In today’s digitally connected world, children are spending more time online than ever before. From schoolwork to socializing, the internet is a central part of their daily lives. But with these digital opportunities come very real dangers—ranging from data breaches and scams to cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content. Teaching children how to stay safe online isn’t just important—it’s essential.
Yet a surprising number of schools are not equipped to do so. A recent study reveals that 26% of teachers report their schools don’t include digital safety in their official curriculum, and only 32% of teachers have received formal training to teach this critical subject. This knowledge gap leaves students vulnerable, particularly when parents are also unsure how to guide their children through the online landscape.
The Current State of Digital Safety in Schools
Teachers are the frontline educators in this digital age, and many of them recognize the importance of online safety. In fact, 95% of teachers surveyed agreed that cybersecurity education should be mandatory, with 71% advocating that it begin as early as elementary school. However, this strong support contrasts sharply with reality: 52% of schools do not currently include cybersecurity in their official curriculum.
When it comes to confidence in teaching online safety, only 23% of teachers feel very prepared to cover topics like phishing, password security, and social media privacy. Nearly half (47%) feel only somewhat confident, and 30% report low or no confidence. With just one-third of teachers receiving any formal training, these figures aren’t surprising.
Even without a structured curriculum, teachers are witnessing firsthand the consequences of poor digital habits. The most common issues among students include oversharing personal information (52%), posting inappropriate content (50%), and using AI tools to plagiarize (47%). These behaviors not only pose privacy risks but can also lead to disciplinary action, emotional distress, or in some cases, actual cybersecurity breaches—something 17% of teachers say they’ve experienced in their schools.
Teachers estimate that only 36% of their students are genuinely digitally literate. Without stronger support, many children remain unprepared to safely navigate the online world.
What Role Should Parents Play?
Parents are taking some steps to ensure their children’s online safety, with two-thirds saying they regularly talk to their kids about internet use and nearly 80% having reviewed their children’s social media privacy settings. But when it comes to deeper knowledge of online threats, many parents are unsure or unaware.
While phishing is widely recognized, with only 3% of parents unfamiliar with it, smishing—phishing via text message—is much less understood. A significant 36% of parents admitted they’d never even heard of it. Additionally, 8% of parents didn’t know what two-factor authentication was, and 14% were unsure how to help their child set it up. These statistics show that while parents care, many lack the technical understanding to offer comprehensive guidance.
Interestingly, there is a clear divide on where the responsibility for digital education should fall. While 59% of parents feel it’s their duty to teach their kids about online safety, 64% also believe that schools should include it as a core subject—just like math or reading. A shared approach is perhaps the most realistic solution, where schools provide structured lessons and parents reinforce learning at home.
The Real-World Risks Facing Children
The risks of failing to prepare children for digital life are far from theoretical. Nearly a third of parents (29%) reported that their children had been exposed to inappropriate content online, while 25% had encountered AI-generated misinformation. Even more alarming, 24% of children had faced a serious online safety incident, such as hacked accounts, contact from predators, or cyberbullying.
When asked which online threats their children were least prepared to handle, parents pointed to inappropriate contact (57%), cyberbullying (53%), and misinformation or deepfakes (40%). These aren’t just frightening statistics—they represent real experiences that can deeply impact a child’s mental and emotional health.
Bridging the Gap: What Needs to Change
So, how do we close the gap between the growing need for digital literacy and the lack of structured support for teaching it? First, schools need formal curricula and teacher training programs dedicated to cybersecurity and online safety. Educators must be empowered to confidently guide students through understanding privacy settings, identifying scams, and using technology responsibly.
Second, parents need accessible resources that help them understand current threats and how to talk to their children about them. Many parents are already willing and trying—they just need the tools to do it effectively.
Finally, communication between schools and families must improve. When educators and parents work together, they can offer consistent messaging and support that reinforces safe behaviors across home and school environments.
A Collaborative Approach for a Safer Digital Future
Both teachers and parents agree on one thing: cybersecurity education is crucial and should be a mandatory part of every child’s education. But agreement alone is not enough. By working together—schools providing structured learning and parents offering ongoing support—we can better equip children to safely navigate an increasingly complex digital world.
Teaching digital safety isn’t just about preventing bad outcomes. It’s about giving kids the confidence and skills they need to thrive online, just as we do in the physical world. The sooner we make online safety education a standard part of growing up, the safer—and smarter—our next generation will be.
