For our children, a safer digital world.
Technology is an inseparable part of their lives. Our task is not to ban it, but to learn together how to use it safely.
The digital world is not a threat but a city that must be navigated safely.
We patiently teach children how to walk on the street, how to speak with strangers and which places require caution. The digital world is a city of the same depth, yet we often let them explore it without a map.
This guide is not a list of prohibitions; it is a roadmap you can walk through together. From age-specific recommendations and screen time management to signs of cyberbullying and emergency protocols, we collected the information you need in one place.
Every age requires a different approach
The right boundaries for a three-year-old and a thirteen-year-old cannot be the same. Here are guidance points for each developmental stage.
The age of discovery: stay beside them.
At this age, screen experience should not be a toy used alone, but an activity shared with a parent. Filtering content and watching together matter more than simply setting limits.
Young children cannot reliably separate what they see from reality; ads, autoplay videos and instant notifications can quickly overwhelm them.
Limit daily screen time to 1 hour
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend digital media for children under age 2; for ages 2-5, it recommends a maximum of 1 hour per day with high-quality content, preferably with a parent present.
Choose apps with active child mode
Use supervised platforms such as YouTube Kids, Netflix Kids profiles and similar curated services. Standard YouTube algorithms are not appropriate for young children and can quickly drift into unexpected content.
Turn screens off 1 hour before sleep
Blue light and stimulating content reduce sleep quality. Keep screens out of the bedroom; support the night routine with books, music or conversation.
Disable in-app purchases
Enable the device setting that requires a password for purchases. A child at this age may not understand the result of every in-game button they tap; accidental purchases can become costly.
Talk about the content they watch
Questions such as "Was what the character did right?" and "What would you do?" build critical thinking and keep screens from becoming a passive consumption tool.
The stage where rules become clear and trust is built.
During school age, children develop digital skills quickly; messaging and games become part of friendships. This stage requires not only rules, but clear answers to the question "why".
You can no longer watch them constantly, so building an internal compass becomes more valuable than external monitoring.
Define clear rules for screen time
A general threshold is 1-2 hours after homework on weekdays and 2-3 hours on weekends. More important than the number is what the time is spent on. Passive video watching and creative app use are not the same.
Create the first age-appropriate account together
Many apps have a minimum age of 13. Opening an account earlier violates platform rules and puts the child into a world they may not be ready for. When creating an account, set the password together and apply the strictest privacy settings.
Teach the concept of a digital footprint
Explain that every shared photo and every written comment can be permanent, even if deleted, because screenshots can be taken. "Do not share anything you would not want your grandmother to read" is simple and effective.
Keep devices in shared spaces
Computers and tablets should be used in shared spaces such as the living room instead of bedrooms. This helps with supervision and also prevents isolation. Long solo screen sessions can weaken social skills.
Promise: "I will not judge you"
Tell your child clearly: "If something bad happens online, I will listen before I get angry." Many children hide negative experiences because they fear being scolded; the first step is building that bridge of trust.
Be a thinking partner, not just a rule maker.
Adolescence is the period when identity building moves onto digital platforms. Social media likes, follower counts and private messages become part of their inner world. Over-control breaks trust; total freedom creates serious risks. The right balance is essential.
At this age, open dialogue and teaching by example are more effective than monitoring tools.
Talk about screen quality, not only screen time
Four hours on TikTok and four hours learning code, making music or watching a documentary are very different things. Discuss content, not only duration.
Respect the right to privacy
Reading messages secretly may look like "providing safety" in the short term, but it destroys trust in the long term. If you are worried, ask openly and choose communication over surveillance.
Talk openly about privacy and consent
Sexting, unauthorized photo sharing and consent may be uncomfortable topics, but they must be discussed. These topics can also have legal consequences; information is protective.
Remind them that social media is staged
Likes, filters and "perfect" lives are major threats to adolescent mental health. Share the truth that Instagram life is not real life, without judgment and with your own examples.
Keep the "I need help" door open
When a teenager faces cyberbullying, fraud or a threatening situation, you should be the first person they call. That is made possible by a communication channel built years earlier and never weakened.
Dengeyi kurmak, yasak koymaktan daha zordur.
Research is clear: the issue is not only duration, but how screen time is spent, with what content and at what time of day. Here are recommended thresholds by age group from international health organizations.
Define screen-free spaces
Make the dinner table, bedroom and car screen-free zones. Protecting these spaces strengthens family communication and supports sleep hygiene.
Define screen-free hours
Avoid screens during breakfast and for 1 hour before sleep. These small but consistent boundaries make a major difference over time.
Set the example
Children learn more from what we do than from what we say. Expecting a child to stay away from screens while you are constantly on the phone sends an inconsistent message.
Games are not bad; understanding the risks is important.
Online games are spaces for friendship, creativity and fun. But each platform has its own risk profile. Here are six popular platforms and what to watch for.
- Some user-made games may contain inappropriate content
- Voice and text chat with strangers may be open by default
- Real-money spending through Robux is common
- Age verification is weak; account settings should be tightened
- Public servers outside Realms carry a risk of contact with adults
- Mods can contain malware; download only from official sources
- Offline and family-server modes are much safer
- Bedrock is better than Java Edition for parental controls
- Profanity and bullying through voice chat are common
- The V-Bucks and Battle Pass combination can create compulsive spending
- The game pace and FOMO effect can be exhausting for younger children
- The parental control panel is strong and should be used
- There is a high risk of contact with adults in public servers
- Fraud attempts such as free games or Nitro gifts are common
- NSFW channels may exist on many servers
- Private servers with known friends should be preferred
- The algorithm can quickly recommend inappropriate content
- Dangerous trends may spread under the name of challenges
- Effects on body image and self-confidence are supported by research
- Family Pairing should always be enabled
- Autoplay can lead to unexpected content
- Comment sections can be toxic and should be disabled
- Shorts can create TikTok-like addictive effects
- Scam links may appear through advertisements
Common rules for all games and platforms
- Create an age-appropriate profile on every platform; resist the pressure to "look older"
- Keep voice chat open only with known friends and closed to strangers
- Never share real name, school, address or photos
- Require parental approval for in-game purchases
- Accept friend requests only from people known in real life
- Inappropriate behavior, profanity or offers should be reported to a parent immediately
Know the helpers technology offers.
Parental control tools are support tools, not surveillance tools. When configured correctly, they give the child a safer space.
What should you do step by step by incident type?
The most important thing is to act calmly and in the right order. Here are separate action plans for three common scenarios.
My child is messaging or being threatened by someone they do not know
- Do not panic; do not blame the child. Do not lose the trust that allowed them to open up.
- Take screenshots of all messages; do not delete anything.
- Block and report the account on the relevant platform.
- If there are threats, sexual messages or meeting requests, contact the appropriate cybercrime authority.
- Talk to the child without judgment about what happened; psychological support may be needed.
My child's photo was shared without permission or they were cyberbullied
- Calm the child by making them feel safe and not alone.
- Save screenshots and URLs of the content.
- Report it to the platform as content involving a minor; these reports are often prioritized.
- If it is connected to school, contact the school guidance office.
- If there is a criminal element such as threats, defamation or privacy violation, report it to the appropriate authorities.
My child saw harmful content or their account was compromised
- If the account was compromised, change the password immediately and enable two-factor authentication.
- Remove unknown devices from active sessions.
- If they saw harmful content, talk about how they feel; do not force them to erase the image, manage the process together.
- If the content is criminal in your jurisdiction, report it through the official reporting channels.
- Seek professional support in repeated cases; it may have caused trauma.
My child spent money through a game or application
- Fill out the relevant platform's accidental purchase refund form (Apple, Google and Microsoft support this).
- Remove credit card details from accounts and require a password for every purchase.
- High-value purchases made by a minor may be refundable under applicable law; seek consumer support if needed.
- Have a calm conversation with the child about money, value and boundaries; do not shame them.
One agreement can be as strong as a hundred rules.
You can print the agreement below, discuss it with your family, sign it and place it in your child's room. What matters is not only the rules, but the process of thinking together.
Child’s Promise
- I will not share my real name, address, school or phone number with anyone I do not know online.
- I will not meet someone I met online without telling my family.
- If I encounter something disturbing, I will tell my parent; I will not be afraid because I know I will not be judged.
- I will turn screens off one hour before bedtime.
- I will not share other people's photos or private information without permission.
Parent’s Promise
- I will listen with interest to what you experience online; when something bad happens, I will not get angry first.
- I will respect your privacy and will not read your messages secretly.
- When you do not know something, I will not say "I do not have time now"; we will research it together.
- I will pay attention to my own screen time to set a good example for you.
- We will review our rules together regularly; I know boundaries will change as you grow.
Their future will be built on the trust we create today.
When building products, the first question we ask is: "Would we trust this for our own child?" Security is not a feature for us; it is the foundation of all our work.