Young Carers
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.
Why this matters
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.
Quick wins
Enable family safety features on your home router to filter content automatically
Time: 15 minutes
Set a device bedtime on all phones and tablets to protect sleep
Time: 10 minutes
Check in briefly once a week about how online time is going — keep it light and positive
Time: 5 minutes
Common challenges
Limited free time makes manual monitoring impractical
Prioritise automated safety tools such as router-level parental controls, app time limits, and platform safety settings that work in the background without requiring ongoing attention.
Emotional vulnerability and the need for an escape
Acknowledge that the internet can be a positive outlet. Focus on curating safer spaces — vetted gaming platforms, moderated communities — rather than restricting access entirely.
May use devices late at night after caring duties
Set device bedtime settings to protect sleep, and have a calm conversation about why sleep matters for their own wellbeing as much as for the person they care for.