The digital world holds incredible opportunities for children, but it also carries risks.
From education and entertainment to friendships and social identity, children’s lives are increasingly shaped online. Yet digital spaces also expose them to threats such as cyberbullying, online grooming, exploitation, and harmful content. Protecting children in the digital world is as urgent as keeping them safe in schools, homes, and communities.
That’s where eSafety programs for kids come in. By giving children, families, and educators the tools to stay safe online, we can minimise harm, and ensure the internet remains a place of connection, creativity, and opportunity. Read our eight tips to help protect children online.
What is eSafety and why does it matter for children?
Online safety for children is about more than blocking harmful sites or limiting screen time. It means equipping kids with the skills, awareness, and confidence to navigate digital spaces in safe and positive ways.
The risks are real. Children may be exposed to:
- cyberbullying that affects mental health and self-esteem,
- exploitation or grooming, where predators take advantage of trust,
- harmful content, such as violent or adult material,
- loss of privacy, with personal information shared or misused.
Globally, experts highlight that children face unique vulnerabilities because their rights and protections offline do not always extend to online spaces. Families need to embed early conversations about online safety and involve children in decision-making about technology use.
That’s why digital safety for families must be a shared responsibility. Parents, schools, governments, tech companies, and child protection organisations all have a role to play in keeping children safe online.
How Save the Children helps protect children online
Save the Children is one of the few child protection charities tackling online safety as a child rights issue. We believe that every child deserves not just access to digital opportunities but protection from digital harms.
Our approach includes:
- advocating for children’s rights online, ensuring policies and digital platforms take children’s safety into account;
- supporting young people’s participation by listening to children’s voices on how they use and experience technology;
- awareness campaigns including our involvement in Safer Internet Day, which encourages families, educators, governments, and companies to build a culture of respect and responsibility online;
- partnering with experts to share practical advice with parents and carers on how to create safer digital environments at home and in schools.
By treating online safety as part of our broader mission to protect children from harm, we’re helping ensure kids can thrive in a world where digital and physical realities are deeply connected.
Which charities focus on protecting children online?
Protecting children in the digital world is a shared responsibility. Around the world, different types of organisations play a role in ensuring children can explore the internet safely.
Some organisations focus on awareness and education, helping families, schools, and communities understand the risks of online harm and the steps they can take to reduce it. Others are centred on support services, providing confidential help to children who experience cyberbullying, unwanted contact, or other forms of online harm.
Government regulators like Australia’s eSafety Commissioner set standards, investigate complaints, and hold platforms accountable. At the same time, as an organisation focused on eSafety Save the Children embeds digital protection into broader child protection programs, ensuring that children’s rights are upheld both online and offline.
Together, these efforts form a network of protection that combines prevention, response, advocacy, and accountability, all with the goal of making the digital world safer for children.
Tips for parents and carers to keep kids safe online
Every family can take steps to strengthen digital safety for families. Practical strategies include:
- Create household rules together: agree on device use, screen time, and online boundaries with your child.
- Talk early and often: normalise conversations about online risks from a young age, so children feel comfortable seeking help.
- Balance supervision with trust: use parental controls where needed, but also respect your child’s privacy and independence.
- Stay updated: new apps and games emerge quickly, so ask your child to show you what they’re using and explore them together.
- Model good behaviour: demonstrate respectful, responsible online habits yourself.
- Encourage critical thinking: teach kids to question what they see online, from misinformation to unsafe requests.
- Build a culture of support: let children know they will not get in trouble for coming to you about something that worries them online.
Experts advise parents to approach safety as a family, not a set of rules imposed from above. Children want to be heard, and their perspectives are critical to making safety strategies effective.
How your support helps protect children in the digital world
Save the Children is a child protection charity that works to prevent harm. By supporting our work, you help us:
- run awareness campaigns like Safer Internet Day, which promote safe and respectful online cultures;
- advocate for stronger protections in government policy and tech industry standards;
- share practical resources with parents and carers to help them protect their children at home;
- ensure children’s voices shape the future of digital safety policies and programs.
Your support means more children can enjoy the opportunities of the digital world without fear of abuse, exploitation, or harm.
Join us in keeping children safe online
The internet should be a place where children can learn, connect, and thrive, not one where they’re put at risk. With your help, we can expand eSafety programs for kids, support digital harm prevention, and make sure children everywhere are free to enjoy the benefits of technology without fear.
By making a donation today, you are standing with Save the Children in building a safer digital world for every child.