What Every Parent Needs to Know About Social Platforms
How the most popular platforms actually work for kids — what’s normal, what’s risky, and which settings matter most.
Read the full guide →Raise screen-smart kids with confidence – a digital parenting and online safety guide.
Practical, age-aware guidance for parents navigating the digital maze — from the first tablet to the first car, without turning into the phone police.
What is Safe Screens Weekly? A Digital Parenting Resource for Online Safety
Safe Screens Weekly is a parent-first resource that turns tech overwhelm into a clear, calm plan.
We translate complex online risks into everyday steps, so you can set guardrails, coach digital judgment, and keep family trust intact.
About the Creator
Why I built Safe Screens Weekly
I’m Matt McBride — a Police Technology and Digital Forensics Specialist who’s spent years working at the crossroads of technology, child safety, and education. Every day, I see both sides of the digital world: the remarkable ways it connects and empowers kids, and the subtle, persistent risks that can quietly erode safety and trust.
My background in digital forensics and K-12 school policing gives me a front-row seat to how quickly online trends shift, how scams and predators evolve, and how hard it can be for parents to keep up. I’ve worked hands-on with devices, networks, and investigations, translating complex digital evidence into practical action — experience that fuels everything behind Safe Screens Weekly.
I built this project because parents deserve tools that make sense, not jargon or fear. Safe Screens Weekly exists to bridge the gap between technical know-how and family reality — giving you clear, age-appropriate strategies to guide your child confidently through the digital age.
Latest Posts from Safe Screens Weekly
New guides and breakdowns to help you protect your kids this week.
What kids are up against
Understanding these digital challenges is the first step to protecting your family and improving your child’s online safety.
Algorithmic rabbit holes
Content spirals designed to maximize watch time.
Contact risks
Strangers, impersonation, grooming, and ambiguous 'friend' requests.
Content risks
Violent, sexualized, or age-inappropriate media.
Privacy leakage
Doxxing, oversharing, location trails, metadata.
Scams & microtransactions
Dark patterns, loot boxes, phishing, "free" that isn't.
Sleep & attention drain
Late-night scrolling, constant notification pull.
Everything in our Playbook includes age-by-age guidance.
What parents are up against
These common challenges make digital parenting feel overwhelming.
Fragmented settings
Every app has its own parental controls.
Moving targets
Features, trends, and slang change weekly.
Battles over boundaries
Rules without buy-in become cat-and-mouse.
Tech fatigue
Not enough time to configure every device.
Privacy vs. trust
Monitoring that doesn't damage the relationship.
School & peers
Different rules outside your home network.
Start Here: What’s Most Important Right Now
These are the essential guides every parent should read first.
Top 10 Apps Parents Should Know in 2025
A no-drama look at the apps that actually matter — and the red flags that help you stop worrying about the rest.
Read the full guide →
What Parents Need to Know About Online Sextortion
From school policing and forensics — how sextortion actually starts and why “just block them” isn’t enough.
Read the full guide →Weekend Project: Quick Wins Pamphlet
Ten actions you can complete in one weekend.
- Update and Back Up
Keep every phone, tablet, and computer current and backed up so you can recover quickly from accidents or hacks. - Turn On Parental Controls
Set Screen Time or Family Link limits, lock with passcodes, and link devices under one family group for consistency. - Require App Approvals
Enable “Ask to Buy” or approval prompts before new apps or in-app purchases; remove stored payment cards. - Enable SafeSearch
Activate filtering on Chrome, Safari, Edge, and YouTube to block explicit or harmful content automatically. - Filter at the Router
Use family-safe DNS (CleanBrowsing, OpenDNS FamilyShield, or Cloudflare Family) to protect all home traffic. - Add 2FA Everywhere
Turn on two-factor authentication for email, Apple/Google IDs, and social media to stop unauthorized logins. - Create a Charging Zone
Designate one shared charging spot; no devices in bedrooms or bathrooms overnight. - Map Devices & Rules
List each child’s devices, accounts, and the house rules that apply; post it where everyone can see. - Practice “If/Then” Scenarios
Role-play what to do when faced with bullying, strange DMs, or peer pressure so kids react safely in real time. - Sign the Family Digital Use Agreement
Finalize expectations, privacy boundaries, and the “repair path” for mistakes using the included contract.
The Ultimate Playbook for the Digital Age
Age-by-age roadmaps, conversation scripts, configuration checklists, and red-flag patterns.
The 2026 Safe Screens Playbook is nearly here! Join the newsletter to get early access and launch updates as soon as it’s released.
- Age stages: starter phones, social onboarding, dating & driving years.
- Guardrails that grow: how to relax controls while strengthening judgment.
- Incident response: step-by-step response to scams, bullying, account compromise.
- Family tech talks: 12 conversation starters for different ages.
- Quick-reference tables: Platform age minimums, default privacy settings, and reporting tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age groups is this for?
Our materials cover ages 5-18, with specific guidance for elementary, middle, and high school stages.
How often is content updated?
We update our Playbook annually and send weekly updates to subscribers, through Substack, about new threats and trends.
Do I need special software or subscriptions?
No extra purchases are required. Every recommendation uses built-in tools available on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac devices.What if my child already has accounts and devices set up?
You can implement every safeguard retroactively — even tightening privacy and app permissions without deleting existing data or profiles.How often should I revisit the settings?
Set a monthly “tech tune-up” reminder to review screen time, new apps, and privacy updates. Think of it like changing the batteries in a smoke detector — quick, routine, and essential.
Subscribe to Safe Screens Weekly
One clear, practical email each week to help you keep your kids safer on Roblox, Instagram, and everything in between — without becoming the tech police.
Subscriptions are managed through Substack. You can unsubscribe any time.