Children and Technology: Parent Guide and Podcast

What are the potential benefits?

Healthdirect notes that technology and online environments can support education, creativity, problem-solving, confidence and social connection. Whether these benefits occur depends on the activity and how it is used.

Technology is more likely to add value when children are actively creating, communicating, practising a skill or solving a meaningful problem. Adult involvement can be particularly helpful for younger children. Ask questions, connect digital content with everyday experiences and help the child notice when information is inaccurate, persuasive or incomplete.

Where can risks arise?

• Content: violent, sexual, hateful, frightening or misleading material
• Contact: bullying, grooming, scams, sexual requests or pressure to move to a private platform
• Conduct: sharing something harmful, excluding another person or acting impulsively in a group
• Commercial design: advertising, subscriptions, virtual currency, random rewards and pressure to keep engaging
• Privacy: collection or sharing of names, images, locations, school details, health information and other personal data
• Displacement: technology repeatedly replacing sleep, movement, responsibilities or relationships

A difficult transition or an enthusiastic period of use does not by itself show addiction or harm. Look at the pattern, the child’s functioning and whether risks continue despite reasonable support and boundaries.

Five questions to ask before saying yes

1. What is the purpose? Is the child learning, creating, connecting, playing or seeking advice?
2. Is it suitable? Check the age requirement, Australian classification, content and communication features.
3. Who can make contact? Review chat, friend requests, location sharing and whether strangers can reach the child.
4. What information is collected? Check permissions, privacy settings, advertising and whether the service stores conversations or images.
5. What could it replace? Plan when it will be used and protect sleep, physical activity, school responsibilities and family time.

Parental controls can help, but they do not replace conversation and gradual skill-building. Revisit settings as the child, service and risks change.

Helping children use AI safely

AI assistants can help with information, translation, brainstorming and learning. AI companions are designed to feel more personal or relational. The distinction can become blurred when a general assistant remembers information, gives personal advice or responds in a human-like way.

In a 2026 eSafety survey of 1,950 Australian children aged 10 to 17, 78% reported having used an AI assistant. Among children who had used an AI assistant or companion, 32% reported sharing personal or potentially sensitive information and 20% reported a potentially inappropriate or harmful interaction. These are self-reported survey findings. They do not show that all AI use is harmful.

Parents can help children:

• avoid sharing names, addresses, school details, passwords, private images or sensitive health information
• check important claims against a trusted source rather than assuming the response is correct
• recognise that an AI system does not have feelings, professional judgement or a confidential therapeutic relationship
• bring health, safety, sexual, self-harm or relationship advice to a trusted adult
• tell an adult if a chatbot becomes sexual, threatening, manipulative or encourages secrecy
• understand their school’s rules about AI-assisted work and acknowledge its use where required

Explore the tool together before allowing independent use. Check its minimum age, privacy settings, conversation history, image functions and reporting options.

Australian social media age restrictions

Since 10 December 2025, many age-restricted social media platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or keeping accounts. The responsibility sits with platforms. Children and parents are not penalised if an under-16 accesses an account.

Under-16s may still view public content that does not require an account, and most standalone messaging, gaming, health and education services are not covered by the same restriction. An exemption does not mean a service is automatically suitable or risk-free. Check the eSafety Commissioner’s current guidance, because the list of affected platforms can change.

How families can build safer technology habits

Stay interested

Ask children what they enjoy, who they interact with and what feels difficult online. Invite them to show you the app, game or AI tool. Children are more likely to seek help when adults respond calmly and do not threaten an automatic ban after every mistake.

Make expectations specific

Agree on permitted services, contacts, purchases, device-free times and where devices stay overnight. Explain the reason for each boundary. Our screen-time guide for children covers Australia’s recreational screen-time recommendations and practical transition strategies.

Protect accounts and privacy

Use strong unique passwords, multifactor authentication where available and the most protective suitable privacy settings. Turn off unnecessary location, camera, microphone and contact permissions. Teach children to pause before posting and to consider who could save, copy or redistribute the content.

Plan for problems

Show children how to mute, block and report. Agree that they should stop contact and tell an adult about threats, sexual requests, grooming, blackmail, persistent harassment or pressure to share private information. Preserve ordinary evidence such as usernames, URLs and screenshots when needed, but do not save or redistribute sexual images of anyone under 18.

When to seek extra support

Consider speaking with a GP or psychologist when technology use is persistently affecting sleep, learning, relationships, self-care or emotional wellbeing, or when a child cannot reduce a risky pattern despite significant consequences. Assessment should consider the whole child, including anxiety, mood, attention, development, bullying, family circumstances and the role the technology is serving.

Use the eSafety Commissioner’s parent resources for current reporting and online-safety guidance. Call Triple Zero (000) if anyone is in immediate danger. If emotional or behavioural concerns are contributing to the pattern, a child psychologist consultation can help clarify an appropriate next step.

What to remember

• Judge the activity, content, design and context, not only the device or total time.
• Choose technology that supports a clear purpose and suits the child’s age and development.
• Teach privacy, critical thinking and help-seeking alongside technical controls.
• Treat AI output as generated information, not confidential professional advice.
• Keep conversations open so children can ask for help without shame.