How to Keep Your Grandchildren Safe Online

Your grandchildren live in a world you did not grow up in. They carry pocket-sized computers everywhere. They talk to strangers in video games. They watch content algorithms choose for them. And most of it happens behind screens you cannot see.

This is not about panic. Most children use technology safely most of the time. But the risks are real, they are specific, and they are worth understanding — especially if your grandchildren spend time at your home using your Wi-Fi and your devices.

Here is what you need to know, broken down by platform and by age.

The Platforms Your Grandchildren Are Probably Using

Roblox (Ages 6-14)

Roblox is not a single game. It is a platform with millions of user-created games inside it. Your grandchild picks a game, joins a server, and plays alongside other real people — including adults.

The risks:

• Chat with strangers. Roblox has text and voice chat. Players can and do message children directly. Predators use the platform to contact kids.
• Spending real money. Roblox uses a virtual currency called Robux. Children can spend real money on Robux through in-app purchases. Some kids have spent hundreds of dollars without their parents realizing it.
• Inappropriate user-created content. Because users create the games, some contain violent, sexual, or otherwise inappropriate themes that slip past moderation.

What you can do:

• Set up a Roblox parental PIN under Settings > Parental Controls. This lets you restrict who can chat with your grandchild, limit spending, and block certain types of content.
• Turn off chat entirely for children under 10. They can still play games — they just cannot receive messages from strangers.
• Never link a credit card directly to a Roblox account. Buy Roblox gift cards with a fixed amount instead.

YouTube and YouTube Kids (All Ages)

YouTube is the most-watched platform among children of every age. YouTube Kids is a filtered version designed for younger viewers, but it is not foolproof.

The risks:

• Autoplay rabbit holes. YouTube's algorithm suggests the next video automatically. A child can start watching a cartoon and end up watching something disturbing within 5-10 clicks.
• Elsagate-style content. This refers to videos that look like children's content (familiar characters, bright colors) but contain violent or inappropriate scenes. YouTube has improved its filters, but this content still appears.
• Comments section. On regular YouTube (not Kids), the comments under any video can contain profanity, links to scams, or predatory behavior.

What you can do:

• Use YouTube Kids instead of regular YouTube for children under 10. It is not perfect, but it removes the worst content.
• Turn off autoplay. On any YouTube app, go to Settings > Autoplay and toggle it off. This forces the child to actively choose each video.
• On regular YouTube, enable Restricted Mode under Settings > General. This filters out most mature content.

TikTok (Ages 13+, but Younger Kids Use It)

TikTok's minimum age is 13, but many younger children access it through a parent's phone or by entering a fake birthdate. The algorithm is extremely powerful at learning what holds a viewer's attention — and that is not always healthy content.

The risks:

• Addictive algorithm. TikTok is engineered to be difficult to stop watching. The "just one more video" loop is stronger here than on any other platform.
• Dangerous challenges. Viral challenges on TikTok have caused real injuries and deaths among children. The Blackout Challenge, the Skull Breaker Challenge, and others spread rapidly.
• Contact from strangers. If a child's account is public, anyone in the world can comment on their videos or send them direct messages.
• Body image and mental health. Studies consistently show that heavy TikTok use among teens is associated with increased anxiety, depression, and body dissatisfaction.

What you can do:

• Enable Family Pairing in TikTok settings. This links your TikTok account to your grandchild's and gives you control over screen time, direct messages, and content restrictions.
• Set the account to private. This means only approved followers can see your grandchild's videos.
• Enable the 60-minute daily screen time limit built into TikTok under Digital Wellbeing settings.

Snapchat, Instagram, and Discord

These platforms are common among teens 13 and older. Each has its own risks:

• Snapchat: Messages disappear, which creates a false sense of privacy. The Snap Map feature can broadcast a child's exact location to friends — or to anyone if settings are wrong.
• Instagram: Comparison culture and direct messaging from strangers. Set accounts to private and disable message requests from people not being followed.
• Discord: A chat platform popular with gamers. It has both public and private servers. Some servers contain adult content. Parental controls are minimal.

Parental Controls by Device

iPhone / iPad

Go to Settings > Screen Time. Set up a Screen Time passcode (different from the device passcode). From here you can:

• Set app limits (e.g., 1 hour of TikTok per day)
• Block specific apps entirely
• Restrict explicit content in Safari, Music, and the App Store
• Prevent changes to privacy settings
• Turn off the ability to install new apps without your approval

Android Phones / Tablets

Use Google Family Link. Download the Family Link app on your phone, then link your grandchild's Google account. You can:

• Set daily screen time limits
• Lock the device at bedtime
• Approve or block app downloads
• See what apps are being used and for how long

Wi-Fi Router (Your Home Network)

If your grandchildren use your home Wi-Fi, you can add a layer of protection at the router level:

• Most modern routers (Eero, Google Nest, Netgear) have built-in parental controls that let you filter content and set schedules
• OpenDNS Family Shield (free) blocks adult content network-wide — change your router's DNS to 208.67.222.123 and every device on your network gets filtered

Age-Appropriate Conversations

Ages 5-8

Keep it simple and concrete. "Not everyone online is who they say they are. If someone you do not know sends you a message, come tell me or your parents." Do not explain predators or trafficking — the concept of "some people are tricky online" is enough at this age.

Ages 9-12

Start talking about specific scenarios. "If someone online asks you to keep a secret from your parents, that is a warning sign." Explain that people can pretend to be kids when they are adults. Talk about not sharing your school name, home address, or phone number.

Ages 13-16

Have direct conversations about:

• Sexting and why images can never truly be deleted
• The emotional manipulation tactics scammers and predators use (flattery, gift-giving, secrecy)
• How algorithms are designed to keep them scrolling — it is not willpower failure, it is engineering
• The difference between online friends and real-life friends

For All Ages

The most important thing you can say is: "You will never get in trouble for telling me about something that happened online." Children hide online problems because they fear losing device access. Removing that fear is more protective than any content filter.

Monitoring vs. Trust: Finding the Balance

This is the hardest part. You want to protect them, but you also want them to trust you.

For younger children (under 12): Direct monitoring is appropriate and expected. Devices should be used in shared spaces, not bedrooms. Screen time limits should be firm. Checking what they watched or played is normal parenting, not spying.

For teenagers: Surveillance backfires. If a 15-year-old discovers you are reading all their messages, they will simply find ways to communicate that you cannot see. A better approach:

• Agree on ground rules together (e.g., "your accounts stay private, you do not chat with adults you do not know in real life, and you tell us if something makes you uncomfortable")
• Do periodic check-ins rather than constant monitoring
• Keep shared devices in common areas
• Know their passwords — not to snoop daily, but for emergencies

Your role as a grandparent: You may not set the rules (that is their parents' job), but you can reinforce them. Ask your grandchild's parents what rules they have around technology, and follow those same rules at your home. Consistency matters.

Quick-Reference Safety Checklist

• [ ] Set up parental controls on any device your grandchildren use at your home
• [ ] Use YouTube Kids instead of regular YouTube for children under 10
• [ ] Turn off autoplay on YouTube
• [ ] Set social media accounts to private
• [ ] Disable location sharing on Snapchat and other apps
• [ ] Never link a credit card directly to a child's game account
• [ ] Use OpenDNS or router-level filtering on your home Wi-Fi
• [ ] Know which platforms your grandchildren use and their basic risks
• [ ] Have age-appropriate conversations about online safety
• [ ] Make it clear that telling a trusted adult about online problems is always the right move

The Bottom Line

You do not need to understand every app your grandchildren use. You do not need to be a tech expert. You need to know three things: what platforms they are on, what the basic risks are, and how to have honest conversations about safety.

The technology will change. The platforms will change. But the principle stays the same: children are safer when trusted adults are paying attention and when they feel safe coming to you with problems.

That is a role grandparents are uniquely good at.

One More Layer of Protection for Your Family

Beyond parental controls and conversations, identity monitoring gives you an early warning if anyone in your family — including your grandchildren — has personal information exposed or misused online. Scammers who target families often start by gathering data on children.

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