If you’ve ever handed your kid an iPad so you could shave your legs in peace — congrats, you’re a normal parent. But a lot can happen in a few minutes of unsupervised screen time. What used to be a hidden magazine under a mattress is now a swipe away but with better graphics and fewer restrictions. Today's kids can stumble across harmful content without even looking for it. Even a Google search can change quickly. Beyond the obvious dangers, there's a quieter threat: unsolicited DMs disguised as compliments, friend requests with hidden agendas, and content that chips away at self-worth. One moment it's a video on skincare but the next is a tutorial on how not to eat. There's power in awareness. You can't monitor everything kids do online, but you can prepare them. The good news is you don't have to be a tech genius to be a good tech teacher.

Open dialogue gives kids the context they often don’t get from the content itself. Without it, they’re left piecing things together through group chats and TikTok comments. And while the internet has a lot to say, it doesn’t always have their best interest at heart. What helps most is tone: curiosity over control, listening over lecturing. A calm “Have you ever seen anything weird online that stuck with you?” goes a lot further than “Are you hiding something?” Real conversations build trust. They also give kids permission to pause, reflect, and speak up when something doesn’t sit right.