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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.
With children accessing the online world from an early age, understanding online safety is more important than ever.
From apps and games to messaging and social media, children interact with a wide range of digital platforms as part of everyday life. When parents and caregivers know what to look out for, they’re better equipped to support their children and guide safe online behaviours.
Explore what you need to know about cyber safety for kids, and how you can help your child build safer online habits.
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
In Australia, most major social media platforms are designed for people aged 16 and over. Even before your child is eligible to have an account, gentle conversations can help them feel more prepared to navigate the online world safely.
These topics can provide a helpful starting point:
- Online behaviour
Talking about respectful and cautious behaviour can help children recognise risks, such as links from strangers, uncomfortable messages, or requests for money or in person meet ups.
- Cyberbullying and harassment
It can be reassuring for children to know they’re not alone if something negative happens online. Agreeing on what to do if they receive unwanted messages and encouraging them to talk about anything that upsets them can help them feel supported.
- What’s okay to share, and what’s not
Conversations about privacy can help children recognise what should stay personal, including details, images, or messages they receive from others, as well as how online activity can leave a lasting digital footprint.
- Protecting personal and financial information
Helping children understand how to look after their information - from photos they share to personal or banking details, can build awareness and confidence and supports their ability to spot scams or other online risks.
- Being a positive digital role model
Kindness and respect online matter just as much as they do offline. Remembering there’s a real person behind every message helps reinforce positive online behaviour.
Keeping your kids safe when gaming online
Online gaming can be a fun and social experience for kids. In game chats can help them build friendships or stay connected with friends they don’t see often. However, gaming environments can also expose children to risks like inappropriate language, scams, or contact from strangers. That’s why it’s important to help them understand how to stay safe while they play.
Here’s an example shared by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD):
A teenager was chatting on a popular gaming messaging platform while playing Minecraft. A new online friend shared a link, and despite feeling unsure, the teen clicked it. The link installed malware, allowing the cybercriminal to access personal information and threaten them.
Talk to your kids about safe gaming, including:
- Telling a parent or guardian about anything that feels unsafe or uncomfortable
- Never sharing personal details in gaming chats
- Avoiding links or downloads that promise “upgrades” or “level ups” from people they don’t know
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
- Report the scam to the Australian Signals Directorate’s ReportCyber portal. This resource is there for reports of scams where money or personal information has been lost.
- Help others by reporting to Scamwatch to help them prevent future losses, monitor trends and educate the population about emerging threats.
- 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
