Child and father looking at smartphone screen on a white background

Your child’s first phone

Learn how to keep your child safe online

Practical advice to help you introduce your child to the digital world

When should a child get their first phone?

Every child is different, and all sorts of factors will affect when they’re ready to start using the internet safely. But when as a parent you decide the time is right for your child to have their first phone, there are a few things you can do to help them stay safe. Watch this video for some top tips.

Setting parental controls

Most devices and some apps and games include parental controls. Understanding how these can be used to control in-app purchases and block upsetting or harmful content will help your children explore the online world safely.

Parental controls need to be installed on your devices, and managed inside the sites, social networks, apps or games used by young people. You can get help setting up parental controls on our Age restricted content help page, or by popping into your nearest O2 store.

Remember, parental controls aren’t fail safe – they won’t stop kids seeing inappropriate content on other devices. So it’s always important to talk to your children about what they might see online.

Staying up to date

Being online gives kids the opportunity to play, create, learn and connect. The possibilities are endless. But there are also risks. That’s why we’re here to help. The NSPCC website has simple, bite-size information and advice on the social networks, apps and games yours kids are using, helping you explore the platforms together with your child.

Keeping kids safe online

Where to start

The internet is part of everyday life for families, but we know every parent and child is different. That's why we're here to help you find the best ways to keep them safe.