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Understanding Your Child’s Digital World and How to Keep Them Safe
From social media and messaging apps to gaming platforms and online trends, the digital world plays a powerful role in how children and young people connect, communicate, and develop their sense of self. But with these opportunities come significant risks, as highlighted in the Netflix series Adolescence, from exposure to harmful or sexualised content and online grooming, to cyberbullying, gaming pressures, and the impact of constant comparison. In this practical, research-informed session, parents will gain a clear picture of the digital landscape their children are navigating, including how platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Roblox, and online gaming spaces are designed, and why they can be so compelling for young users.
The session explores the realities behind screen time, wellbeing, sleep, and mental health, drawing on the latest UK data to separate fear from fact. Parents will learn how children communicate online using emojis, acronyms, slang, and coded language, and why context matters more than panic. We will also unpack key risks including cyberbullying, pornography exposure, sextortion, AI-generated content, and online grooming, helping parents recognise warning signs while understanding that many online interactions appear harmless at first. Throughout, the focus remains balanced: acknowledging the benefits of technology alongside the challenges and emphasising digital resilience rather than restriction alone.
Most importantly, this session is designed to be empowering. Parents will leave with practical, realistic strategies they can use straight away, whether that’s setting boundaries that actually stick, using parental controls effectively, or having better, more meaningful conversations about online life. You’ll learn how to ask the right questions, respond calmly when concerns arise, and build trust so your child feels able to talk to you early. Rather than aiming for control or perfection, this session supports parents to strengthen connection, confidence, and communication, helping children grow up safer and more resilient in a digital world.