Children can be exposed to risks throughout their whole lives, from trips and falls at home, to negotiating road crossings, and from siblings calling each other names to bullying at school, stranger danger and much more. As adults we can understand these risks and help them navigate their way through them safely, but do we really understand the risks posed to children online?

The internet is full of wonder, and can be a place for children to thrive, learn and grow, but it can also be a source of great risk, and this risk is only increasing as more and more children are getting online.

According to a recent study, the most popular devices among children for accessing the internet are smart phones, tablets, games consols and TVs. With the most popular platforms being used are YouTube, Snapchat, WhatsApp, TikTok and Instagram, with streaming services, like Netflix, also being used regularly.

Social Media

A growing number of children go to social media in search of answers to questions or concerns, trusting influencers and viral videos for advice on fitness, mental health, fashion and world views, with many not giving any critical thought to the commercial motives of influencers selling products or the agenda of those spreading false information.
A report from 2024 stated that 93% of children aged 10 to 15 used the internet daily, with 58% of these children spending three or more hours online on a typical school day. Of these children, 35% had accepted a ‘friend request’ on social media from someone they didn’t know and 9% had also shared their location.

28% of 8 – 17 year olds are reported to be active users of social media, meaning they post, comment and share content regularly, with 44% using social media passively, just liking content and following accounts. Many children are also uploading content of themselves, with TikTok being the most used platform.

Although social media does have its benefits, and is a regular part of everyday life, parts of it can pose a significant risk to children, often exposing them to things not suitable for their age.

40% of children aged 8 – 17 admit to faking their age to access social media platforms and online content.
80% of the children used in a study reported that they felt pressured to be popular on social media.
40% of these children also reported seeing mean and bullying behavior on social media with 20% having experienced receiving hurtful messaged via direct messages.
As well as hurtful messages, 10% of children aged 13-15 have received messages of a sexual nature, with ¾ of them receiving more than one, some receiving as many as 20 sexual messages. Almost 80% of these messages were received via social media messaging.

Steps to Help Make Social Media Safer
It is possible for children to use social media safely, there are a few steps that can be taken to reduce the risk posed by social media:

Educate and communicate
- Teach children about online risks.
- Encourage open conversations so they feel comfortable reporting anything suspicious.
- Explain the importance of not sharing personal information (e.g., location, school name).
Set privacy settings
- Adjust social media privacy settings to limit who can see their posts.
- Disable location sharing.
- Restrict friend requests/messages to known contacts.
Monitor their activity
- Keep an eye on their friend lists and posts.
- Set time limits for social media usage.
Encourage safe behaviour
- Teach them to recognise fake profiles, scams, and phishing attempts.
- Discuss appropriate online behaviour to prevent cyberbullying (both as a victim and as a participant).
- Remind them that what they post stays online forever.
Lead by example
- Show good social media habits.

Online Gaming

Social media is not the only way that children can interact with strangers online. With the rise in popularity of online gaming, an increased number of children are being exposed to risks online from a new source.

Modern games consoles have the capability to play games online with people from across the world, these games can range from family-friendly options to those with content aimed at an adult audience. Although some games come with higher age restrictions, as with social media, they are relatively easy to get around, resulting in children being exposed to material and subjects that are not suitable for their age such as violence, sexual behavior and drug misuse.

Many of these games have open chat capabilities, meaning any player can interact with another player, either vocally or through written messaging. This can allow predators to communicate with children, building up relationships often posing as a child themselves, before moving the conversation to another platform, or in person. This capacity to chat via games can also lead to cyberbullying from other players.

In game purchases are a mainstay for many online games and require real money to buy items to be used in game. These can often be mystery items, leading to a gambling-like interaction, which can then become an addiction. Unfortunately, these transactions are not regulated and could result in thousands being spent without the need for an adults approval. These purchases can also be manipulated into scams by other players in the games.

Played in a safe way, and monitored adequately, online gaming can offer many benefits, including an escape for children, allowing them to socialise with their friends and family, even when they cannot go out, offer a creative outlet and nurture a child’s imagination.

Steps to Make Online Gaming Safer

There are steps that can be taken to help reduce the risk whilst children are gaming online, they include:

Set-up parental controls
- Restrict chats with strangers and in-game purchases.
- Set screen time limits and filter inappropriate content.
Teach online safety rules
- Never share personal info (name, school, location).
- Block and report inappropriate players.
Monitor gaming activity
- Keep gaming devices in common areas.
- Check their friends list and discuss their gaming experiences.
Limit screen time and in-game spending
- Set gaming time limits & and encourage offline activities.
- Disable auto-payment & and teach responsible spending.
Stay updated and take action if needed
- Follow gaming trends and play with your child.
- Report harm.

General Online Risks for Children

The more time a child spends online, the higher the risk of them being exposed to inappropriate content. This can often happen without them actively looking for it, by either stumbling across it in search of something else, or by having it sent directly to them sometimes from another child. This content could include:

Explicit adult content, including pornographic material.
Content with offensive language, profanity and vulgar speech.
Websites promoting illegal or harmful activities, such as vandalism, crime, terrorism, racism, eating disorders, or suicide.
Media depicting violence or cruelty, including images, videos, or games that show harm to people or animals.
Online gambling platforms that encourage betting or wagering.
Unsafeguarded chat rooms, where conversations are not monitored to prevent inappropriate discussions.
Sexist content or materials that misrepresent or degrade individuals based on gender.
Hate-promoting content, including material that discriminates against protected characteristics.

The NSPCC reports that 56% of children aged 11-16 have seen explicit content online, an Ofcom report suggest that 33% of children 12-15 have seen sexist, racist or discriminatory content. Whilst another survey reports that 23% have seen hate speech online. Worryingly, only 9% of their parents were aware of their child’s experience.

Tips for General Online Safety

Again, not all content online is inappropriate for children, and most will need to use it at some point, but there are things that can be done to help protect them:

Set-up parental controls
- Use built-in filters on devices, browsers, and apps to block adult or harmful content.
- Enable SafeSearch on Google and YouTube to filter out inappropriate material.
- Use kid-friendly search engines (e.g., Kiddle, KidRex).
Use child-safe browsing and apps
- Install child-friendly platforms like YouTube Kids and curated game sites.
- Encourage the use of age-appropriate games and apps.
- Disable access to websites with gambling, violence, or explicit content.
Educate children on online safety
- Teach them not to click on suspicious links or ads.
- Explain the risks of pornography, violence, and harmful ideologies.
- Encourage open conversations so they feel comfortable reporting anything unsafe.
Monitor and limit online activity
- Keep devices in common areas for easy supervision.
- Set screen time limits and create a balanced offline-online routine.
- Regularly review browsing history and discuss their online experiences.
Enable privacy and reporting tools
- Turn on privacy settings on social media and games to restrict strangers.
- Show them how to block & and report inappropriate content or users.
- Use cybersecurity software for added protection against harmful websites.

Summary

As the internet continues to evolve, so too must the measures taken to safeguard children online. By fostering digital literacy, setting clear boundaries, and encouraging open conversations, parents, educators, and caregivers can help create a safer online environment. While the internet offers valuable opportunities for learning, connection and enjoyment, it also presents risks that require awareness and proactive management. With the right guidance and safeguards in place, children can navigate the digital world securely, allowing them to explore, grow, and thrive without compromising their well-being.

More information

ONS report ‘Bullying and online experiences among children in England and Wales: year ending March 2023’ 👉 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/bullyingandonlineexperiencesamongchildreninenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2023

Ofcom report ‘Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report’ 👉 https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/media-literacy-research/children/children-media-use-and-attitudes-2024/childrens-media-literacy-report-2024.pdf?v=368229

Ofcom report’ Children’s Media Lives 2024: Ten Years of Longitudinal Research’ 👉
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/media-literacy-research/children/children-media-use-and-attitudes-2024/childrens-media-lives-2024-summary-report.pdf?v=367549

NSPCC website 👉 https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

Our Child Online Safety Awareness course 👉 https://hsqe.co.uk/courses/child-online-safety-awareness/

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Author: Mark Harvey
(c) HSQE Ltd 04/02/25