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Your child is curled up with a tablet after dinner. You can hear a game, some laughter, and a voice you don’t recognise. You want to ask who they’re talking to, but you don’t want an argument or a closed door.
The apps change faster than any of us can keep up with. It’s hard to know where healthy curiosity ends and real risk begins.
You don’t need to be a tech expert. Your child needs a parent they can come to, and a few clear ideas to hold onto. This guide covers both.
Report cyberbullying, image-based abuse and illegal content to eSafety at esafety.gov.au/report.
Report grooming, sexual exploitation or sextortion of a child to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) at accce.gov.au/report.
Children’s rights apply online just as they do in everyday life. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child set this out in 2021. Your child has a right to:
These rights work together. Keeping children safe works best when it also respects their privacy and growing independence.
Kids naturally want to explore and try new things. That’s normal. The tricky part is learning which things are safe and which aren’t.
Parents and carers don’t know everything about the internet either. That’s okay. You’re learning together.
Since 10 December 2025, platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube must take reasonable steps to stop Australians under 16 from having accounts. Children and parents face no penalties.
Most gaming and messaging apps aren’t covered, so the conversations in this guide still matter. eSafety calls the change a delay, not a ban: time to say “not yet” and build skills before 16.
“Tell a trusted adult” is common advice, but children need help working out who that is.
eSafety recommends a safety network: three to five safe adults your child can go to whenever they feel worried or unsafe. These are adults who will listen, believe them and do their best to help.
Talk about behaviour rather than “good” or “bad” people. Unsafe people can seem kind and friendly at first. They can be strangers, or someone your child already knows. An unsafe person:
Safe people don’t do these things.
Some people use fake profiles. AI chatbots and companions can feel like real people, and AI can be used to make fake images. Either way, be careful who you talk to.
Never share your address, school name, phone number or where you hang out. Photos can give these away too.
Anyone can save a photo or message you send.
If someone is mean, makes you uncomfortable or asks for photos, that’s not okay. Tell someone in your safety network.
Children often stay quiet because they’re scared of losing their device or getting into trouble. It’s tempting to promise “you’ll never be in trouble”, but that’s hard to keep. Promise what you can keep instead:
“I’ll stay calm and listen first.”
“Telling me is always the right thing to do.”
“We’ll work out what to do together.”
“If someone tricked or pressured you, that’s on them, not you.”
If house rules need to change, have that conversation later, once your child is safe and settled.
Show interest in what they do online, without being pushy. A low-demand way to start is to notice what they’re doing and make a relaxed comment, like “That looks fun” or “You look really into that.” If they seem open, wonder aloud, “What are you playing?” Keep your tone curious rather than suspicious, and let them decide how much to share.
It’s easier to notice when something doesn’t look right, and your child feels safer knowing you’re nearby.
Learn the names and what they do.
Short, casual chats in the car, while cooking or during a quiet moment work better than big lectures.
Sometimes online safety sits alongside other pressures: school stress, friendship worries, family change, or a child who is harder to reach. When several things are happening at once, a Family Navigator helps Perth families prioritise and plan, in person or online.
Your first step is a Comprehensive Family Intake with Fiona Ontong. Together you map what’s happening and what’s been tried. From there, she builds a Family Support Plan connecting you with the right practitioners.
If this sounds familiar, get in touch with Discovery Family Therapy. We can help you work out where to start.
Perth and online. No referral needed.
Discovery Family Therapy acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country and the lands throughout Australia, and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
© 2021 Discovery Family Therapy · ACA & AHPRA registered practitioners
