On the back of the powerful Netflix series, Adolescence, many parents will be wondering how they can monitor what their children are seeing on social media  – here is the NSPCC advice.

Staring Stephen Graham, four part TV show Adolescence has captured the attention of the nation and raised fundamental questions about what young people are accessing online, without the knowledge of their parents.

Child protection charity, the NSPCC, has put together a list of tips to help parents make sure children are operating in safe spaces on social media.

Maria Neophytou, NSPCC Director of Strategy & Knowledge, said: “The debates around the Netflix series Adolescence, and the themes within it, are both disturbing and important.

“The online world is being polluted by harmful and misogynistic content which is having a direct impact on the development of young people’s thinking and behaviours. This cannot be allowed to continue.

“It is vital young people have access to high-quality, age-appropriate lessons in school about healthy relationships and understand why misogyny is so harmful and has no place in our society.

“And that parents have guidance and support around how to keep their children safe online. But we can’t expect teachers and parents to do all the heavy lifting.”

READ MORE: NSPCC advice for when to give children their first phone

Tips for parents to support safe internet usage in children: 

Create an open, judgment-free environment: 

Ensure your child feels comfortable discussing their online experiences without fear of punishment or device removal. This encourages them to come to you when they encounter concerning content or situations.

Be curious about their digital world:

Take an interest in the apps, games, and platforms that your children use. Ask them to show you how they work and what they enjoy about them. This creates natural opportunities for safety discussions.

Address harmful content directly:

Have age-appropriate conversations about the types of content they might encounter online, including violent, pornographic, or hateful material. Discuss what to do if they come across something concerning.

Help manage the content they see online:

Parental controls and privacy settings can help you manage how your child spends time online and help to keep them safe. Make sure to talk to your child first before implementing any new settings and explain to them how they help to keep them safe.

Share youth facing help and support:

Make sure your child knows about services that can help like Childline. You could start by sharing the online safety advice content and the Report Remove tool created by the IWF and Childline.