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Keeping young people safe online
September 23, 2025
If you struggle to get your kids to put down their iPad or phone, you are not alone.
Research published in the New Zealand Medical Journal shows that Kiwi children are spending a third of their after-school time on screens.
And our teenagers are more likely to be spending time online than their global peers. Statistics from 2018 showed that teenagers in New Zealand had 42 hours of screen time on average each week, at home and in the classroom, compared to an international average of 35 hours. It’s hard to imagine that the number of online hours has reduced in recent years!
How much time online is too much?
The Ministry of Health has the following guidelines for screen time for young people:
· Under two years: No recreational screen time (except video chatting)
· Ages two to five years: Less than an hour per day
· Ages five to 17 years: Less than 2 hours per day of passive recreational screen time
These guidelines help protect children from problems like sore eyes, poor posture, sleep issues, and delays in learning or social skills — especially when screen time takes the place of active play, socialising, or being outdoors. What they watch, and whether an adult is involved, also makes a big difference.
Tips for reducing screen time
· Set realistic rules around screen use and stick to them
· Discuss the plan with your family and make sure everyone understands it
· Use praise, be consistent and, if necessary, use consequences
· Be aware of what your children are watching and playing
· Think about your own screen use – kids copy what they see
· Face-to-face contact is important. Everyone needs regular offline play and conversations. Eat meals together with no screens
· Protect sleep Turn off screens at least an hour before bedtime
Keeping screen time safe
When your children or teenagers are online, you want to ensure they are not in harm’s way. Here are a few of the issues that Netsafe advises parents, teachers and caregivers to think about.
Online bullying
Netsafe research shows one in five young people in New Zealand is bullied online each year. It happens when someone repeatedly causes distress, fear, or other negative emotions — often escalating over time.
Help your child by:
- Making it clear: if it’s not OK offline, it’s not OK online
- Encouraging empathy for how the recipient might feel
- Reminding them to come to you, whānau, a trusted adult, their school or Netsafe for help if they are being cyber bullied
- Explaining that New Zealand has laws that govern online communication and responsibilities
If your child is bullied, take screenshots, record URLs, and report it to the platform.
Unwanted contact
As kids connect more, they may talk to people they don’t know. While often positive, some contacts could be grooming attempts. Groomers may pretend to be someone else, use shared interests to build trust, and move chats to private spaces.
Teach your child:
- How easy it is for someone to pretend to be someone else
- Safe ways to manage online friends
- What to do if an unknown person wants to chat or befriend them
- How to spot when things feel uncomfortable and act early
If you suspect grooming, contact the police and save evidence.
Social media
Minimum sign-up age for Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X (Twitter) and YouTube is 13, as younger children may struggle with the challenges these platforms bring. If under 13, assess their capability before allowing use — honesty with you helps keep them safe.
Support them by:
- Setting up accounts together
- Using your email (depending on age)
- Entering their actual birthday for safer content filters
- Following or friending them
- Visiting each platform’s safety centre
- Talking regularly about privacy, conflict, and concerns
Inappropriate content
Kids can stumble across upsetting or illegal content in games, searches, or shared links. In NZ, some material is prohibited by law.
Reduce harm by:
- Monitoring online activity
- Using parental control tools
- Staying calm if they see upsetting content
- Explaining your plan for dealing with it and avoiding removing access if they come to you
Sexting
Sexting is sharing sexual images, videos, or messages. In NZ, only 4% of 14–17-year-olds say they’ve sent a nude, but 1 in 5 have been asked to. Pressure can come from partners or peers, even if “everyone is doing it” is a myth.
Talk openly about:
- The risks of sharing intimate content
- How quickly private material can be shared beyond the intended audience
We can’t expect kids to give up screens completely, but we can guide how much they use them and make sure they stay safe when they’re online. We hope you have found this blog useful.