I recently had a check-in with my nephew, who spends a large part of his life online. He's deep into video games, chatting with friends—and sometimes new "friends"—on platforms like Discord and Twitch. As a cybersecurity professional, I make it a point to gently ask a few pointed questions:
"Are you absolutely sure you know who you're talking to?"
"Are you sharing any personal information, even small details?"
"Do you know how to block or report someone if the interaction feels off?"
These are gentle prompts to encourage him to think critically about his digital life. My larger thought, however, is this: How many adults are having these essential cyber-safety conversations with the young people in their lives?
It's easy to assume "kids these days" inherently understand the internet, but competence with an app doesn't equate to an understanding of its risks. Our role isn't to be platform experts, but to be safety guides.
Cyber Safety Starts Before the Login Screen
We need to shift the perspective that online safety is an action taken after a risk appears. Safety begins long before a user logs in. When we were young, we were taught basic personal safety: don't talk to strangers, don't give out personal info, and don't take gifts from people you don't know. These core lessons haven't changed; the venue has.
The "strangers" are now in chat rooms instead of on the streets, and the "gifts" are tempting links, game tokens, or downloads that can carry hidden risks such as malware or phishing attempts. What used to happen face-to-face now happens behind a screen, making it harder to spot danger coming. We must help the next generation understand that their digital actions have very real-world consequences. This starts with proactive awareness.
Core Cyber Safety Principles for Students
Here are the critical concepts that young people—and the adults guiding them—need to internalize:
The Permanent Digital Footprint
A digital footprint is more than just posts; it's the reputation and record that are built online. Once something is shared—a photo, a comment, a username—it's nearly impossible to control where it goes.
It's Not Truly Deleted: Even if a post is "deleted", screenshots, data backups, and archival trails can persist. Your story can live on.
Future Impact: Colleges, scholarship committees, and employers routinely review social media and online activity. Poor judgment or thoughtless comments can quietly limit future opportunities. Conversely, a well-managed online presence can showcase creativity, leadership, and character.
Identity Verification: Not Everyone Is Who They Say They Are 🎭
On the internet, not everyone is who they claim to be. Just as in real life, trust must be earned, not automatically assumed.
Scrutinize the Details: Even small details can give away more than intended. A gaming profile that includes a real name, a photo in a school sweatshirt, or a location tag can provide enough personal information for someone who shouldn't have it.
Earned Trust: A friendly message or a gaming invite can be a disguise for something more dangerous. So teach them to be wary of new online "friends."
Privacy Settings Are Your First Line of Defense 🛡️
Privacy settings are not mere configurations; they are the first line of defense that determines who sees their content and interacts with them.
Review Regularly: Teach young people to understand and review their privacy settings on every platform—from social media to gaming clients. They are shields protecting personal information from being shared too widely.
Set to Private: Encourage a set-to-private mindset for their profiles, making public sharing a conscious choice rather than the norm.
Stop and Think Before Sharing 🤔
We must emphasize the near-impossible task of recalling shared information. What feels temporary online is often anything but.
Irreversible Spreading: Personal details such as a school's name, location, or favorite hangout spot can be used to track or target young users. Private conversations can be screenshotted.
Controlling the Narrative: Once something is shared or made public, it can be copied, saved, and spread without permission or context. You have no control over where it goes.
Use the Safety Tools 🚨
Online safety isn't about fear; it’s about awareness and confidence. Young people must know they have the tools to protect themselves.
Block and Report: If an interaction feels off or makes them uncomfortable, they must feel empowered to immediately block the user and report the behavior. Online safety is knowing you have the right and the tools to protect yourself.
Our Role as Adult Guides
As parents, teachers, mentors, aunts, and uncles, we don't need to master every new tech trend. Our true value lies in our ability to guide with patience, empathy, and consistent engagement.
We are the ones who can help them think critically about what they share, who they interact with, and how their online choices today can shape their future. The earlier young people learn to manage their digital lives with intention, the more empowered they become to use technology as a force for good.
Cybersecurity—and long-term digital safety— doesn't begin with security software, but with awareness, conversation, and care.
