Parent guides
Help children communicate and share with care
A useful family communication rule is an agreement that names the audience, the permission needed, and the exit or help plan before a message, photo, or invitation is sent. Review the specific sharing moment instead of relying on one rule for every app. Each article offers a specific next step. Read our editorial approach to understand how the guidance is made.
Publication count: According to the current PARE Media guide index, this topic contains 25 guides.
Research context: Ofcom reported in 2025 that 72% of teens ages 13–17 who used social media or messaging platforms said they helped them feel closer to friends. Source: Ofcom: From apps to AI search — how the UK goes online in 2025.
Back to all guides| Decision | Question | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| Add someone to a group chat | Have both the new person and the group agreed? | Ask before adding someone |
| Share a friend's photo | Did the friend agree to this picture and audience? | Ask before sharing a photo |
| Accept a player friend request | What does the child actually know about this account? | Review a new player request |
| Post a public comment | Is the child eligible, and who can read or reply? | Review a public comment |
| Leave a group chat | Can the child exit clearly without a long defense? | Leave a group chat politely |
Common questions
What should a child check before sharing someone else's photo?
Ask about the specific picture and the intended audience, check for private details in the image, and treat silence or uncertainty as a reason not to share it yet.
Should children ask before adding someone to a group chat?
Yes. Check that the new person wants to join and that the existing group understands the change in audience and purpose.
What is a simple exit plan for an uncomfortable online conversation?
Use a short closing message when safe, leave or mute the conversation, and show a trusted adult anything that involves pressure, threats, private information, or repeated unwanted contact.
25 guides found
Should we ask before adding someone to a group conversation?
Check both the new person’s interest and the existing group’s purpose.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readHow should my child ask before sharing a friend’s photo?
Name the picture and the intended audience before asking for a yes.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readHow can I help my child write an email to a teacher?
Keep the message specific and use the school’s approved communication route.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat if my child feels they must reply to every message immediately?
Separate a message arriving from a promise to be available.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readHow do we share a child’s achievement thoughtfully?
Let the child help choose the audience and the details.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat belongs in a child’s profile bio?
Start with the audience and leave out details the activity does not need.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readHow do we choose a username for a child’s account?
Choose something recognizable without unnecessary identifying details.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat should we do before forwarding an alarming claim?
Pause the sharing and look for the original source.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat should we check before a child posts a public comment?
Review eligibility, audience, and the specific message before posting.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readHow can my child decline a video call politely?
Offer a short answer without requiring personal details.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat should we check when a child receives a digital invitation?
Confirm the event through the responsible adults before sharing details or accepting.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readHow do we explain a family plan for reviewing messages?
State the purpose, scope, and help process before ordinary review.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat expectations should we set for a family group chat?
Clarify what belongs in the group and which messages need another route.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat should we agree before a child joins a group chat?
Review the group, the service, and the expectations for participation.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readShould my child forward a private message to another friend?
Ask why the new person needs it and whether a summary would be enough.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readHow can a school project chat stay focused on the project?
Agree on purpose, decisions, and the approved place for the work.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readHow can my child leave a group chat politely?
Choose a brief explanation when useful and use the service’s supported controls.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat if a message comes from an account that looks like a friend?
Confirm the person through an existing trusted route before acting on a new request.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readHow do we handle messages during homework?
Separate assignment communication from unrelated conversation.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat if my child wants to share a screenshot of a private joke?
Consider the original audience and the context that may be missing.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat should we review before joining a new social service?
Start with eligibility, the intended activity, and the people involved.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat should we agree before recording a shared game or call?
Ask everyone involved and review the recording’s destination.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readHow should my child share a link with someone?
Explain what it is and why it is being sent.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readHow do we handle a text that sounds rude but may be unclear?
Pause and check the meaning before building a larger argument.
Read guide →Social & Communication · For caregivers · 2 min readWhat should we check before sending a voice message?
Review the recording, the recipient, and the background before sending.
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