Community Support
Practical digital-safety answers for families, seniors and local organizations.
Clear starting points for the everyday questions that matter at home: children’s online games, unsafe contact, scams, account recovery, connected devices and safer community technology habits.
Six areas. Four clear questions in each.
Start with the situation in front of you, then use the linked official resources for account settings or reporting.
Kids & online game safety
Games, chat, friends and spending.
Open questions
URUnsafe contact & reporting
What to notice and where to report.
Open questions
SSSeniors & scam prevention
Calls, texts, payment requests and help.
Open questions
FAFamily account safety
Passwords, recovery and old devices.
Open questions
HWHome devices & Wi-Fi
Updates, routers and shared computers.
Open questions
COCommunity & local organizations
Sharing guidance and safe workshops.
Open questions
Kids & online game safety
What should I check first on Roblox, Minecraft or Fortnite?
Start with the child’s real age, a parent-controlled recovery email, a unique password, multi-factor authentication where available, chat and friend settings, and spending permissions. Platform and device controls both matter.
Do I need to ban online games to keep my child safer?
Not automatically. A better starting point is age-appropriate settings, clear rules for new contacts and purchases, and a family culture where a child can tell an adult about an uncomfortable interaction without expecting automatic punishment.
Should voice chat and friend requests be enabled?
Choose the most restrictive setting that still fits the child’s age and the way they play. Review the setting together and distinguish people the family knows from accounts met only online.
How can I stop surprise game purchases?
Use the platform’s purchase PIN, approval or spending-limit features, and check the console, phone or tablet payment settings as well. Avoid leaving a payment method available without a safeguard.
Unsafe contact & reporting
What are common signs of unsafe online contact?
Take notice when someone asks a child to keep a secret, move to another app or private chat, share personal information, accept gifts in exchange for contact, or do anything that leaves the child worried, rushed or embarrassed.
What should I say if my child tells me something uncomfortable happened online?
Stay calm and thank them for telling you. Make it clear they are not in trouble. Stop the contact, use the platform’s block and reporting tools, and preserve only the account and report details needed.
When should I report something to Cybertip.ca?
Cybertip.ca is Canada’s national tipline for reporting suspected online sexual exploitation of children. Its site explains the reporting process and other support resources. Call 911 if there is an immediate safety concern.
Should I forward or download concerning material?
No. Do not forward, download or share potentially illegal material. Keep only the details needed to make a platform or official report, and follow the direction of the appropriate authority.
Seniors & scam prevention
What should a senior do if a caller says they are from the bank, police or government?
End the call and contact the organization using a phone number from a bank card, statement or official website. Do not rely on a number or link supplied by the caller, text or pop-up.
Should anyone share a one-time security code?
No. A one-time code is normally used to approve access to an account. A legitimate bank, government office or support provider should not need a code sent to a customer’s phone or email.
What if money was sent or account access may have been exposed?
Contact the financial institution immediately using a known number, change affected account passwords, and report the incident to local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Quick action can matter.
How can I help an older relative without making them feel embarrassed?
Treat it as a normal safety check, not a test. Sit together, use a known contact method, and agree that pausing to verify a request is always reasonable.
Family account safety
Is a password manager worthwhile for a family?
For many families, yes. A reputable password manager can make it easier to use a different strong password for each account and to keep recovery details organized.
Who should control recovery email addresses and account recovery options?
A responsible adult should be able to access the recovery route for a child’s important accounts. Review recovery email addresses, phone numbers and backup codes whenever a device or phone number changes.
Is it okay for everyone in the home to share one account?
Shared logins make it harder to protect privacy, manage purchases and tell who changed a setting. Use separate accounts where the service supports them, especially for email, banking and devices.
What should we do before giving away or recycling an old device?
Back up what is needed, sign out of accounts, remove the device from trusted-device lists, factory reset it using the manufacturer’s instructions, and use a reputable recycling or resale route.
Home devices & Wi-Fi
What is the easiest home device-safety improvement?
Turn on automatic updates for phones, tablets, computers, routers and smart devices where practical. Updates often address known security issues.
What should I change on a new home router?
Replace the router’s default administrator password, use a strong Wi-Fi passphrase, keep its software current, and consider a guest network for visitors and smart devices.
Are smart TVs, speakers and cameras part of home security?
Yes. They are connected devices with accounts, software and sometimes microphones or cameras. Use unique account passwords, updates, and only the features your household actually needs.
How should a shared family computer be set up?
Use separate user accounts where possible, require a screen lock, keep the operating system and browser updated, and avoid storing passwords in a shared browser profile.
Community & local organizations
What topics can a community digital-safety session cover?
Useful topics include phishing and scam recognition, safer passwords and multi-factor authentication, family account recovery, children’s online-game settings, and practical reporting routes.
Can a library, club or community group share these resources?
Yes. The guides are intended to be plain-language starting points. Link directly to the official Canadian and platform resources included on each page when a setting or report needs to be completed.
Should families bring passwords or private account information to a workshop?
No. A workshop should teach safe steps without collecting passwords, verification codes, financial information or private messages. Account-specific support should use a private, appropriate channel.
Where should an immediate child-safety concern go?
Call 911 for an immediate safety concern. For suspected online sexual exploitation of a child, use Cybertip.ca. CyberTECT provides general digital-safety education and is not an emergency or investigative service.
Use the source that matches the problem.
Call 911 if there is an immediate safety concern. This hub provides general education, not emergency, legal or investigative advice.