When ''Safe'' Isn't Safe

Screenshot of Steam gaming platform which many children access games through that includes many adult games with explicit adult material

What Children Are Being Exposed To

The term “inappropriate content” can sound vague, but research tends to group it into several clear categories.

Sexual:

There is, first, sexual content, ranging from suggestive imagery to explicit material. Studies from the National Library of Medicine indicate that exposure to this type of content is occurring at younger ages, sometimes before children have the emotional or cognitive capacity to understand what they are seeing. Children exposed to this content are also more likely to go on to be involved in riskier sexual behaviour as they grow up and into adulthood.

Violent:

Alongside this is violent content, which has become increasingly normalised in digital spaces. This may not always appear extreme at first glance, and the debate is still hot about whether or not violent games lead to violent actions but the research does show that repeated exposure can shape how children perceive conflict and harm. The EU’s advice on this is very clear ‘’The most harmful content, such as gratuitous violence and pornography, should be subject to the strictest measures providing a high degree of control (such as encryption and effective parental controls).’’ 

Hateful and harmful:

A third category includes hateful or harmful material, such as racist, misogynistic, or extremist messaging. This often appears in comment sections, forums, or short-form videos, where moderation can be inconsistent.

Disturbing/Age-Inappropriate:

Finally, there is a more subtle category: content that appears child-friendly but contains disturbing or inappropriate elements. This type of material has been widely documented and is particularly difficult for parents to detect, as it often mimics trusted formats like cartoons or educational videos.

Why Exposure Matters

The impact of this exposure is not uniform; it changes depending on a child’s developmental stage.

For younger children, particularly those between the ages of three and six, the primary risk is confusion. At this stage, children are still learning to distinguish between reality and fiction. Exposure to frightening or adult content can lead to anxiety, disrupted sleep, or imitation of behaviours they do not fully understand.

As children move into the six to nine age range, the risk shifts toward internalisation. They begin to absorb and replicate what they see, even if they lack the ability to critically evaluate it. Harmful language, stereotypes, and aggressive behaviours can become normalised through repetition.

By the time children reach nine to twelve, digital content is no longer just something they consume, it becomes part of their social world. Peer sharing increases, and exposure can begin to influence self-image, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. Research published in JAMA Pediatrics and The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health links certain patterns of digital use to sleep disruption, anxiety, and broader mental health challenges.

The Pressure on Parents

It’s one thing to know that risks exist; it’s another to feel equipped to handle them. Because online harms rarely show early warning signs, it’s easy for parents to fall into unwarranted optimism, hoping for the best because the alternative feels overwhelming. We don’t need to track every single trend, but we do need to master the basics.

Modern parenting involves a delicate balance between safety and independence. Many parents also describe a tension between wanting to protect their children and wanting to respect their independence and privacy, particularly as they grow older. Our advice is that, as children, they should have levels of privacy but since the innocent days of secret diaries and secret treehouses to now, today’s digital privacy, fueled by hidden apps and locked groups, can easily mask genuine danger. It is important to realize that traditional safeguards are only part of the solution. They are useful tools, but they require a foundation of open communication to be truly effective

Perhaps most challenging of all is the realisation that traditional safeguards, such as parental controls, are only part of the solution. They can reduce risk, but they cannot eliminate it entirely. (See our article Filtering and Monitoring Systems Review 2026 for more information or contact us directly for more info on the above.)

Moving From Control to Guidance

What emerges consistently from the research is that effective responses are less about total control and more about active, ongoing guidance.

This begins with shifting the focus away from screen time alone and toward the nature of the content being consumed. A child spending an hour watching age-appropriate material with a parent is in a very different position from a child spending the same amount of time alone, navigating algorithm-driven recommendations.

In the early years, shared engagement, watching, discussing, and explaining content, plays a critical role in helping children build understanding. As children grow, clear and consistent boundaries become more important, not as rigid restrictions but as part of a predictable framework that helps them navigate digital spaces safely.

Equally important is communication. Children are far more likely to speak openly about uncomfortable or confusing experiences if those conversations have been normalised early. When parents respond calmly rather than reactively, they create an environment where children feel safe asking questions or admitting when something has gone wrong.

Finally, there is the role of example. Studies increasingly highlight the concept of “technoference”, the way in which adult device use can interrupt interactions and shape children’s own habits. In practice, this means that the behaviours children observe at home often carry as much weight as the rules that are set.

A Shared Responsibility

It is important to acknowledge that this is not a problem parents can solve alone. It sits at the intersection of technology design, regulation, education, and family life. However, within that broader system, parental awareness and engagement remain one of the most powerful protective factors.

The goal is not to eliminate all risk, that is neither realistic nor achievable. Instead, it is to reduce unnecessary exposure, support children in understanding what they encounter, and build the confidence they need to navigate digital environments over time.

Staying Informed and Supported

If you would like further information, tailored advice, or resources designed for your child’s age group, we encourage you to get in touch with our team, visit our contact page. You can also sign up for our newsletter to receive regular updates on emerging online risks, new research, and practical strategies to support your family.

Staying informed is one of the most effective steps you can take, and you do not have to do it alone.

References

• Ofcom. Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Reports
  https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/category-1-10-weeks/statement-protecting-children-from-harms-online/main-document/childrens-register-of-risks.pdf?v=401302 

• Computers in Human Behavior
  https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/computers-in-human-behavior

• New Media & Society
  https://journals.sagepub.com/home/nms

• JAMA Pediatrics (Madigan et al., 2019)
  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2722666

• The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health
  https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/home

• EU Kids Online
  https://www.eukidsonline.net

• American Psychological Association (2023 Advisory)
  https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/health-advisory-adolescent-social-media-use

• Chaudhary, Akash & Saroha, Jaivrat & Monteiro, Kyzyl & Forbes, Angus & Parnami, Aman. (2022). “Are You Still Watching?”: Exploring Unintended User Behaviors and Dark Patterns on Video Streaming Platforms. 776-791. 10.1145/3532106.3533562. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361263368_Are_You_Still_Watching_Exploring_Unintended_User_Behaviors_and_Dark_Patterns_on_Video_Streaming_Platforms 

• Internet Matters.org https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/inappropriate-content/learn-about-it/ 

• National Library of Medicine https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7147756/