Teenagers are old enough to want independence online, but young enough to still be developing judgement about risk. The most effective approach usually isn't blanket restriction, but building specific, practical habits together.
Reviewing privacy settings together — many platforms default to public profiles and precise location sharing, which are worth turning off together as a joint decision rather than an imposed rule.
Talking through how to spot manipulation — from romance-scam-style approaches to peer pressure tactics used by scammers targeting younger users specifically.
Being cautious about what location and school information appears in posts, including from friends tagging them.
Understanding that people online aren't always who they claim to be, without assuming this makes every interaction dangerous.
Make clear, in advance, that coming to you about an online problem — even one they feel embarrassed about — won't result in the internet or their device being taken away entirely. Fear of that consequence is one of the biggest reasons teenagers don't report problems.
If your teenager has shared personal information or images they regret, the platform's reporting tools can often remove content, and CEOP (via the NCA) can help with more serious situations involving exploitation.
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