Summer brings more freedom — and with it added online risk for kids

Kim McWilliams

Submitted photo/notMYkid

Phones, gaming, social media and group chats are now part of how kids connect. Technology can help young people build friendships, express themselves and stay connected to their communities. But without healthy boundaries and open communication, the digital world can also increase exposure to cyberbullying, online coercion, explicit content, predators and mental-health challenges.”

OPINION — Summer is a time when kids and teens look forward to more freedom, more time with friends and a break from the structure of school. But for many families, summer also brings more unsupervised screen time and more opportunities for young people to encounter unsafe situations online.

Phones, gaming, social media and group chats are now part of how kids connect. Technology can help young people build friendships, express themselves and stay connected to their communities. But without healthy boundaries and open communication, the digital world can also increase exposure to cyberbullying, online coercion, explicit content, predators and mental-health challenges.

Prevention starts with education, connection and early action. Internet safety should not be about fear or shame. It should be about giving kids and families the tools they need to make healthy choices, get informed and know when to ask for help.

Parents may not need to know every app, trend or gaming platform to make a difference. But it is important to be able to have serious conversations about the dangers with online use. If parents feel their child is too young for those conversations, a good rule is they are too young to be online without direct oversight.

For older kids, what matters most is creating a home environment where kids know they can come forward without being blamed, punished or immediately disconnected from their support system. Too often, young people stay silent when something unsafe happens online because they are afraid they will lose their phone or get in trouble. That silence can allow harm to continue.

As summer begins, families should have calm, direct conversations about digital safety. Kids should know they never have to respond to messages that make them uncomfortable, keep secrets for someone online, share private photos or continue communicating with anyone who is pressuring them.

They should also understand that statements like “Don’t tell your parents,” “I’ll expose you,” “You’ll be in trouble if anyone finds out” or “I’ll hurt myself if you stop talking to me” are serious warning signs that a trusted adult needs to step in.

Know the warning signs

Cyberbullying can become more difficult to detect during summer break, when children may be away from the daily support of teachers, counselors and school staff. Warning signs can include sudden changes in mood, withdrawing from friends or family, preoccupation with checking their phone that takes away from their normal routine, deleting accounts, avoiding activities they once enjoyed, trouble sleeping or becoming more secretive about online interactions.

These changes do not always mean a child is being harmed online, but they are signals to slow down, ask questions and listen without judgement.

Families should also talk honestly about the connection between social media and mental health. Constant comparison, group-chat conflict, filtered photos, viral trends and pressure to always be available can impact anxiety, depression, self-esteem and peer relationships.

Kids need reminders that online popularity is not the same as real connection, and that a person’s worth is never measured by likes, followers or being included in every moment.

Healthy tech-life balance looks different at every age. Younger children may need more close monitoring online, device-free bedrooms, limited app access and parental controls. Middle schoolers may need clear expectations around gaming chats, group messages, screen time and social-media permissions. Teens need increasing independence, but they still benefit from boundaries around privacy settings, location sharing and what to do when something feels unsafe.

The goal is not to control every click, but to build trust and healthy decision-making.

Lead with trust, not fear

Families do not need to wait until there is a crisis to talk about online safety. Prevention begins with small, consistent conversations that help kids feel supported before they are in a high-pressure situation.

As summer begins, now is the time for parents and caregivers to reset expectations, check privacy settings, create age-appropriate boundaries and remind kids that no mistake, message or uncomfortable online interaction is too shameful to bring to a trusted adult.

When families lead with connection instead of fear, young people are more likely to reach out, make safer choices and understand they are never alone in the digital world.

Kim McWilliams is chief clinical officer of notMYkid, a Scottsdale-based nonprofit. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.