation
- May place another student at risk
In an immediate emergency or where a child is in danger, contact emergency services.
Trusted resources for parents
Webwise Parents Hub
Webwise is Ireland’s online-safety education service. Its Parents Hub includes:
- Social media and app explainers
- Advice on screen time and parental controls
- Conversation starters
- A family agreement template
- Cyberbullying guidance
- Information about algorithms, scams and artificial intelligence
Visit the Webwise Parents Hub[webwise.ie], [webwise.ie]
Coimisiún na Meán
Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland’s media regulator. Its parent resources explain:
- Children’s rights online
- How to report harmful or illegal content
- How parental controls work
- What online platforms are required to do
- How to raise concerns about a platform
Visit the Coimisiún na Meán parents’ information page[cnam.ie]
CyberSafeKids
CyberSafeKids is an Irish online-safety charity providing education, research and practical guidance to help children navigate the online world safely and confidently.
Visit CyberSafeKids[cybersafekids.ie]
Childline
Childline offers free and confidential support to young people at any time.
Freephone:1800 66 66 66
Online chat: Available 24 hours a day
Visit Childline[childline.ie]
HSE information and support
The HSE provides advice on sleep, mental health, screen use and sources of support for children, young people and parents.
The HSE’s support information includes services such as Childline, Jigsaw, Pieta and Text About It. [www2.hse.ie]
Our key message to parents
You do not need to know everything about technology.
You need to:
- Stay interested
- Set clear boundaries
- Check settings openly
- Protect your child’s sleep
- Keep communication open
- Act quickly when something goes wrong
Connect before you correct.
Children are safer online when trusted adults remain involved.
Website note
External resources are provided for information and support. Online services and platform settings change regularly, so parents should check the relevant provider’s current guidance.
Main improvements
- Clarity: Information is divided into short, scannable sections for parents.
- Action: Each topic includes steps families can take immediately.
- Trust: Resources are drawn from recognised Irish organisations and public services.
- Tone: The wording is direct and serious without blaming or frightening parents.