How to Talk about Digital Safety with Your Children

Talking about digital safety works better as an ongoing conversation than as a single, solemn talk. Taking advantage of everyday moments, such as a news story about an online scam or something that happened to a classmate, usually opens the door more naturally than sitting down to "give the internet talk". It's key to use a tone of genuine curiosity rather than interrogation: asking which apps they use, what they like about them and whom they interact with, instead of only warning about dangers. When the child feels they can talk about their digital life without being judged or automatically punished, they're much more likely to turn to an adult in an uncomfortable situation, instead of hiding it for fear of losing access to their devices.