Parents aren't monitoring kids online, despite most knowing tools available

The survey of 1007 Australian parents of children aged 17 and younger, commissioned by the photo and video app Snapchat, examined awareness levels, uptake and attitudes towards online safety parental tools.

It found that while 82 per cent of Australian parents are aware of online safety parental controls, 57 per cent are not using them on apps and online platforms.

The survey found that when Australian parents do use parental tools, the overwhelming majority find them helpful.

Of the 66 per cent that have used online safety parental controls, 92 per cent say they help them keep their family safer online, and 93 per cent would recommend their use to other families.

Parents of teens were less likely to have used parental tools and controls than those with children 5-12 years old.

The research comes amid an under-16s social media ban in Australia, which will come into effect later this year.

The laws will capture platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit and X (formerly Twitter).

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at the time that social media is doing "social harm" to young Australians, and he was calling time on it.

"The safety and mental health of our young people has to be a priority, and my government will do all that we can to protect our young Australians, but also to provide support for parents and teachers who are dealing with these issues.

Snapchat's global safety head Jacqueline Beauchere rejected the ban in August 2024, saying the decision was one that should be left to families.

"Arguably, a young person could potentially be a bit more mature at 16 than they are at 13, but that is for an individual family to decide, and that's based on a number of factors," she told AAP.

"These decisions really need to be made as a family unit with, hopefully, parents involved or other caregivers or guardians or other trusted adults, to really know if that young person is ready to be part of social media."

Snapchat offers a range of tools designed to help families navigate Snapchat with their teens, including the Family Centre, an in-app hub that helps parents see who their teens are friends with and talking to on Snapchat.

Cybersafety consultant Susan MacLean said parents were grappling with a digital world that many didn't experience when they themselves were growing up.

Ms MacLean said while awareness of parental controls was growing, too many Australian parents still aren't utilising the options available to them.

"When young people become teenagers, often getting a mobile phone for the first time, their use of technology can increase substantially," she said.

"So using parental tools is just as important for families with high schoolers at home, to help ensure they are set up for safer experiences online."

It was important that parents of teenagers were using safety tools, not just parents of primary school-aged children.

She advised parents to speak to their children regularly about how to stay safe online, set up accounts and devices together and establish clear rules about the use of technology as well as parental safety tools.

"Parental tools should be a vital part of any family's online safety strategy," she said.