From scams to safe browsing: a parent’s guide to raising smart digital kids

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The internet is an incredible place for children—full of learning opportunities, creativity, and connection. However, it’s no secret that the digital world also comes with its fair share of risks, from online scams to harmful content. In fact, according to the Living Secure report by F‑Secure, 73% of people worry about the safety of their family online.

For families, the key to navigating these challenges is striking a balance: teaching kids to be responsible digital citizens while using tools to create a safe environment for them to explore. With Safer Internet Day reminding us of the importance of online safety, here are five practical ways to protect your children while fostering healthy, informed habits online.

1. Teach kids to be suspicious

One of the best ways to keep kids safe online is to teach them to be suspicious online. Children are frequent targets for scammers and hackers because they may not fully understand that threats exist, making them more likely to click on malicious links, share personal details, or fall for scams.

Children face similar threats as adults do online, like phishing, malware, fake websites – just in the channels they use themselves. Such channels include gaming and social media platforms, download pages and other websites.

Help your child identify red flags, such as:

• Unfamiliar senders asking for personal information.
• Links or attachments in messages that seem urgent or too good to be true.
• Fake profiles or friends on social media or gaming platforms.

Scam protection tools are a great help in avoiding threats, as they automatically detect harmful links, fake websites, and scam messages before your child can interact with them, offering an extra layer of security.

2. Protect against "good faith" mistakes

Because children often act in good faith online, they might download what they think is a new game, cheat codes, mods for games, or click on a link that promises free prizes, unknowingly exposing your devices to malware or viruses.

To avoid such accidents:

• Explain why downloading apps or clicking unknown links can be risky.
• Encourage them to always ask for your permission before downloading anything.
• Get comprehensive antivirus to automatically block malware and phishing attempts, preventing accidental downloads from harming your family’s devices.

3. Use privacy settings and encourage open conversation

From games to social media, children’s favorite online spaces are where they’re most vulnerable. Predators and cybercriminals can use these platforms to interact with kids or lure them into unsafe interactions.

To safeguard these experiences:

• Ensure their accounts are private
• Tell them to not accept friend requests from strangers.
• Encourage them to always talk to you about things that may disturb them online.

4. Spotting false information and content

Not everything online is as it seems. Children need to understand that not all information they encounter is trustworthy. Teach your kids to double-check facts, be skeptical of overly dramatic headlines, and avoid engaging with messages or profiles that seem suspicious—even if they look legitimate.

• Is someone pressuring them to act quickly?
• Encourage them to verify sources—like checking multiple websites or asking a trusted adult if something feels off.
• A quick web search may not reveal much: if you can’t find anything else about the topic, or can’t find any trustworthy sources, it’s better to not trust it.
• Scam detection tools automatically block fake websites, phishing links, and suspicious messages, helping kids avoid risky situations while they learn to recognize online threats.

5. Set an example of safe and smart behavior

Children learn a lot about online behavior by watching their parents. By practicing good digital habits yourself, you can encourage your kids to follow suit—not just in terms of staying safe but also in how they use technology responsibly.

Here are a few ways to lead by example:

• Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts and keep them private.
• Avoid clicking suspicious links or oversharing personal information online.
• Be transparent about how you stay safe online, from using secure connections to relying on protection tools like TalkTalk SuperSafe.
• Model healthy screen habits by setting aside “device-free” times, like during meals or family activities, to show that technology should support life, not take it over.

A safer internet for the whole family

Teaching your kids about online safety doesn’t have to be complicated. By combining open conversations, proactive habits, and comprehensive protection tools, you can enjoy the benefits of the internet without unnecessary risks. Additionally, digital education is a great time to review how secure your own habits are.

This Safer Internet Day, take a moment to review how your family interacts with the digital world. Small steps today can create a safer, brighter online future for your children.

TalkTalk SuperSafe – keep your kids protected online

With TalkTalk SuperSafe you can protect up to 10 devices keeping all of the family’s smartphones, tablets and computers safe. Go to My Account and add SuperSafe to your account. SuperSafe online security is just £6 per month.

• Browsing protection to block malicious sites
• Antivirus that blocks fake apps before installing them
• A password manager for safe login on all devices
• Parental controls to keep your children safe

Once you’ve selected SuperSafe in My Account, you will receive an email to install the app onto your devices.