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Go to BasketOnline Safety Advice & Tools for Parents
Helping families keep children safe online
We’re here to empower families to navigate the digital world safely and confidently. Explore trusted online safety advice, resources and toolkits designed to educate parents, carers and teachers on topics such as safe device set-up, screen time and online risks. Together with Internet Matters, we’re helping families build positive digital habits and keep children safer online.
Start Safe Online
Setting Up Your Child's First Phone Safely
Getting a child's first phone is an exciting milestone. Setting up the right controls and creating healthy digital habits from the start can help children enjoy technology safely and confidently.
- Set up a child account
- Enter the correct age
- Turn on safety filters
- Use parental controls
- Keep talking
Get your tailored Online Safety Plan
Whether you're setting up your child's first phone or navigating new apps, screen time and AI tools, the Little Digital Helps Toolkit provides free online safety advice tailored to your family's needs.
Created with Internet Matters, the toolkit includes:
A tailored online safety plan based on your child's age and needs
Expert guidance on devices, apps, online trends and AI
Practical tips for screen time, healthy digital habits and online safety
You'll receive age-specific guidance, like:
- Ages 0-5: Starting safe
- Ages 6-10: Learning and playing online
- Ages 11-13: Social media and beyond
- Ages 14+:Independent digital life
- Children with additional needs
Free to use. Created with Internet Matters.
Online safety resources for parents and carers
Manage parental controls and settings
Learn how to manage content settings, age restrictions and parental controls to help protect your child online.
Manage screen time for your family
Build healthy digital habits with practical advice on setting screen time limits and creating a balanced online routine that works for your family.
Choosing the right phone and plan
Explore phones and plans designed for children and teenagers, with options that help families stay connected with confidence and stay in touch.
Interactive Online Safety games
Help children build digital skills and learn about online safety through fun activities from Digital Matters by Internet Matters and explore real-world online scenarios.
Stay Safe Online
Simple ideas to support safer online habits
Building healthy digital habits doesn't need to be complicated. Small, consistent changes can help children develop a positive relationship with technology and make online safety part of everyday family life.
- Plan one phone-free meal each day
- Try a new online activity for families each month
- Have regular check-ins about what your child is seeing online
- Agree screen time limits that work for everyone
Start better conversations about Online Safety
Did you know, almost half of parents and carers are not confident understanding the language children use online? We’re on a mission to help you understand the serious nature of what can go on behind screens and highlight why talking to your children about online safety and their digital lives is so important. We’ve gathered real insight from speaking to children across the UK about the language and phrases they hear and use online.
Working with online safety experts Internet Matters, we’ve created a conversation starter guide to help your family have meaningful chats about online safety around the dinner table.
Helping families navigate AI with confidence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming part of everyday life, from chatbots and search tools to social media and learning platforms. Understanding how AI works can help parents and carers support children in using these tools safely and with confidence.Explore our age-based AI conversation toolkits, quizzes and practical tips to help your child stay safe online.
Social media support for families with Sway.ly
Help children navigate social media safely with support designed to encourage positive online experiences and healthy digital habits. Selected Tesco Mobile Safe Start plans include 12 months' access to Sway.ly, giving parents extra tools and guidance as children take their first steps into the digital world.
Real family stories and expert advice
Summer Holiday Family Activity Planner
This summer, grap your phones and try something new. Spend quality time together as a family by ticking off these fun activities. From researching new places to eat and green spaces to explore, to using AI to identity nature, our Family Activity Planner is your shortcut to a fun filled day out.
Download your Family Activity Planner here and watch how the Jackson family completed their below.
Watch The Mirror's Youtube Video
How AI is impacting families like the Karleys
Through our partnership with The Mirror we want to shine a light on how AI is impacting families today, and how Tesco Mobile can support families in having open conversations about AI and online safety. Read the article here.
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Campaigns, Partnerships and Community Support
We work with schools, charities and online safety experts to help children, parents and teachers build safer digital habits. From Safer Internet Day campaigns to school grants and creative competitions, we're committed to supporting online safety education across the UK.
Safer Internet Day
Discover our Safer Internet Day tips, tools and advice to help children and families stay safe online.
Grants For Schools
Find out how we're helping schools access funding and resources to support online safety education and digital literacy.
Competitions and Winners
See how pupils become online safety champions through competitions with Internet Matters and Digital Matters.
Internet Matters
We work with Internet Matters to promote online safety for families and schools. We provide trusted resources, practical tools and digital skills guidance to help children stay safe online.
UK Social Media Ban & New Online Safety Rules
The UK Government has announced new online safety measures, including plans to restrict social media use for under‑16s and introduce stronger protections like age checks, limits on livestreaming and reducing contact from strangers.
Get the latest updates and what it means for your family from Internet Matters.
Online Safety FAQs
Review privacy settings, parental controls and app permissions every few months, or whenever your child gets a new device, downloads a new app or reaches a new age group. Keeping online safety settings up to date helps protect your child online.
Children should never share personal information online, including their full name, address, school, passwords, phone number, location or bank details. Once information is shared online, it can be difficult to remove.
Most social media platforms provide tools to report harmful, abusive, bullying or inappropriate content. Look for the "Report" option within the app or platform. In cases involving threats, exploitation or criminal activity, contact the police or appropriate safeguarding organisations.
Teach your child to be cautious of unexpected messages, competitions and requests for personal information. Encourage them to check with a trusted adult before clicking links or making purchases online.
Bullying has changed and can now happen anywhere, anytime.. Help protect your child from the lasting effects of cyberbullying by learning how to help them deal with it.
- Take an active interest in their digital life from the start
- Set parental controls on broadband, devices, apps and platforms
- Learn as much as you can about cyberbullying
- Start having age-appropriate conversations early
- Encourage positive online experiences
- Talk about the consequences of what they say and do online
- Recognise bullying behaviours
- Know when and how to report those behaviours
Find out more about cyber bullying,
All our phones are set by default to block access 18+ adult content. If you're the account holder and you want to access 18+ content you'll need to confirm your age. Once confirmed, you will be able to be able to turn on parent controls to restrict access to content suitable for under 12s.. You'll also be able to change your content settings at any time in your Account..
Find out more here.
For iPhone, parents can use the Screen Time feature in Settings to restrict particular content, apps and websites.
For quick safety set up on YouTube, prioritise these top parental controls.
- Create a Supervised account
- Manage screen time settings
- Restrict inappropriate content
For a step by step guide, find out more here
Our top tips for families to stay safe online:
- Set parental controls
- Understand phishing schemes
- Spot and report smishing attempts
- Protect yourself from online fraud
- Keep your data secure