Guidance by age
The conversation should grow with the child.
There is no single settings checklist that fits every child. Choose an age range, then adjust for maturity, independence and the services they actually use.
Ages 5-7
Shared play and simple rules
Keep online activity close, contacts known and the help rule easy to remember.
Open this guide → Ages 8-10Practise safety skills
Set up accounts together and rehearse blocking, reporting and telling an adult.
Open this guide → Ages 11-12Prepare for social pressure
Discuss gifts, secrecy, group chats and requests to move to another app.
Open this guide → Ages 13-15Name sextortion directly
Talk plainly about image requests, threats, impersonation and asking for help.
Open this guide → Ages 16-17Independence with a safety net
Cover consent, image abuse, financial coercion and helping a friend.
Open this guide →Built to connect, not duplicate.
These local guides provide a practical starting point and link families to current specialist guidance from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection and ProtectKidsOnline.ca.