It’s Safer Internet Day

Helping you help young people stay safe, confident and informed online

Safer Internet Day is a timely reminder of how central the online world is to young people’s education, communication and wellbeing.

From online learning platforms and revision tools to social media and messaging apps, the internet plays a major role in daily life for young people - bringing huge benefits, but also real risks.

At EduBridge Tutoring, we work closely with students aged up to 18 and their families across the UK, and we see first-hand how online spaces can both empower learning and, at times, undermine confidence if young people are not properly supported.

This Safer Internet Day, we’re sharing practical, parent-friendly guidance to help families create a safer, healthier online experience - without fear, over-restriction or overwhelm.

Why online safety matters more than ever

Children and teenagers today are growing up in a digital-first world. While many are technically confident, they may not always have the emotional tools or awareness to navigate issues such as:

• Online bullying or harassment

• Exposure to inappropriate or misleading content

• Pressure from social media comparison

• Unsafe communication with strangers

• Overuse of screens affecting sleep and focus

According to guidance from the UK Safer Internet Centre, online safety is most effective when it’s approached through open conversation and education, rather than monitoring alone.

Top tips for keeping young people safe online

1. Keep communication open and judgement-free

Encourage your child to talk about what they do online - the apps they use, the content they enjoy, and anything that makes them uncomfortable. Children are far more likely to seek help if they feel listened to rather than judged.

The NSPCC offers excellent advice on how to start age-appropriate conversations about online safety with children and teens.

2. Agree clear boundaries together

Involve your child in setting boundaries around:

• Screen time

• Device use before bed

• Which apps or platforms are appropriate

When children understand why boundaries exist, they are more likely to respect them and self-regulate.

3. Teach critical thinking, not just rules

One of the most important online skills is the ability to question what we see, so help your child think critically about:

• Whether information is reliable

• How images may be edited or curated

• Why some content is designed to provoke strong reactions

Resources from Childnet are particularly helpful for teaching digital literacy and resilience.

4. Encourage safe and respectful online behaviour

Remind young people that the same expectations around kindness and respect apply online as they do offline. Discuss:

• What constitutes cyberbullying

• The impact of words shared digitally

• How to report or block inappropriate behaviour

The UK Safer Internet Centre provides clear guidance on reporting harmful content across popular platforms.

5. Balance screen time with offline activities

Online learning can be incredibly effective, but balance is key. Encourage time away from screens through:

• Reading

• Physical activity

• Creative hobbies

• Family conversations

Healthy balance supports focus, mental wellbeing and academic confidence.

Online safety and learning: Our approach at EduBridge

As an online tutoring provider, safeguarding and student wellbeing are central to everything we do. Our approach is designed to support learning in a safe, structured and professional environment, including:

• Supervised tutor group chats for lesson-related communication

• Secure sharing of homework and feedback

• Lesson recordings and clear boundaries around tutor-student interaction

• Ongoing oversight from our Student Success Team

We believe online education should feel empowering, supportive and safe - for both students and parents.

Supporting confidence beyond the screen

As well as focusing on avoiding harm, online safety is also about helping young people to feel confident, informed and supported in digital spaces. When students feel secure, they’re better able to focus on learning, build resilience and achieve their goals.

This Safer Internet Day, we encourage families to see online safety as an ongoing conversation - one built on trust, education and shared understanding.

If you’d like to learn more about how we support students academically and pastorally through personalised online tuition, our team is always happy to help!