Social Kids

24/09/2026

For many children, gaming is about fun, competition and friendship. But online games can also include voice chat, text chat and contact with people your child doesn't know in real life.

New research into children's online experiences highlights gaming chat as an important area for parents to understand. In a 2026 Norton study across 12 countries, 54% of parents whose children played chat-enabled games said their child had chatted with a stranger, while 29% said the child had been encouraged to continue the conversation on another platform.

So don't just ask: “What game are you playing?”

Ask:
“Who do you talk to when you play?”
“What happens if someone asks you to move the conversation somewhere else?”
“What would you do if someone made you uncomfortable?”

Gaming safety starts with conversation.
Register here: https://socialkids.co.za/register/

23/09/2026

Cyberbullying isn't staying the same.

Artificial intelligence is making online bullying more complicated, from manipulated images and impersonation to content that can be created and shared at incredible speed.

A 2026 United Nations Office on Violence against Children report on cyberbullying highlights how AI is adding new complexity to an already serious threat to children's safety and wellbeing. It also emphasises that preventing cyberbullying requires action from families, schools, technology companies, governments and children themselves.

This isn't something parents can solve alone.

And it isn't something children should have to handle alone either.

We need to teach children: Stop. Save. Block. Report. Tell.

🔗 Read the report: https://violenceagainstchildren.un.org/en/media/1009

This report focuses on cyberbullying: What is it, how it happens, how Artificial Intelligence is shaping it and making it more complex to address, and why it is a growing global threat to children’s safety and wellbeing. It shows how online bullying is often connected to offline bullying and can l...

22/09/2026

Children don't always realise just how much information they can reveal about themselves online. Something as simple as a photo of a school uniform, a birthday post, a location tag, a profile name or even a screenshot can provide clues about who they are, where they go to school, where they live or where they spend their time.

Individually, these details may seem harmless, but when combined, they can reveal a surprising amount of information about a child. That's why it's important to teach children to think carefully about what they share and who might be able to see it.

Codey Crawler advises children not to share personal information such as their address, telephone number, school name, parents' names or passwords online.

A simple question can help children develop better online habits: “Would I give this information to a stranger in real life?” If the answer is no, it's probably best not to share it online either.

Teaching children to Think! Before they click, is an important part of developing Internet Maturity and helping them stay safer online.

Register here: https://socialkids.co.za/register/

21/09/2026

The school bell rings, your child comes home, and the school day is over. But for some children, the bullying doesn't necessarily end when they leave the classroom.

Messages, group chats, comments, screenshots, memes and online exclusion can follow children home and continue long after the school day has finished. Cyberbullying can reach children wherever they are because digital communication doesn't stop at the school gates.

So, what should parents look out for?

🔹 Becoming distressed after using a device
🔹 Becoming secretive about their online activity
🔹 Withdrawing from friends or activities they normally enjoy
🔹 Changes in mood or sleep
🔹 Becoming anxious about messages, group chats or social media

If you notice a change in your child's behaviour, try not to begin the conversation with, “What did you do?”

Instead, let them know that you're there to listen without judgement. Something as simple as “I'm here. You can tell me what happened” can help your child feel safe enough to open up.

Cyberbullying can be difficult for children to navigate on their own. Keeping communication open and making sure your child knows where to turn for help is an important part of keeping them safe online.

Learn more: www.socialkids.co.za

18/09/2026

Imagine your child receives a message online that makes them uncomfortable.

What happens next?

Do they:
❌ Delete it because they're scared you'll be angry?
❌ Keep it secret because they're worried they'll lose their device?
❌ Try to handle it themselves?

Or do they come to you?

One of the most important things we can teach children is that telling a trusted adult is always the right thing to do.

Codey Crawler recommends encouraging children to speak to a parent or trusted adult immediately if something online makes them feel upset, uncomfortable or scared.

So remind your child: “You won't be in trouble for telling me.” That sentence could make all the difference.

Learn more: www.socialkids.co.za

17/09/2026

A photo isn't always just a photo anymore. A voice isn't always proof that someone is who they say they are. And a video isn't necessarily real.

AI is changing how children experience the internet, introducing new challenges around fake images, impersonation, misinformation, manipulation and online exploitation.

Research highlights how generative AI is introducing new child-safety risks, including increasingly realistic synthetic content and the possibility of children developing unhealthy emotional relationships with AI systems.

This means some of the old online-safety rules need an update.

“Don't talk to strangers” isn't enough.

We also need to teach children:

🔹 People online may not be who they claim to be.
🔹 Images and videos can be manipulated.
🔹 AI can create convincing fake content.
🔹 Not everything online is true.
🔹 If something makes you uncomfortable, tell a trusted adult.

Technology will keep changing. Our children's ability to navigate it safely needs to keep growing too.

Sign up for a FREE Internet safety course for kids: https://socialkids.co.za/register/

15/09/2026

1 in 5.

That's the estimated proportion of children aged 12–17 across 21 countries who experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a single year. That means approximately 20 million children.

A new UNICEF report released highlights the scale of technology-enabled abuse, including unwanted sexual content, sexual solicitation, coercion and the non-consensual sharing of sexual images.

And perhaps one of the most concerning findings?
Less than 1% of these experiences were reported to authorities.

Children don't always tell us when something has happened online.

They may feel embarrassed or frightened. They may worry they'll get into trouble or not even understand that what happened to them was abuse.

That's why creating an environment where children know they can tell, ask and talk without fear of punishment is so important.

Online safety isn't just about parental controls. It's about giving children the knowledge and confidence to recognise danger and seek help.

Talk to your child. Keep the conversation open.

🔗 Read the latest UNICEF findings: https://www.unicef.org/eca/press-releases/1-5-children-across-21-countries-have-experienced-tech-facilitated-sexual

More than half of abuse occurred on mainstream social media platforms; less than 1 per cent of all experiences were reported to authorities, new report finds

09/09/2026

The online world our children are growing up in is changing faster than ever.

Social media, online gaming, AI, messaging apps and increasingly sophisticated digital tools are creating incredible opportunities for children to learn, connect and explore.

But they are also creating new risks.

Online grooming, cyberbullying, inappropriate content, scams, manipulation and AI-generated content are becoming increasingly difficult to recognise, even for adults.

The answer isn't to keep children away from technology forever. It is to help them understand it.

Children need to know what information is safe to share, who they can trust, what to do when something feels wrong and, most importantly, that they can always come to a trusted adult for help.

Online safety isn't a one-time conversation. It's an ongoing skill. That's why Internet Maturity matters.

At Social Kids, we help children develop the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate the digital world more safely. And our programme is FREE!.

🔗 Register here: https://socialkids.co.za/register/

27/08/2026

A blanket fort, a cardboard box, or a simple stick can turn into anything a child dreams up. 📦✨

Imagination is far more than just play; it is the foundation for critical thinking, problem-solving, empathy, and resilience.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, finding a balance between screen time and unstructured play is essential for helping our kids become creators rather than just consumers.

Check out our latest blog post to read why imagination is your child’s greatest superpower and discover simple ways to nurture it at home!

Read more: https://socialkids.co.za/why-imagination-is-your-childs-greatest-superpower/

Discover why imagination is essential for child development, critical thinking, emotional wellbeing, and learning. Learn how to nurture creativity while balancing screen time for children under 11.

27/08/2026

$17.1 billion sends a powerful message: safer social media is possible when child wellbeing is built into the design.

Meta has agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion to settle claims brought by 47 US states concerning the effects of Facebook and Instagram on young people.

The agreement introduces significant protections for teenage users, including:
✅ A combined two-hour daily limit
✅ Restricted access during overnight hours
✅ Muted notifications during school hours
✅ Stronger age-verification measures
✅ Improved parental controls
✅ Limits on visible “likes” and other social-comparison features

This reinforces an important truth: many online risks are not simply the result of how children use technology. They are also shaped by how platforms are designed.

Parents cannot carry the full responsibility alone. Children need safer technology, consistent regulation, age-appropriate digital education and ongoing guidance at home and at school.

This settlement is an important step, but child safety cannot depend on taking one platform to court at a time. These protections should become the standard across the digital industry.

At Social Kids, we believe children deserve a digital world designed to support their safety, wellbeing and healthy development.

Share this with a parent, teacher or school leader who believes child safety should be built in from the start.

Read the independent report from CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/meta-settles-social-media-addiction-lawsuit/