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Digital Safety Tips for Parents

10. Co-Create a Written Family Media Agreement

Work with your child to create a written contract that outlines expectations for cellphone use, including which apps are allowed and the consequences for violating rules. This agreement should explicitly state that the goal of monitoring is accountability and safety, not secrecy, and that you will inform them about the specific controls you have implemented.

9. Leverage Built-In Native Parental Controls

Set-up phones as a child account and do not allow them to lie about their age.  Invest the time to activate the native controls on your child’s specific device (iOS Screen Time or Google Family Link). These tools allow you to block adult content, filter explicit search results (SafeSearch), and set "down times" during school hours or at night. While kids may find clever ways to bypass these, they provide a necessary baseline for safety.

8. Utilize Third-Party Monitoring with Behavioral Flagging

While native controls (like Apple or Google) can limit time, they often lack the ability to analyze content for mental health risks. Subscribe to a third-party protection plan like Bark, Qustodio, Canopy, or Aura which uses advanced machine learning to scan texts, social media, and emails for specific indicators of suicidal ideation, cyberbullying, and depression. Unlike simple keyword searches, these tools use contextual analysis to distinguish between a casual phrase and a genuine cry for help, notifying you immediately so you can intervene.

7. Lean on Home Network Tools

OpenDNS, as well as your Internet service provider tools, can create a safety net that manages both what a child sees and how long they spend online. OpenDNS allows you to block entire categories of content (like adult material or social media) at the network level and receive detailed reports on which sites are being accessed. Your internet service provider, like Xfinity,  Verizon Fios, Fastbridge, and Service Electric allow you to assign devices to a child’s profile to set "Downtime" schedules (e.g., no Wi-Fi after 9 PM), establish "Active Time Limits" to prevent overuse, and use "Active Time Details" to see which apps or categories are consuming their time.

6. Establish "No-Phone Zones" to Prevent Isolation

Research shows that the presence of a phone in a private space can increase social isolation and hinder the development of self-regulation. Mandate that bedrooms and bathrooms are phone-free zones. Keeping device use in public areas of the house allows parents to stay "in the loop" with their child’s digital life simply by being physically present.

5. Implement a Central Charging Station and Digital Curfew

Sleep is critical for mental and physical health; phones in the bedroom are major disruptors that can lead to late-night "scrolling traps".  Establish a central charging station (such as a basket in the kitchen) where all devices "go to bed" at least one hour before established bedtimes. 

4. Start with Basic "First Phones"

A child's first phone does not need to be a smartphone. Consider basic flip phones or "feature" phones that allow for calling and GPS tracking but do not offer access to social media or addictive algorithms. Delaying the "smartphone milestone" gives your child's prefrontal cortex more time to develop the impulse control needed to handle more complex digital environments.

3. Watch for "Digital Red Flags" and Habit Shifts

A shift from "digital safety" to "digital wellness" involves recognizing when phone use is displacing healthy behaviors. Be alert if your child becomes distressed when separated from their phone, or if they begin neglecting sleep, exercise, or face-to-face social interactions. 

2. Engage in Frequent, Nonjudgmental Conversations

Education is the most powerful tool. Regularly discuss why certain limits exist, sharing research on how phones affect focus and memory. Ask your child how they feel when using certain apps and how they feel when you are distracted by your own device. Open communication ensures that if they encounter an issue, they view you as a source of support rather than a source of punishment. Also think about a "No-Consequences” policy to alleviate the fear of having a device taken away.

1. Delay Social Media

Choosing to "Wait Until 8th" is a smart way to protect your child’s mental health and brain growth. In early middle school, the brain is still building its "control center," known as the prefrontal cortex, which handles decision-making and impulse control. Introducing social media too early can overwhelm this developing area with addictive content and distractions before a student is ready to handle them.

Bibliography

The following resources were used to compile the strategies and insights provided above.

  • Apple Support. "Use parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad." (Published December 12, 2025).
  • AT&T Wireless. "AT&T Secure Family® App."
  • Bark. "Online Safety for Kids — Internet Parental Controls App."
  • Common Sense Media. "Cellphones and Devices: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers." (April 26, 2024).
  • Digital Citizenship Curricula. "Digital Literacy at GM" and "Top 5 Tips for Managing Student Cell Phone Use."
  • Do, K. T., Grammer, J. K., and Bishop, J. P. "Strengthening K-12 Cellphone Policies to Support Student Learning and Well-Being: Research-Based Guidance for U.S. Education Leaders." UC|CSU Collaborative for Neuroscience, Diversity, and Learning; UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. (2025).
  • Google Safety Centre. "Google's Parental Controls: Family Link."
  • Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA). "Family Digital Wellness Parent Toolkit."
  • Price, Catherine. "10 Tips to Help Your Kid (and You) Break Up with Screens." After Babel (Substack by Jonathan Haidt). (June 06, 2024).
  • Reading Pediatrics. "Beyond Screen Time: A Parent’s Guide to Media Use." (Wyomissing, PA).
  • T-Mobile Privacy Center. "Family and Parental Controls." (Updated October 10, 2025).

Wait Until 8th. Wait Until 8th, 2025, www.waituntil8th.org/. Accessed 5 Jan. 2026.