In today’s hyper-connected world, technology and social media are woven into nearly every aspect of everyday life — including children’s.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, so do the risks, and cyber experts emphasize the importance of parents staying informed and actively engaged as essential to helping kids stay safe online.
“Although about only half of parents use formal parental controls, most are engaged in their children’s digital lives through household rules and open communication. In fact, nearly nine in ten children report feeling comfortable talking to their parents when something online makes them feel unsafe,” a 2025 Survey from Family Center for Online Safety found.
Up to 95% of youth ages 13-17 are on at least one social media platform, with more than a third stating they are almost constantly on social media.
Though there are some benefits to social media for young people, including meaningful connection and community, according to a 2023 Report from the U.S. Surgeon General on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, there is a stronger case for the harm that these platforms are causing.
“Adolescents who spent more than three hours per day on social media,” the report states, “faced double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety.”
The statistics reveal:
- 46% of adolescents aged 13–17 say social media makes them feel worse about their bodies.
- Adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media have double the risk of experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- 64% of adolescents report frequent exposure to hate-based content.
- More than one-third of girls of color encounter racist content monthly.
- Almost 60% of adolescent girls have been contacted by strangers online.
With such alarming data, parents are concerned.
Nearly 70% say parenting is harder now than it was 20 years ago—mainly due to technology and social media.
So how do adults keep children safe online this school year and beyond?
Fareedah Shaheed, an award-winning Internet Safety Expert, specializes in helping parents protect their children online.
A cybersecurity professional, Shaheed knows the dangers of online predators firsthand. At 13, she was groomed by predators while playing video games. As a teen, she didn’t understand the dangers of interacting with strangers online or even what grooming was.
“I had my first phone at 13. I had been begging my parents for a phone. When I got my phone, the first thing I wanted to do was connect with people I knew online,” she shares. “My mother told me specifically not to talk to people online. She didn’t know that you could communicate through games.”
After almost running away at 16 to move in with her predator, who was more than 20 years her senior, one conversation with her mother changed everything. She calmly asked Shaheed questions about the man and showed an interest in their relationship.
“It was like I was talking to my friend. She was very cool and calm,” Shaheed told The Informer. “That conversation changed my life. From that moment forward, our relationship completely changed, because I saw her as a human, I saw her as a support system, I saw her as a friend…not just like a controlling, overbearing mom.”
Her mom supported her in a way that only a mother could.
“I remember the way that my mom made me feel was better than the way that he made me feel. When I was supposed to be in a moment of trouble with her, she comforted me. When I was in a moment of trouble with him, he shamed me or made me feel guilty,” Shaheed continued. “With my mother, she didn’t make me feel that way. And that’s why I stayed.”
That experience was the catalyst for the work she does now.
“I got to experience all of it: the good, bad, and the ugly of the online world. I can show parents that you don’t need to know technology to protect your kids online.”
5 Tips for Keeping Young People Safe Online
Despite the potential dangers youth face online, there are ways parents can work to protect them.
Shaheed shares six tips for keeping children safe online:
1. Anytime an app is online, you need parental controls.
Any app connected to the internet and with a chat will have predators. It’s not about if, it’s about when and how they’re going to try to get to your child. If they are playing a game or using an app like Roblox, go online and search “Roblox parental controls.” You need to see if the chat and other risky features can be disabled. Many of these things are easy setups with instructions that can often be found on YouTube.
2. Open communication is key.
Every single parental control has a workaround, and a determined child will figure it out. The best thing to do is to figure out why your children want to get around something. Then you can assess, discuss, and make decisions together. That connection is your best protection.
3. Teach children to evaluate the quality of their time online.
Starting in middle school, switch the mindset from “screen time limits” to “what are your goals?” Is it productive or draining? Help them decide how much time is best spent developing their interests, creativity, and emotional well-being.
4. Respond to kids in crisis with empathy and emotional regulation.
It can be extremely distressing when a young person confides in you that they have been bullied online or you find out that they are being groomed by a predator. However, the best thing you can do to make them feel safe in coming to you is to not react in front of them. They are already experiencing their own emotions, and having to deal with yours too can make them think twice about sharing their challenges with you.
“Any emotions that you have, do it alone or with a supportive partner—not in front of your kids,” Shaheed suggests. “If you do react in front of your kids, you can always say ‘Give me a minute. I’m just going to take a couple of seconds to breathe because I’m really upset right now. I didn’t mean to yell at you. I just need a moment because I love you so much, and I don’t want something to happen to you.’”
The calmer you can be, the better the outcome will be, and the more information you’ll be able to get out of them.
5. Reference Common Sense Media (CSM), an independent source for media recommendations and advice for families.
Shaheed notes the site is a powerful resource for reviews, research, tips, and tools for parents and educators navigating the challenges of raising kids in a hyper-digital world. An advocacy organization, CSM’s mission is to build a healthier, more equitable, and empowering future for all kids in the digital age.
Importance of Communication and Connection
When it comes to keeping children safe on and offline, adults’ greatest tools are communication and connection.
Shaheed emphasizes being the type of parent who sets clear boundaries around technology — and also the kind whose kids know they will listen without judgment when things go wrong. That’s how adults become children’s safest place in a world that sometimes isn’t.
Avoid being judgmental and create a comfortable environment for them to share what’s going on, especially if they get entangled with a predator.
If a child is willing to talk to — even with attitude or hesitation — that’s a powerful opening for connection.
“Kids are taking their lives because they feel shame. They feel judgment. They feel ‘I have nowhere to turn to. People are going to look at me differently. My family is going to disown me,” Shaheed said.
Adults sharing their own difficult experiences can help young people feel less alone and more willing to open up.
“If you’re like, ‘Look, I’m here for you. I’ve gone through really uncomfortable situations myself’ — if you can relate to them, even better,” Shaheed said.
“If they came to talk to you, you are in the best position because they have opened up the door for connection and communication.”
Find out more about Shaheed and her work at www.cyberfareedah.com.