Keeping Your Children Safe Online in 2025: What Every Parent Needs to Know
- shaun9968
- Jun 11
- 6 min read
In a world where toddlers can swipe before they can talk and teens live half their lives online; digital safety is no longer optional, it's essential. The online world brings amazing opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection. But it also opens doors to risks like cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online predators, scams, and privacy breaches.
The Digital Landscape in 2025: What’s New?
Before diving into the tips, let’s look at some key trends shaping online life for children this year:
AI-Powered Chatbots & Virtual Friends: Kids now engage with intelligent chatbots in games and educational apps. I saw this first hand when my daughter was chatting online in a game to someone who I thought was a friend but it turns out it was a character in said game. The dialogue was way above the NPCs in games I was used to when growing up. It was bizarre and fascinating at the same time. While many are harmless, some mimic human interactions too closely, raising safety and privacy concerns.
Augmented & Virtual Reality (AR/VR): Platforms like Meta Horizon Worlds and Roblox VR are more immersive than ever. These blur the line between physical and digital worlds and risks follow.
Disappearing Content Apps: Apps with vanishing messages and anonymous posts (like updated versions of Snapchat, NGL, or new niche platforms) can facilitate secretive behaviour.
Deepfake & AI Content: AI-generated images, voice clones, and videos are now easy to make making cyberbullying, impersonation, and grooming harder to detect. I am sure many of you have seen an example of an AI generated image, maybe without even realising whether it’s a cartoon version of yourself or a friend or a bizarre image of a well-known celebrity or politician in some strange hilarious situation. A lot of these can be fun but some can be very damaging and cause chaos, stress and anxiety.
What to do – some suggestions
As technology evolves, so too do the risks and the ways we can protect our children. Here’s your 2025 guide to keeping kids safe online, based on the latest trends, tools, and parenting strategies:
1. Open Conversations Are Your First Line of Defence
Forget the lectures, what kids need is ongoing, honest dialogue. Make digital safety part of everyday conversation, not just a one-off "tech talk. " to ensure it stays ingrained in their minds
Try saying:
“What’s the best app you’ve used recently? Show me how it works.” Or something to that effect… go with what works for you.
Why it works: Invites sharing without judgment. When children feel safe to talk, they’re more likely to tell you when something’s wrong.
Tips:
Ask open-ended questions about their online activities.
Discuss not just the “don’ts” but also the “whys.”
2. Use the Right Tech Tools but Don’t Rely on Them Alone
Parental controls are useful but not foolproof. Use them as training wheels, not a crutch.
🔧 Recommended Tools for 2025:
Bark, Qustodio, or Microsoft Family Safety for monitoring.
Google Family Link or Apple Screen Time for screen limits/app controls.
AI content filters that flag grooming patterns or risky language in chats.
Tips:
Try setting device-free zones (like bedrooms at night or the dinner table).
Use kid-friendly browsers and YouTube Kids for safer content.
Regularly review privacy settings on all platforms.
3. Teach Them to Spot Red Flags
Kids may not always know what danger looks like. Equip them to recognize and report red flags:
Strangers asking to move chats to another app
Messages asking them to keep secrets
Friends sending unusual links or “challenges”
Encourage them to pause before responding, and let them know it’s always okay to say:
“I’m not comfortable with this.”
Role-play scenarios with them so they can practice safe responses.
4. Focus on Digital Resilience Not Just Restriction
Blocking everything won’t teach your child how to handle things when you’re not around. Instead, build digital resilience, the ability to stay safe, bounce back from issues, and make good choices online.
Teach them:
How to handle cyberbullying (e.g., block/report/don’t retaliate)
What a scam looks like (e.g., “You won a new iPhone!” = red flag)
What kind of information is private (full name, address, school, photos with uniforms, etc.)
5. Be Aware of AI and Deepfake Dangers
With AI-generated voices and videos becoming more convincing, kids can be tricked more easily. Teach your children the concept of deepfakes:
“Not everything that looks real online is real. Some videos or voices can be computer-made.”
Show examples together so they understand the difference.
· Encourage healthy scepticism “If it seems too strange or too good, check with a parent.”
Remind them not to share videos or photos that could be manipulated later.
6. Game in a Social World
Gaming is more than play it’s also social. As gaming has changed and advanced, so too is how it becomes part of people’s lives. Children talk, trade, and even livestream in real-time.
Set clear rules:
Who they can talk to in games
What’s OK to share
Which games they’re allowed to play (check PEGI/ESRB ratings)
In-game purchases and scams are a growing issue. Use prepaid cards or disable purchases to avoid surprises.
7. Lead by Example
Your child watches how you use your phone more than you think.
Try modelling healthy digital habits:
Try not scroll endlessly at dinner
Be mindful of what you share online about them
Show them how to respond calmly to messages or comments
If you expect them to log off or be respectful, show them how it’s done.
8. Stay in the Loop Together
The online world changes quickly. Keep learning together.
Resources for 2025:
NSPCC's Online Safety Hub
Thinkuknow (by UK’s National Crime Agency)
Make it a monthly routine to explore new trends, apps, or threats as a family. Keep it light but informative.
Advice from last year’s blog... worth a look, still relevant:
1. Educate Your Children: Teach your children about the distinct types of cyber threats they may encounter. Explain the importance of not clicking on suspicious links, opening unknown emails, or sharing personal information online.
2. Use Strong Security Software: Ensure that all devices your children use are protected with up-to-date antivirus and anti-malware software. This will help detect and block potential threats before they can cause harm.
3. Implement Safe Browsing Practices: Encourage the use of safe search engines and enable content filters that block access to unsafe websites. Consider using child-friendly browsers or search tools designed specifically for young users.
4. Monitor Online Activity: Regularly review your children’s online activity, including the websites they visit and the apps they use. This can help you identify any potential threats early and take action to mitigate them.
5. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): For accounts that your children use, enable 2FA wherever possible. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification (such as a code sent to your phone) before access is granted.
6. Teach Password Hygiene: Encourage your children to use strong, unique passwords for each account and to change them regularly. Password managers can be a useful tool for helping them manage their credentials securely.
7. Discuss the Importance of Privacy: Make sure your children understand the significance of keeping their personal information private. This includes not sharing passwords, addresses, or other sensitive details with friends or strangers online.
8. Stay Updated on Latest Cyber Threats: Cyber threats are constantly evolving, so it is crucial for parents to stay informed about the latest risks and how to counter them. Follow cybersecurity news and consider setting up alerts from trusted sources to keep up to date.
Final Thoughts...
The goal isn’t to bubble-wrap your child but for parents to raise confident, informed digital citizens who can explore safely. With open communication, the right tools, and a watchful eye on tech trends, you can help your child thrive online without fear.
Further Reading:
Regola do not have any affiliation with any of the websites or services listed below, Use of such websites or services is of your own volition.
Bark online safety tool:
Qustodio safety tool:
Google family link:
Internet Matters:
Think you Know:
Regola article on online safety 2024:
© [2025] [Regola Digital Consulting]. All rights reserved.
This blog post is the property of [Regola Digital Consulting]. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission.
