As the school year begins, it is a good time to remind children about safe internet use

Many children get their first phone when they start school or begin using digital services more independently than before. However, a safe digital everyday life does not happen by itself: children need to learn digital safety skills together with their families at home. Support, interest and open discussion from parents and guardians remain the most important ways to keep children safe online.

A phone is an important tool for children to stay in touch with their family, school and friends. In many cases, a smartwatch phone or a basic mobile phone with a keypad may also be enough as a child’s first device. When choosing a device, consider the child’s age and capabilities, as well as which digital services they need in their everyday life.

Today, digital safety skills are just as important as traffic safety skills. The internet is part of children’s everyday lives, so they also need to learn how to use it safely together with adults.

The cooperation network Nyt valppaana verkossa, coordinated by the National Cyber Security Centre Finland at the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, brings together public authorities, organisations and businesses. As schools start, the network highlights the importance of safe everyday online routines. It promotes the digital safety of children, young people and families by raising awareness of scams and safe online practices.

Parents and guardians play a crucial role

Apps, games and social media services aimed at children have age limits designed to protect children from unsuitable content and other risks. Not all parents and guardians are familiar with the age limits of different services or understand why they matter, and setting up technical restrictions is not always easy.

Even when parents and guardians take an active interest in their child’s online safety, managing the settings of devices, apps and services can be challenging. Without appropriate security and privacy settings, children may encounter harmful content, harassment or scams, or become involved in activities whose consequences they do not yet understand.

This is why technical solutions alone should not be relied on to keep children safe in their digital everyday lives. What matters most is that parents and guardians support their child, talk to them about what happens online and help them practise safe ways of using digital services.

Online safety skills are learned through practice

One of the most important online safety skills for children is being able to recognise when someone is trying to scam or mislead them or obtain their information fraudulently.

These skills can also be practised through games. In Cyber City Tycoon, a game developed by Aalto University, players see the world from the perspective of a cybercriminal. The game helps players learn to recognise methods used in scams and understand how they can protect themselves from them in everyday life.

Media literacy is also an important part of online safety. Talk to your child about why they should not believe everything they see online at face value. The internet contains false information, manipulated images, scams and AI-generated content whose origin is not always clear.

The same precautions apply to AI as elsewhere online

Many children and young people already use various AI services for schoolwork, finding information and leisure activities.

Talk to your child about what kind of information they can safely share with AI services. They should not enter personal information, passwords, contact details or other sensitive information into these services. Conversations may be stored, and the information may later be used more widely.

A good rule of thumb is the same as elsewhere online: do not share anything that you would be uncomfortable seeing spread further or that could compromise your safety.

Device security is also part of a safe digital everyday life

It is also important to talk to your child about using their device safely.

Good basic guidelines include:

use the device in safe environments
protect the device with a protective case and screen protector
do not let others use your device or login credentials
use a strong passcode
do not share passwords with friends
enable the device’s location and remote locking features
know in advance what to do if the device is lost or stolen.

When choosing a mobile subscription, it is also worth looking into the security services offered by operators. These services can help block access to harmful websites and improve the security of the device.

Checklist for parents and guardians

Talk to your child regularly about what happens online.
Check the age limits and security settings of apps.
Enable the necessary privacy and security settings.
Agree together on rules for using the device.
Practise recognising scams.
Tell your child that they can always ask for help and will not get into trouble for telling you about unpleasant experiences.

Checklist for children

Do not share your passwords with anyone.
Do not give your name, address or other personal information to strangers.
Stop and think before clicking a link or opening a message.
Remember that you should not believe everything you see online.
Treat others well online too and do not take part in bullying.
If something feels strange, frightening or suspicious:
- end the conversation or close the app
- take a screenshot if necessary
- tell a trusted adult.

Help is available

If you suspect that a child has been the victim of a crime, scam or harassment online, help and advice are available. Practical support is available from organisations including the Police, the National Cyber Security Centre Finland and the telephone and chat services of Victim Support Finland.

A child’s first phone is also their first step towards a safe digital everyday life. Safety skills take time to develop and need to be practised together. A parent’s or guardian’s interest, presence and support are the most important safety net for a child online too.

Support and guidance