Why Being a More Involved Digital Parent Helps Your Child Thrive Online

Kids today spend a big part of their lives online — connecting with friends, watching videos, learning new things, and yes, sometimes coming across things or people they shouldn’t. As parents, it’s natural to worry. Are they safe? Are they telling us everything? Should we be setting more rules?

New research suggests that being more involved — even if that means being a bit stricter — can make a real difference in your child’s online wellbeing.

Kids feel less safe online than last year

According to the Children’s Wellbeing in a Digital World 2025 report by Internet Matters, 77% of children say they feel safe online. That sounds high, but it’s actually a drop from 81% the year before.

Children with extra vulnerabilities, such as special educational needs or mental health challenges, feel even less safe — only 70% say they feel safe online, compared to 79% of their peers.

And while most children still enjoy the good parts of being online, a lot of them also face harm. Two-thirds (67%) say they’ve experienced something harmful, such as bullying, unwanted contact from strangers, or upsetting content.

Related: Why Vulnerable Kids Face Greater Online Risks and How to Help Them Stay Safe

When parents get involved, children open up

The same study found that 93% of children feel they are at least somewhat open with their parents about what they do online. And more than half — 56% — say they are very open. That’s up from 51% the year before.

Even more encouraging, 28% of kids believe their parents know everything about their digital lives, compared to just 24% a year ago.

That means when parents pay attention, kids don’t necessarily pull away. In fact, they’re more likely to talk, share, and come to you when something goes wrong.

Parents are becoming more aware and more proactive

Over the last few years, parents have steadily become more involved in their children’s online lives:

• 82% now say they know what their kids are doing online (up from 78%).
• 87% know which games their children play (up from 84%).
• 82% know what websites and apps they visit (up from 77%).
• 77% know who their kids interact with online (up from 73%).

Setting boundaries helps, especially when done with care

The idea of being “stricter” might sound negative, but it doesn’t have to mean being controlling. It’s about setting healthy limits and using tools that support your child’s growth and safety.

• 43% of parents now set clear rules about how long their children can be online (up from 38%).
• 16% turn off the Wi-Fi at certain times to help limit screen time (up from 13%).
• 14% describe themselves as fairly strict or very strict about tech use — a small but steady rise from 11% last year.

Tips for setting gentle, effective limits:

• Create a daily internet-time schedule that fits your child’s routine.
• Use Bitdefender Parental Control to help enforce breaks
• Talk through the rules together so your child understands the “why.”

Related: 10 Screen Time Rules Every Parent Should Set for a Healthy Digital Balance

It’s not just about limits — it’s about connection

Rules alone won’t keep children safe. What matters just as much is having open, honest conversations.

Parents are still the number one source of support when children face something upsetting online. But this year’s report showed a slight drop in the number of parents who talk to their kids about online safety after something goes wrong — 66%, down from 73%.

Ideas for keeping the conversation going:

• Ask open questions, like: “What’s something funny or interesting you saw online today?”
• Use stories in the news or a YouTube video as a chance to chat about safety.
• Let your child know they won’t get in trouble for coming to you, even if they made a mistake.

Related: Kids Using Secret Decoy Apps: What Parents Need to Know About the Dangers

Digital tools help, but they’re not a replacement for you

Smartphones, apps, and parental controls can all help, especially when used with intention.

• 87% of parents say their child is safer when they can contact them by smartphone.
• 65% of parents with smartphone-owning children use tracking apps to see where their child is.
• Of those who track location, 90% say it makes them feel their child is safer.

Related: At What Age Can Kids Safely Use the Internet without Parental Controls?

You don’t need to be a tech expert to be a great digital parent

You don’t have to be a tech expert to protect your family online. With Bitdefender Family Plans, you get an easy-to-use dashboard where you, as the Family Manager, can oversee everyone’s digital safety from one place. Set healthy internet routines, filter out inappropriate content, block trackers and ads, and receive alerts when something suspicious comes up or someone in the family gets exposed to a data breach.

Everyone in the family gets the right level of freedom and protection. Children can explore fun and educational content in a secure environment. Teens have more independence, with age-appropriate limits and parental oversight to help them stay safe while growing online. Adults manage their own privacy, passwords, and devices, and can even be assigned as Secondary Managers to support family-wide security.

Plus, you get powerful tools under the hood: award-winning antivirus and scam protection, data breach alerts, a password manager, and unlimited VPN traffic to keep your family’s digital life private — wherever you are.

It’s simple, flexible, and designed to grow with your family. Try Bitdefender Premium Security.