While under 16s are now banned from social media platforms – how do you protect your teens 16 and over? The Optus Digital Thumbprint supports young people and families to stay safe in today’s digital world.
While parents of teens previously might’ve grappled with not knowing where their children were, today’s constant connectivity comes with its own parenting challenges. Namely, protecting their privacy in digital spaces.
Social media, apps and games keep teens connected to their friends and the world around them, but it often makes it easier for them to share personal information with cybercriminals or be contacted in ways that are misleading or dangerous.
The privacy problem
When teens use social media accounts or gaming platforms with public profiles, anyone can view their posts, photos, and other information they share. Public profiles also allow anyone to interact with them freely. A key concern is location sharing, which many apps enable by default. This feature can reveal where your teen spends their time, creating detailed movement patterns that could put them at risk.
The most effective protection starts with setting profiles to private and limiting the information shared online. Teens often believe people when they claim to know a mutual acquaintance at their school, making privacy settings crucial for controlling who sees their content and who can contact them.
Protecting your teen’s privacy on popular apps and games
Talk to your teen about the safety benefits of the following:
Snapchat
In the “Who can…” section of your teen’s profile settings on Snapchat:
– Make sure the “Contact me” and “View my story” are set to “My friends” only
– Enable “Ghost mode” to keep their location private and prevent their Bitmoji from appearing on Snap Map
Instagram
– Set “Account privacy” to “Private account” so only approved followers can access information, posts, comments and see other followers
– Adjust “How others can interact with you” settings to prevent even followers from seeing activity status or tagging them
– Review and manage blocked accounts regularly
TikTok
TikTok has different default privacy settings for different age groups:
– For users 16+, accounts are automatically public and require manual adjustment
– Restrict who can comment, mention, and tag videos
– Duet is a content creation feature on TikTok that allows two user’s videos to play side-by-side. It could mean that predators can directly interact with your child, and post content featuring them without their consent. You can restrict Duet to only people on your child’s Follower list, or disable the feature entirely.
Discord
– Adjust “Who can add you as a friend” to limit friend requests
– Toggle settings to protect your child from random server members reaching out
– Automatically block explicit images and spam
– Consider adjusting privacy on a per-server basis
Fortnite
– Set “Party joinability” to “Friends” or “Invite only” to ensure strangers cannot join games
– Limit “Voice chat” to “Friends & Teammates” or more restrictive settings
– Block problematic users by clicking on their name and selecting “Block” or “Unfriend”
Help Your Teen Develop Strong Digital Security Practices
Regular conversations about online safety and privacy are essential for helping teens navigate digital spaces safely while they develop independent digital skills they’ll carry into adulthood.
Optus Local General Manager for NSW Nick Gibson says:
“Parents have a huge role in guiding their teen through how to protect their digital footprint. Young people, especially teenagers, often connect with their friends on social media, gaming or other online platforms. This means protecting their information is crucial. The Optus Digital Thumbprint website offers easy to understand and important tips on how to protect their online footprint making it an important resource for all parents who have children online.”
Best tips include:
– Create passwords that are at least 14 characters long, using combinations of upper/lower case letters, numbers, and symbols
– Store passwords somewhere safe
– Avoid using the same password across apps and games
– Ensure usernames and passwords don’t include personal information like names or birth dates
– Change passwords regularly
– Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible
When problems arise
Despite precautions, privacy breaches can occur. If your teen receives inappropriate contact:
– Capture evidence through screenshots or screen recordings (without saving any inappropriate images)
– Report issues to the platform immediately
– Contact the eSafety Commissioner if platforms don’t respond within 48 hours
– Reach out to police through the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation for serious concerns
For additional support:
– eSafety Commissioner: For reporting cyberbullying, image-based abuse, and illegal content
– Australian Cyber Security Centre: To report cybercrime, online threats, and data breaches
– IDCARE: For identity theft and cyber security support
– Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800): 24/7 counseling services for teens needing emotional support
– 13YARN (13 92 76): 24/7 support service with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters
This article was put together using resources and information from the Optus Digital Thumbprint, which has been endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider. For more digital safety workshops, guides and resources for young people and families, please visit their hub.
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