Cyber safety for kids

Estimated reading time
 6 min

Key points

• In a digital world, some of the most important lessons we can teach our kids are about their online safety.
  
  
• Some of the biggest threats include scams (such as phishing) and cyberbullying, as well as the potential dangers that come with online gaming.
  
  
• Knowing how to educate your kids about their online safety can go a long way toward keeping their online lives safe and happy.

These days, kids spend a lot of their waking hours online – they’re practically born with a smart device in their hand. So, when it comes to children’s online safety, the more you know, the better off they’ll be.

According to Kids Helpline, around 92% of teenagers told the organisations that they’ve felt unsafe and uncomfortable while online.¹ So the earlier you can protect their cyber-life, the better.

Let’s explore what you need to know about cyber safety for kids and how you can teach your kids about their own online safety.

Why is cyber safety for kids important?

The answer might seem obvious – kids’ safety is important in all areas of their life. However, while an increasingly digital world opens doors for innovation and enrichment, it can also attract cybercriminals. As parents and caregivers, we can’t be everywhere at once, but ensuring our kids have safe online practices can mean we don’t have to be.

We get it. Having these conversations with kids can be tricky, but remember, they can’t report what they can’t recognise. Teaching them about things like cyberbullying, data protection, and inappropriate behaviour will empower them to say something as soon as they feel unsafe.

“As a mum of two growing boys, I can see the incredible advantage that access to the online world affords them; however, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’,” says Erica Hardinge, ANZ Product Area Lead in Technology. 

7 ways to help secure your child’s accounts and devices

Parents and caregivers are excellent at keeping kids out of harm’s way in real life, but while it’s scary, cybercriminals also pose a threat by gaining access to your kids’ devices.

1. Teach kids about passphrases

What’s better than a super sophisticated password? A passphrase. Make it long (14 characters at a minimum), strong (why not include some special characters and symbols?) and feel totally random (use an unusual mix of words, like ‘blue-robot-vanilla-key’ for example).

2. Make sure multi factor authentication (MFA) is enabled

If your child is young, you could use your phone number or email address for verification so that they need to check in with you each time they log in.

3. Update security software and back up their data

Turn on automatic updates on your child’s devices to help keep their software up to date. Regular data backups are also a great practice, so they won’t risk losing their schoolwork if their device is compromised!

4. Disable location services and camera access

Don’t allow apps to use location services wherever possible. Most apps don’t need to know where your child is to function properly. The same goes for camera and photo access – with most apps, you can now opt to deny all photo and camera access or allow limited access only when you use the app.

5. Enlist the help of online safety tools

Check what parental controls are available for your devices and networks You can implement these controls on your child’s devices to stop harmful content from reaching them and monitor the amount of time they spend online and who they can contact. You can also install protective software to block inappropriate websites and help protect personal data.

6. Teach kids the importance of online privacy

The more your child understands about the risks of privacy breaches online, the better. Have frequent (age-appropriate) conversations about the ways your personal information can be used against you online, such as phishing scams. Encourage your child to speak to you before they share any private information anywhere online and advise them never to respond to an unknown message, SMS or email they receive on their devices. They should also always be set to private on social networking sites if it is an option.

7. Have the tough conversations about online criminals

It’s essential to have open and honest discussions with your kids about tactics used by online criminals, and set firm rules about what your child is allowed to share online. Most of all, keep the conversation going – check-in repeatedly.

Erica advises, “Tell them that unless they have met the person in real life and confirmed in person that the account details match, they are not to ‘friend/connect’ with them. This is because there is no way to know whether they are communicating online with a 13-year-old girl or a scary adult who is hiding in a basement.”

Teaching your child to use social media safely

Most social media sites are not meant to be used by kids under 13, but it’s up to you to decide when your child is ready. Before you choose to allow your child to open social media accounts, talk to them about these online fundamentals:

• What is appropriate behaviour on social media – alert them to threats such as links to websites from strangers, threatening messages, and people asking them for money or to meet up.
  
  
• Cyberbullying and harassment – make an action plan for unwanted social contact. Tell your kids to share any online interaction that made them feel sad or uncomfortable.
  
  
• What is okay to share and what’s not – including what they receive from others. You might include personal details, private data and inappropriate images. Talk about their online footprint and potential impact on their reputation.
  
  
• Empower them to protect their own data—from the photos they post to the information they share with others (including banking details), it’s important to teach them about the importance of protecting themselves online so that they can learn to think critically, spot potential risks, and react appropriately.
  
  
• Role model good online citizenship—treat people online as you would in person. Remind your kids that there is a human on the other end of the messages they send, to discourage them from participating in online bullying.

As Erica says, “You wouldn’t let your child walk through dark alleys alone in real life; the same is true online—if anything, it’s even more important. Remember, in the online world, even if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and loves paddling in the pond like other ducks, it doesn’t actually mean it is a duck!”

Keeping your kids safe when gaming online

For kids, online gaming can be a wonderful and social experience. Their chats while playing can be the start of friendships or a way to keep contact with friends they don’t get to see often. But it comes with serious risks, so it’s always a good idea to ensure your child is aware.

Consider this case study, as told to the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)

A teenager was using a popular messaging platform often used by gamers while playing Minecraft. A new friend sent the teen a link through the messaging platform, and even though the teen felt suspicious of the link, they pressed it anyway. The link uploaded malware onto the teen’s device, and the cybercriminal could threaten the teen using their accessed personal information.

Talk to your kids about safe gaming practices, including:

• Reporting any contact that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe to a parent or guardian.
  
  
• Never share personal details through chats on gaming sites.
  
  
• Never download anything or follow links to ‘upgrade’ or ‘level up’ from an unverified source.  

What to do if your child experiences a scam or cybercrime 

The reality is that cybercriminals will target anyone they feel they can manipulate, and sadly, our kids are vulnerable targets. If your child falls victim to cybercrime, the first step is to ensure they know they have your full support and that you are here to keep them safe.

According to Erica, “For adults, impersonation scams are increasing, aided by AI. This risk is equally true for kids online, but it plays out differently. For example, instead of impersonating banks, it’s about impersonating other young people for gaming or romantic or other opportunities.”

If your child has sent money to the scammer

• Reassure them that this wasn’t their fault and that the scammers can be persuasive and trick anyone.
  
  
• Advise your child to immediately stop communicating with the scammer and to block them on the platform they were communicating on.
  
  
• If your child has shared financial information or transferred money, contact your bank immediately. If you’re an ANZ customer, contact us immediately to report the fraud.
  
  
• If your child has shared credit card details, ‘block’ or cancel those cards immediately. If your cards are with ANZ, you can report the stolen card through the ANZ app or by calling us. 

If your child needs support

• Contact Kids Helpline by calling 1800 55 1800, or talk to someone through their webchat counselling service, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  
  
• You can also contact IDCare, a not-for-profit organisation supporting those experiencing identity and cyber security concerns. 

If your child’s details have been compromised

• Help your child secure their online accounts, such as their social media, online banking, and video game accounts.
  
  
• Work with your child to change their passwords or create new passphrases. Make sure you create a new one for each account.
  
  
• Educate your child on the importance of online privacy and the risks of sharing personal information. You can head to the Australian Government eSafety website for helpful resources for parents.
  
  
• Look for any unusual activity, such as unusual transactions or login attempts from unlikely locations

Where to report the scam

• Help others by reporting to Scamwatch or to the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre’s ReportCyber.
  
  
• For phishing or identity theft associated with government accounts such as Centrelink, Medicare, or Child Support, contact the Services Australia scams and identity helpdesk on 1800 941 126 or visit their website.
  
  
• Contact your bank immediately if you have shared personal or financial information.
  
  
• If you’re an ANZ customer, you can report fraud or suspicious activity in multiple ways, such as through the ANZ app or by calling us