Online safety​​
In today's digital world, our children have an increasing number of avenues to access information and content. Check out our guides on the latest apps and websites young people are accessing online, so you're in-the-know about how to keep your children safe.
More online safety information can be found on the Cavendish online safety hub.
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TikTok
TikTok is one of the biggest social media platforms with a young demographic. While the minimum age for an account is 13 years old, we are seeing younger and younger children accessing its content.
OpenView Education have created a brilliant guide on the app, which we're sharing below. This provides key information on what the app is and steps we can take to ensure our children are keeping safe online. You can also view this guide on the OpenView website, here.
Discord
Discord is one of the largest forums and chat rooms, commonly used as a way for people to communicate while gaming, or to find a community of shared interests.
While Discord has a minimum age sign up of 13, it is becoming increasingly common to see younger users bypassing the age verification process. OpenView education has provided an excellent guide on how to minimise the risks involved, including how to set up parental controls to monitor use and interactions. You can also view the online guide on their website, here.
Steam
Steam is a digital distribution platform for PC gaming which is hugely popular with children and young people. While some of the games available on Steam are educational and age-appropriate for children, there are thousands more which are only suitable for older children or adults. It's important that parents understand the controls that are available to them on the Steam platform to limit access to adult content, chat functionality and in-app purchases.
Roblox
Roblox is an online gaming platform and app that allows users to play and create games, or experiences as they’re referred to on the platform. Users can choose to play open-world games created by others or create their own using the building tool, Roblox Studio. Although Roblox itself and some games are free, many are pay-to-play or encourage users to make in-game purchases with Robux, the game’s own virtual currency.
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There are a number of serious risks associated with the platform, including the potential for dangerous interactions with strangers, access to adult or inappropriate content, and the risk of scams. The platform has brought in some of its own safety measures including ID verification and age-restricted content, but there are still opportunities for children to interact with strangers or be exposed to inappropriate user behaviour, especially if children seek to bypass content moderation settings.
All of these risks can be greatly mitigated via robust parental controls and supervision. Parental controls allow you to set content restrictions, manage chat settings and limit spending.
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See the video below for more guidance on setting up Roblox parental controls.
Polybuzz
Polybuzz is an AI chatbot application that allows users to create and interact with virtual characters, often in highly personalised and immersive ways. While this may appear harmless at first, there are growing concerns nationally and internationally about how these platforms are being used by children and young people.
We are aware that some children are being introduced to this app through an interest in manga, anime and related online content. While Polybuzz is not specifically an anime app, it includes many anime style characters and storylines, which can make it feel similar to games or platforms children already use. This can increase its appeal, particularly for those who enjoy roleplay or character-based content. However, the app is intended for adult users and can quickly lead to interactions that are not appropriate for children.
Although Polybuzz is officially rated 18+, it is widely reported that children are still able to access it easily due to weak age verification systems. Once on the platform, users can engage in conversations that are often romantic, role-play based, and in some cases explicitly sexual or inappropriate for children and young people. More broadly, there is increasing concern about the rise of AI “companion” apps, where young people form relationships with chatbots. These interactions can feel highly realistic and may impact children’s understanding of healthy relationships, consent, and social development.
There are several key safeguarding concerns:
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Inappropriate content: Exposure to sexualised, violent, or otherwise unsuitable conversations.
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Lack of parental oversight: Parents cannot see the content of conversations or the nature of interactions.
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Emotional attachment to AI: Children may develop “online relationships” with AI bots that feel real and emotionally intense.
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Unpredictable responses: Conversations can quickly become inappropriate or misleading.
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Excessive use: Some young people are spending extended periods interacting with
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these platforms.
Platforms like Polybuzz present significant safeguarding risks, particularly for primary and secondary aged children.
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For these reasons, we encourage additional awareness and support for children who may be more vulnerable to forming strong attachments or relying on AI interactions in place of real world relationships. We would particularly encourage parents of vulnerable children to monitor device use closely and maintain regular, open conversations about online interactions.
What parents and carers can do
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Check your child’s devices regularly for unfamiliar apps
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Have open conversations about AI, online relationships, and digital safety
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Reinforce that AI chatbots are not real people, even if they feel realistic
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Use parental controls where possible, but be aware of their limitations
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Encourage your child to speak to you or a trusted adult if anything online makes them uncomfortable
Further information and guidance
For a detailed parent guide explaining how Polybuzz works, the risks involved, and practical steps you can take, please see here: https://www.qustodio.com/en/blog/is-polybuzz-safe/