Our kids are spending more of their lives online than ever before, and for them, it’s not unusual—it’s just everyday life. Social media, gaming, and online communities are where they connect, create, and sometimes even struggle. As parents/ caregivers, one of the best ways we can support our kids is by initiating honest conversations about what’s happening in those spaces. Instead of focusing only on rules, focus on building trust so your child feels comfortable coming to you if something goes wrong online.

Conversation Starters

Here are some questions you can ask your child to engage in meaningful conversation about their online lives:

What do you like about social media?
How does it make you feel?
Why do you think someone would post like that?
What's the scariest, creepiest, most unfair thing you've seen online?
"I don’t know much about this social media platform. Can you show me a little bit about how it works, or what you like to look at on this one?”

These kinds of questions help you learn what your child is experiencing and give you a chance to share your values.

Tips for Parents to Encourage Communication

Stay Curious, Not Critical: Kids are more likely to open up when they feel listened to instead of judged.
Make it Safe to Talk about Mistakes: Frame mistakes online as chances to grow and make better choices next time.
Share Your Own Digital Life: Talk about how you use technology, what you like, and what makes you cautious — modeling openness encourages them to do the same.
Set Clear Expectations: Create family agreements about screen time, privacy settings, and not sharing personal information or images.

Talking About Sexting and Online Risks

When talking with tweens and teens, approach the topic with care. Shaming or focusing only on punishment may shut down the conversation. Instead:

Emphasize that any image shared online or by text can quickly get out of their control.

Say things like:

“It’s risky and can spread faster than you expect.”
“Sometimes kids get pressured or tricked into sending something — if that happens, we can get help.”

Avoid centering the conversation solely on sexting being illegal—if your child has already been involved, they might feel too scared or ashamed to talk about it.
Reassure them that their well-being will always come before anything else. Kids sometimes worry more about losing a phone, upsetting a friend, or getting in trouble for a mistake, but what they really need to hear is that their safety is the top priority.

Kids don’t need us to know everything about the latest app – they need us to ask, listen, and stay involved. By keeping the conversation open, we help them build the judgment and confidence to stay safe in the digital world.