Child safety guidance for children aged 8–17 who provide care for a family member, with a focus on automated safety tools and protecting limited free time.
Young carers are children and young people aged 8–17 who help look after a family member with an illness, disability, mental health condition, or substance dependency. Their caring responsibilities often leave them with less free time than their peers, and the internet may serve as an important outlet for relaxation, connection, and a break from pressures at home. Ensuring their digital safety often needs to be low-effort and largely automated, given the demands already placed on them.
Young carers are often emotionally mature beyond their years, but that can make them more, not less, vulnerable to manipulation online. They may turn to the internet for the social connection and carefree time they cannot always find at home. It is important that this space remains safe without adding further burden to the carer or their family.