Helping your kids behave respectfully online

Why being respectful online matters

Being online gives kids many ways to connect, share and express themselves. With a little guidance, learning to communicate respectfully helps those experiences stay positive.

According to the Australian eSafety Commissioner, being respectful online can help your child:

• build positive friendships
• avoid conflict and cyberbullying
• feel safer and more confident online.

When respect is part of online interactions, digital spaces are more enjoyable for everyone.

How to encourage respectful online behaviour

This doesn’t need to be complicated. A few clear boundaries, ongoing conversations and positive examples can go a long way!

1. Set boundaries and stay in the loop

This helps your child understand what’s appropriate and expected of them online. Encourage them to follow platform rules and use apps responsibly.

You can support this by:

• agreeing on screen use and online behaviour as a family
• using parental controls where helpful
• talking regularly about online experiences.

Regular check‑ins with your child can help you understand how they’re spending time online and make it easier for them to come to you if something goes wrong.

2. Champion kindness online

Kindness matters. Encourage your child to communicate respectfully and make positive contributions online, just like they would in person. Talking about how small comments or actions can affect others can help them be more mindful of how they interact online.

3. Think before posting

What’s shared online can stay around longer than we expect. Helping your child pause and think before posting can protect their privacy and give them confidence about what they share.

It can help to talk about:

• what information is best kept private
• how to use privacy settings
• sharing content that's age‑appropriate and respectful.

4. When things don't feel right online

Even with guidance, your child may still come across upsetting or inappropriate behaviour online. Make sure they know they can talk to you if something makes them uncomfortable.

Show them how to block or report harmful behaviour, stay calm when they share concerns and seek extra support if needed. The eSafety Commissioner has some great resources on online safety for parents and carers.

Learn more about online safety and wellbeing for families

Supporting confident digital citizens

Learning respectful online behaviour takes time. But with open conversations, clear expectations and ongoing support, you can help your child build positive online habits that support their wellbeing now and into the future.