Internet Use in Children
No. 59; Updated June 2025
The internet is trusted by both children and adults as reliable and accurate source of information and entertainment. Through the internet children have access to an almost endless supply of information and opportunities for interaction and amusement. However, the internet has real risks and dangers for an unsupervised child.
Internet browsers give children access to vast learning resources such as encyclopedias, news coverage, and educational videos. Children more often use the internet to watch entertaining videos, play games and communicate with friends and strangers on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. The ability to "click" from one activity to another appeals to a child's natural impulsivity and curiosity and desire for immediate gratification or feedback.
Most parents teach their children not to talk with strangers, not to open the door if they are home alone, and not to give out information on the telephone to unknown callers. Most parents also monitor where their children go, who they play with, and what TV shows, or books, they are exposed to. However, many parents don't realize that the same level of guidance and supervision must be provided for a child's online experience.
Parents cannot assume that their child will be protected by internet platforms. Most social media sites are practically unsupervised. Because of the anonymous nature of social media and gaming, children may not know if they are communicating with another child, an adult, or even a child predator. Unlike the visitors that a child receives at home, online texting or chatting is often unseen by parents. Unfortunately, there can be serious consequences to children who have been persuaded to give personal information, (e.g. name, passwords, social media account, home address, or parents’ credit card) or have arranged to meet an online contact in person.
Some of the other risks or problems include:
- Accessing content that is inappropriate or overwhelming such as pornography or graphic violence
- Being exposed to ideas that promotes hate, and violence
- Being misled and bombarded with intense advertising
- Being tricked into providing personal information to an unknown source
- Spending too much time online at the expense of healthy activities including development of real social skills, reading books, family togetherness, and physical exercise
- Being bullied on social media sites
In order to make a child's online experience more safe and educational, parents should:
- Limit the amount of time a child spends online and on screens
- Teach a child that texting or video chatting online is the same as talking with strangers
- Teach a child never to give out any personal identifying information online
- Teach a child to never agree to actually meet someone they have met online
- Never give a child credit card numbers or passwords
- Remind a child that not everything they see or read online is true
- Make use of the parental control features offered with your child’s internet device, or obtaining commercially available apps or programs, to limit time spent online and restrict access to social media and inappropriate websites, games, and videos
- Provide for a texting or a social media account only if a teen is mature enough to manage it, and plan to periodically monitor the teen’s online activity
- Monitor the content of a teen’s social media accounts
- Teach a child to use the same courtesy in communicating with others online as they would if speaking in person -- e.g. no vulgar or profane language, no name calling, etc.
- Insist that a child follow the same guidelines at other computers that they have access to, such as those at school, libraries, or friends' homes
Parents should remember that communicating online does not prepare children for real relationships. Spending time with a child periodically engaging in games, videos, and social media gives parents an opportunity to monitor and supervise the activity. It is also an opportunity to learn together.