Conversation Starters

Helpful prompts to discuss digital safety with your family

Tips for Effective Tech Conversations

  • Choose a relaxed, non-confrontational time and place
  • Listen more than you talk - encourage sharing without judgment
  • Share your own experiences and concerns honestly
  • Make it a dialogue, not a lecture
  • Revisit conversations regularly - digital safety is ongoing
  • Celebrate good decisions and problem-solving

Young Children (Ages 5-9)

Ages 5-9

Getting Started with Online Safety

  • "What are your favorite games or videos online?"
  • "Who do you like to talk to or play with online?"
  • "Have you ever seen something online that made you feel confused or uncomfortable?"
  • "What should you do if someone you don't know tries to talk to you online?"
  • "Why do you think it's important to ask a grown-up before downloading something?"
Ages 5-9

Personal Information

  • "What information about yourself should you keep private?"
  • "Why shouldn't we share our address or phone number online?"
  • "Can you show me how you would close a website if it asks for your name?"
  • "What's the difference between telling friends at school something and posting it online?"
Ages 5-9

Being Kind Online

  • "How can we be kind to others when we're playing online?"
  • "What would you do if someone was mean to you or your friend in a game?"
  • "Why is it important to use nice words online, just like in real life?"
  • "How do you think your words make other people feel?"

Tweens (Ages 10-12)

Ages 10-12

Social Media Readiness

  • "Do any of your friends use social media? What do they like or dislike about it?"
  • "What kind of things do you think are okay to post online?"
  • "How would you handle it if someone asked you to keep a secret about something online?"
  • "What does 'digital footprint' mean, and why should we care about it?"
  • "If we set up a social media account together, what rules should we have?"
Ages 10-12

Online Friendships

  • "How do you know if someone online is really who they say they are?"
  • "What's the difference between online friends and real-life friends?"
  • "Have you ever felt pressured to do something online that didn't feel right?"
  • "What would you do if an online friend asked to meet in person?"
  • "How can we tell if someone online has good intentions?"
Ages 10-12

Recognizing Problems

  • "What are some signs that a website or message might not be safe?"
  • "Have you heard about cyberbullying? What do you think it means?"
  • "If something bad happened online, would you feel comfortable telling me?"
  • "What should you do if someone sends you a message that makes you uncomfortable?"

Teens (Ages 13-17)

Ages 13-17

Digital Identity & Reputation

  • "How do you think your online presence reflects who you are?"
  • "Have you ever regretted posting something? What did you learn from it?"
  • "How might what you post now affect your future (college, jobs, relationships)?"
  • "What do you think about before sharing a photo or thought online?"
  • "How do you balance being authentic online while maintaining privacy?"
Ages 13-17

Relationships & Pressures

  • "Have you ever felt pressure to respond to messages immediately? How do you handle that?"
  • "What are your thoughts on sharing relationship details or photos online?"
  • "How can you tell if someone is trying to manipulate you online?"
  • "What would you do if someone asked you for photos you weren't comfortable sharing?"
  • "How do you handle FOMO (fear of missing out) from social media?"
Ages 13-17

Critical Thinking & Media Literacy

  • "How do you determine if news or information you see online is accurate?"
  • "What do you think about influencer culture and sponsored content?"
  • "Have you encountered fake news or misinformation? How did you realize it was fake?"
  • "How do algorithms influence what you see online?"
  • "What strategies do you use to avoid echo chambers or filter bubbles?"
Ages 13-17

Digital Wellbeing

  • "How does social media make you feel about yourself?"
  • "Do you ever feel like you spend too much time online? What helps you balance?"
  • "How do you handle the pressure to always be connected or available?"
  • "What are some offline activities that make you happy?"
  • "How can we support each other in maintaining healthy tech habits?"

Difficult Conversations

When Something Goes Wrong

  • "I want you to know that you can always come to me, even if you made a mistake online. Can we talk about what happened?"
  • "I'm here to help, not to punish. Tell me what's going on so we can figure this out together."
  • "Have you seen or experienced anything online that's been bothering you?"
  • "I noticed you've seemed upset lately. Does it have anything to do with something online?"

Privacy & Security Concerns

  • "Let's review your privacy settings together. Can you show me what you have set up?"
  • "Have you ever been asked to share a password or personal information? What did you do?"
  • "What would you do if you thought one of your accounts was hacked?"
  • "How do you decide which apps or websites are safe to use?"

Cyberbullying

  • "Have you ever witnessed someone being bullied online? How did it make you feel?"
  • "What would you do if you or a friend was being cyberbullied?"
  • "Why do you think people sometimes act differently online than in person?"
  • "How can we be 'upstanders' instead of bystanders when we see bullying?"

Family Agreement Conversations

Screen Time & Balance

  • "What do you think is a reasonable amount of screen time for our family?"
  • "When and where should we have device-free time?"
  • "How can we make sure technology doesn't interfere with sleep, homework, or family time?"
  • "What activities could we do together that don't involve screens?"

Expectations & Consequences

  • "What rules do you think we should have about online behavior?"
  • "What should happen if someone in the family breaks our digital agreement?"
  • "How often should we review and update our family rules?"
  • "What concerns do each of us have about technology use?"

Ongoing Communication

  • "How can we make sure everyone feels comfortable sharing concerns about online experiences?"
  • "Should we have regular 'tech check-ins' as a family? How often?"
  • "What's the best way to approach each other if we have questions or concerns?"
  • "How can we learn about new technology and trends together?"

Remember

The goal of these conversations is to build trust and open communication. Your child should feel safe coming to you with problems, questions, or concerns. Keep the dialogue ongoing - digital safety isn't a one-time talk, but a continuous conversation as technology and circumstances evolve.

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