Staying Safe Online
Connecting online can be challenging for teens to navigate. It is such an important space for connecting with friends, finding information and enjoying games and music. It can also be a place where you face pressure to measure up to someone else’s curated image, access unsafe content or become addicted to your phone and find it difficult to engage with things offline. These can all impact your mental health.
With the introduction of the social media ban for under 16’s in December 2025, it can be hard to tell how to use social media without getting caught up in the confusion. We have got you covered though, with info and strategies to help you get the best out of being online.
So how do you manage your online use without it managing you? Start by connecting in with God and the trusted adults around you. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, the Bible tells us, ‘So whether you eat or drink or whateveryou do, do it all for the glory of God.’ This includes your actions online. Before you post or send that message, ask yourself if this is going to reflect God’s character of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control? Will the person reading it, feel encouraged or discouraged?
Check in with your parents, caregivers or a trusted adult to help you establish healthy guidelines and boundaries that create a safe and respectful digital presence. Here are some ideas that can help you start the conversation:
“Check in with your parents, caregivers or a trusted adult to help you establish healthy guidelines and boundaries that create a safe and respectful digital presence.”
Open Discussions: Have an open and honest conversation about your social media use. This can help you have a deeper understanding of your online habits and provides a safe space for you to talk about your concerns and share your experiences with adults who can help you.
Time Limits: Setting time limits can prevent excessive use and ensure you have time for other important activities like sleeping, studying, engaging in physical activities, spending quality time with family and meeting with friends in real life.
Privacy Settings: Talk with an adult and educate yourself on how to use privacy settings on various platforms to control who can see your posts. Keep your personal information offline. Use deidentifying usernames and passcodes.
Content Sharing: Make sure you understand the consequences of sharing inappropriate content, including the potential for it to spread beyond your control and its long-term impact on your digital footprint. Online content can follow you permanently and employers often look at social media when they are considering you for a job. Posting content of others without their consent is unlawful.
Digital Sabbath: Have regular ‘digital sabbaths’, periods where you disconnect from social media to focus on other aspects of life. This may be something you can do as a family or a friendship group.
Online Behavior: Remember to treat others with the same kindness and respect as you would in person. This includes not engaging in or tolerating cyberbullying. Don’t be afraid to get help if you find yourself in an unsafe situation. No matter how bad it may seem, the people who care about you will be much more concerned with keeping you safe than being angry at you.
For starters here is a list of the platforms you can and cannot access if you are under 16 according to the eSafety Website. Under 16’s can access:
but you cannot access:
For more information head to https://www.esafety.gov.au/. They have loads of info about all things online. If you need to talk, do not hesitate to reach out to your parents, teachers or someone on the Wellbeing Staff at Calvin. We are here to listen, we will not judge and we can connect you with information and support.
