Documentaries, books, researchers, articles, and government reports — curated by the CLARA Standards team. No agenda — just what we've found genuinely useful.
Our Recommendations
We respect your family's values and screen rules. Curious about what we recommend? Here are eight steps to help kids and teens stay safer online.
No devices in kids' or teens' bedrooms until at least age 16. Charge and store them in a shared space.
Follow the minimum age in the app's Terms of Service. Being old enough to join does not always mean a child is ready.
Wait as long as you can before introducing social media and AI — ideally until the later teen years.
Watch, play, and explore together rather than alone, especially with younger kids. Talk about what you see.
Share what you each see on apps and why you think it shows up. Talk about ways to use apps less — and to support learning, friendships, and feeling good, rather than getting in the way.
Use contact approvals, safe browsing, and purchase protections wherever they are available. Check the settings on both devices and apps.
Keep kids' and teens' posts and profiles private.
Talk with other parents in your child's friend group. Agree on screen rules for playdates, group chats, and social media posts — including sharing photos of each other's kids.
Have empathy for yourself. The experts disagree, the tech companies are shipping faster than families can keep up, and you were set up to fail.
→Part 2What you and your family can actually do. The practical stuff that works — from charging phones in your room to rallying your village.
→The families who don't have the luxury of any of this, the regulatory mess that's making it worse, and what we're building to fix it.
Practical tools for families, educators, and health professionals, from setting up devices to supporting a young person after an upsetting online experience.
Country labels show where each resource is based. Many materials are useful internationally, but laws, reporting services, and support pathways differ. Most resources are free; some training requires registration or payment.
Most teens have already talked to an AI chatbot, and many have used an "AI companion" built to feel like a friend. This is moving faster than the research, so here's where to start.
Sextortion is when someone threatens to share a child's intimate images unless they pay or send more. It targets teenage boys most often, and it moves fast. Tell your kids now that they can always come to you, and that they won't be in trouble.
No family can hold the line alone. When the whole class waits, no one kid is left out. These parent-led groups help you build your village. If there's nothing near you, most of them will help you start one.
Know a parent-led initiative we're missing, in your town or your country? Send it our way. We check every suggestion before adding it.
Suggest an initiativeThese links provide education and support. Inclusion does not certify a platform, endorse every recommendation, or establish that a program prevents harm. Some providers receive technology-industry funding. Check individual resources for current access terms and local applicability. Directory reviewed September 2026.