Short answer
Watch for changes: avoiding school, being upset after using the phone, sleeping badly, or suddenly hiding the screen. Talk calmly, save evidence, block and report the bully, and involve the school. SAFE can alert you when words you choose, such as insults or threats, appear on your child's phone, without collecting all their chats.
Common signs
- Doesn't want to go to school or join activities they used to enjoy.
- Gets sad, angry or quiet after using the phone.
- Sleeps badly, eats less or complains of headaches and stomach aches.
- Hides the screen suddenly or deletes accounts.
What to do right away
- 1Listen first and stay calm. Tell your child it is not their fault.
- 2Take screenshots of the messages, with names and dates.
- 3Don't reply to the bully. Block and report them inside the app.
- 4Talk to the school if the bully is a classmate.
- 5If there are threats of violence or sexual content, contact the police or your country's child helpline.
Worrying-word alerts in SAFE
In SAFE Parent, open Content monitoring and add the words that worry you, in any language. When one of them appears on your child's screen, you get an alert with the app name and the text it appeared in.
SAFE doesn't collect your child's chats or show you their conversations. You only see the moments that match the words you chose.
Frequently asked questions
Which words should I add?
Insults and threats common in your child's language, words about self-harm, and requests like "send a photo" or "don't tell your parents".
Does it work in WhatsApp and Instagram?
It works on the text that appears on the child's screen, in most apps.
Should I take the phone away?
Taking the phone away often stops children from telling you next time. Focus on safety, blocking and support instead.