Start of the New School Year: Digital Safety Reset

Device audit before term begins

Before school starts, do a quick audit of all devices your child uses. Check parental controls are still active, review installed apps, update all software, and remove anything that appeared over the summer that you are not comfortable with. Five minutes per device now prevents months of drift.

Review and update your family digital agreement

If you have a family online safety agreement, revisit it at the start of the year. Children's needs and maturity change — rules that felt right at the end of Year 7 may need adjusting for Year 8. Updating the agreement together, rather than imposing new rules, gets better results.

Set expectations about devices at school

Many children have school-related devices that may have different rules from home devices. Be clear about what is and is not allowed — checking social media during lessons, for example, or using devices on the school bus. Ensure any school-issued device has appropriate content filters applied.

Talk about the start-of-year social media landscape

September brings a surge in social media activity as children reconnect with friends, share first-day photos, and form new group chats. It is a good moment to remind older children about privacy settings, the importance of not sharing school information publicly, and how to handle new group chats.

Check in on new friendships and online connections

New school year often means new friends — and new online connections. Ask casually who your child has been talking to online, which group chats they have joined, and whether any new people have made contact. Keep the tone light and curious rather than interrogating.