Healthy digital habits start early, new eSafety research shows

Parents and carers are helping children build safe and healthy digital habits long before most have their first smartphone or social media account, new eSafety research shows.

Families of toddlers as young as three are setting boundaries, supervising online activities and talking about staying safe online, the data shows, with conversations continuing as children grow into teenagers and online experiences become more complex. 

Overall, the research confirms families are handling the challenges of digital parenting well, but it also highlights just how difficult their task has become, with many unaware of specific risks children may face, even where clear boundaries or restrictions already exist.

The two new research reports - Growing Up Online: parenting young children in the digital age, and Balancing risk and reward: Parenting in the digital world - are now available at eSafety.gov.au, where parents can also find a range of free resources, including live webinars, practical guides and conversation starters.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said parents should be encouraged by the findings while recognising that digital parenting is an ongoing journey.

“Parents are already playing a vital role in helping their children build safe and healthy digital habits through age-appropriate guidance, supervision and conversations that grow with their children.

“The conversations we have with a four-year-old won’t be the same as the conversations we have with a 14-year-old. Digital parenting isn’t a single conversation or a set-and-forget decision. As children grow, technology changes and new online risks emerge, parents need information that they can trust. eSafety’s practical advice and resources are there to help families at every stage of this journey.”

The Growing Up Online report found 97 per cent of children aged three to 10 have already been online, with 94 per cent using the internet in the past four weeks. It also demonstrated that parents are actively involved from the beginning - just under nine in 10 had talked to their child about online safety and around half only allowed online access under supervision.

Key findings from Growing Up Online:

• 97% of children aged 3-10 have been online outside of formal childcare, preschool or school settings
• 94% accessed the internet in the previous four weeks
• Around half of parents only allow their child aged 3-10 to go online when supervised by a parent
• Just under nine in 10 have talked with their young children about online safety
• Around 1 in 3 have discussed how algorithms influence the content children see online or what to do if children encounter sexual images online
• Nearly three-quarters of parents say supporting their child’s online safety can be challenging
• Many parents of young children use the internet to help manage the demands of modern parenting
• Concerns about young children going online are front of mind for parents, yet many parents also recognise the potential benefits

For older children, the Balancing Risk and Reward research found that 93 per cent of parents of children aged 10 to 17 have conversations about online safety with their children. 

The research also found:

• 92% have rules in place to help keep their children safe online.
• 84% regularly provide their child with guidance and advice about how to stay safe online.

However, discussions about newer and emerging issues are less common. 

Only:

• 26% of parents had discussed how algorithms influence the content seen online
• 11% had talked about how generative AI can be used and misused 
• 8% had discussed sexual extortion

Ms Inman Grant said supporting children online was a shared responsibility.

“Parents play a critical role in helping children develop healthy digital habits. They are on the frontline of helping children navigate the online world, but they shouldn’t have to do it alone. In Australia, families can turn to eSafety for guidance, resources and support at every stage.

“There is no single conversation that prepares children for every online experience. The most important thing is creating an environment where young people know they can seek support from a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right, and keeping those conversations going as children grow and their online lives evolve.

“Our aim is to give parents and carers the confidence, practical tools and trusted advice they need at every stage of their child’s digital journey. When families are supported and technology is designed with children’s safety in mind, young people are better equipped to enjoy the benefits of the online world safely, confidently and with resilience.”

To register for eSafety’s free webinars, to access practical advice for parents and carers, or to report serious online harm, visit esafety.gov.au.