Resources for Parents

Choose Resources for Parents by Topic

Resources for parents: where to start

Read Digital Footprint to review what others can find. Use Children and Online Privacy for consent, family sharing and app permissions.

Continue with Protecting Personal Information Online for account security and scams. The Dangers of Social Media explains contact, content, AI and wellbeing concerns.

How to use a safety guide

Settings can differ by country, subscription, device and account age. Check both the parent and child setup where a service offers supervision. Use a genuine birth date and review settings after software updates or a change in family circumstances.

• Start with account security, privacy and contact controls.
• Explain each change to the child and agree when you will review it.
• Check whether a control is an enforced limit or only a reminder.
• Discuss blocking, reporting and asking a trusted adult for help.
• Avoid assuming that an age check or private account guarantees safety.

AI, images and family conversations

Children may encounter AI tools inside familiar apps as well as separate chatbots. Discuss what information must stay private and whether a service keeps or reuses uploaded material. Webwise AI Aware offers further Irish family learning.

Use Video Guides for Parents for conversations about boundaries and privacy. Preview each resource and use its written booklet where that format suits the child better.

Family resources for social media and messaging

Social media guides explain profile audiences, followers, comments, tags and contact from other users. Start with Social Media Safety Settings, then open the individual service your child uses. Review teen protections and supervision separately, because an adult account may offer different controls.

Messaging guides cover conversations, calls, group invitations and account access. Use Messaging Apps Safety Settings for the appropriate app. However, encrypted messages can still reach an unsafe recipient, and another participant may save or forward them.

For both topics, discuss how to leave an uncomfortable conversation and ask for help. A privacy setting does not establish a contact’s intentions. Therefore, review the child’s experience as well as the switches available in the app.

Parent guides for search and streaming

Search controls address different concerns, including explicit results, tracking and browsing information. Use Search Engine Safety Settings to find the relevant service. However, a search filter does not prevent someone following a direct link or using another browser.

Streaming guides explain profiles, maturity limits, PINs and other available controls. Open TV and Movie Streaming Services for your provider. Check each television, phone or browser that the family uses, because controls and account access may differ.

In addition, review shared adult profiles and saved billing details. Discuss recommendations, trailers and adverts as well as the selected programme. Where a service lacks a useful control, explain that limitation and choose an appropriate alternative.

Family resources for gaming

Gaming can involve chat, purchases, user created content and contact outside the game itself. Begin with Gaming Platform Safety Settings for the family platform. Then check the game account and any linked messaging service separately.

For specific games, use our Roblox guide, Fortnite guide or Minecraft guide. Review contact, content and spending controls before play. Similarly, check whether a purchase approval applies to every device or only one account.

Agree how a child can leave a troubling interaction without losing access to support. Winning, rewards or pressure from teammates should not require sharing personal information. Therefore, revisit the setup when the child joins a new game or group.

Keep resources for parents useful over time

A guide is a starting point rather than a one time guarantee of safety. Features can change after an update, and a child may begin using another account or device. Consequently, agree a short review routine instead of relying on an old setup indefinitely.

• Review permissions and contacts after installing a new app.
• Check privacy and recovery details when changing devices.
• Discuss any change in sleep, mood or online friendships.
• Ask what the child finds helpful or uncomfortable in a service.
• Keep reporting routes easy to find without making the child feel monitored constantly.

These resources for parents support family decisions, while specialist services address urgent or complex concerns. If an interface differs from a guide, consult the provider’s current help information. Contact CODA about an unclear guide, but use the reporting and emergency routes below when someone needs immediate protection.

Find reporting and specialist support

Call 112 or 999 if someone faces immediate danger. For suspected crime, use Garda reporting information. Report suspected illegal online content through Hotline.ie and avoid downloading or sharing sexual images of children.

Childline provides free phone and online support for young people. Our Useful Links directory helps families find further services. CODA education does not replace emergency or safeguarding assistance.

References

• Webwise AI Aware: Irish family education resources on generative AI.
• Garda reporting information: Official crime reporting and emergency information.
• Hotline.ie: Reporting suspected illegal online content and intimate image abuse.
• Childline: Support for children and young people.

About Children of the Digital Age

Children of the Digital Age provides online safety education and training for families, schools and organisations. Our work brings together practical safety guidance, cybersecurity and cyberpsychology. For education and training enquiries, visit Contact Us.

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Contact us to discuss education, training or practical guidance for your family, school or organisation. Use emergency and safeguarding services for urgent concerns.

Last updated: 14 October 2026