Autism and cyber safety

Most of us use technology for education, communication and entertainment every day.

And while accessing the digital world has benefits, there can also be risks to our health, safety and wellbeing. By developing healthy habits and being aware of cyber safety risks, autistic children and their families can enjoy time spent online without compromising private information or their mental health.

Screen time

Keeping screen time in check is important for our health. Creating routines and boundaries around screen time can help keep it under control, particularly for autistic children and teenagers. Routines provide a sense of security for individuals on the autism spectrum, and setting routines around when digital devices can be used helps individuals and their families maintain a balance. For example, setting a time one or two hours before bedtime to stop using digital devices can help children and teenagers get ready to sleep.

Here are some things to consider when creating a routine around screen time:

Time of day

Using digital devices immediately after waking up or just before sleeping can impact sleep quality and increase anxiety. Establish a morning and evening routine that involves screen-free activities, such as making breakfast or spending time outdoors.

Location

Having digital devices in areas where your child sleeps can also affect sleep quality and overall wellbeing. Create specific areas in the home for using digital devices that are outside of bedrooms; this can also help with supervising your child’s online activity. 

Time limit

While enjoying a small amount of screen time each day is not harmful, keep track of how long you spend on digital devices. Experts recommend limiting gaming and intensive screen use to no more than two hours daily, especially for children. If you or your child tends to exceed this limit, gradually reduce the time spent on screens by a few minutes each day, replacing screen time with other fun or meaningful activities.

Tools

Most digital devices have in-built or downloadable tools that can help you manage screen time. This includes iOS devices, Android devices, gaming consoles, computers and laptops. Explore the settings of your individual device/s to determine what settings are available for you. 

If there are accounts or settings on a device that you do not want your child to be able to access or change, make sure the passwords are kept hidden and are very different from any passwords of yours they may know. This makes it more difficult for them to guess a password and potentially change settings on their device or access harmful content. eSafety guidelines recommend that these passwords are also changed regularly so they remain secure. 

Digital literacy

We all have different levels of digital literacy, and this is also true for people on the autism spectrum. Some autistic children might already understand how to stay safe online, while others might need more guidance.

Don’t assume that your child/teenager has digital literacy simply because they use technology often. Parents/carers should ask questions to check their child’s understanding and provide clear instructions to help them use digital devices safely and appropriately.  

Here are some digital literacy skills autistic children and teenagers must have before navigating the digital world independently: 

• Appropriate information to share: Knowing what information is safe and appropriate to share online. This includes understanding the dangers of posting personal or private information that could be stolen by others.
• Safe online behaviours: Be aware of the risks associated with using public Wi-Fi, especially when banking or shopping online. To prevent data theft, avoid these activities on public Wi-Fi.
• Scam awareness: It is important for your child to be able to identify email, text, social media and phone scams. Scams can be particularly common in games that are popular with children (e.g., Roblox), such as messages claiming users will win something in return for sensitive information such as passwords or bank details. 
  

Children should not engage with someone they don’t know online and alert a parent or carer if they receive suspicious messages. If they believe they have been scammed, teach them to alert you straight away so you can help them lock their account, report the perpetrator and contact your bank if you believe an account has been hacked.

In addition to these skills, families should support their autistic children with the following:

• Regular updates: Keeping digital devices updated with the latest software ensures they have the best protection. Enable automatic updates so you don’t have to do this manually. 
• Regular backups: Regularly back up important data like photos, videos, files, contact details, and passwords. 
• Multi-factor authentication: Adding extra steps to the authentication process, such as a password and a verification code sent to a phone, increases security.
• Strong passwords: Using strong, hard-to-guess passwords, or even passphrases, can make accounts more secure.
• Vigilance and reporting: Staying informed about the latest scam tactics and being vigilant about reporting and blocking suspicious messages or calls can reduce the risk of scams. 

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a form of harassment that can occur solely online or both online and offline (e.g., at school and on social media). Every family should understand what cyberbullying looks like and how to address it so they can support their child if they are affected. 

What makes cyberbullying particularly challenging is the anonymity that the internet provides to the perpetrator. Individuals on the autism spectrum might be particularly vulnerable due to various factors, including difficulties in understanding the unkind or deceptive nature of some people online or struggling to interpret social cues, jokes or insults. 

Types of cyberbullying include: 

• Direct messages: Sending threatening or unkind messages privately or in group chats.
• Public posts: Creating harmful posts that bully, threaten, or spread false information about someone.
• Catfishing: Using fake profiles to trick, bully, or embarrass individuals.
• Exposure: Sharing personal information, images, or videos without consent, often to shame or humiliate.
• Video game harassment: Using online gaming platforms to harass or send harmful messages.
  

Recognising the signs of cyberbullying is crucial, especially as victims might not always speak up due to fear, shame, or not knowing how to communicate what is happening. Common signs include:

• Appearing upset or anxious during or after using digital devices.
• Being secretive or protective about online activities.
• Showing changes in mood, such as increased sadness or anger, particularly after being online.
• Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities they previously enjoyed.
• Changes in academic performance.

If cyberbullying occurs, it's important not to engage with the bully. Instead, take the following steps:

1. Report and block: Use the reporting tools provided by social media platforms to report inappropriate behaviours and block the individuals involved.
2. Keep evidence: Maintain records of all communications that could serve as evidence of cyberbullying, such as screenshots or logs.
3. Seek support: Contact trusted individuals, such as family members, friends, or professionals, who can offer support and advice.
4. Restrict engagement: Turn off voice chat and stay muted when playing video games to avoid bullying and harassment, particularly from strangers.
5. Offline time: Encourage taking breaks from online activities to reduce stress and regain perspective.

Creating a supportive environment where individuals feel safe to share their experiences without judgement is crucial in addressing the isolation that cyberbullying can cause. A child’s therapy team, particularly psychologists, can be useful here.  

Online friendships

For many autistic individuals, the internet can be a wonderful social space where they can interact with others and form friendships without the anxiety that face-to-face interactions can cause. Online platforms can offer a space to connect with people with similar interests and experiences, creating a sense of belonging and community. 

These friendships also require vigilance to avoid becoming unsafe or manipulative. Encouraging open discussions about the nature of these friendships and the people involved can help parents/carers identify and address any harmful behaviour. Online friendships, particularly in gaming contexts, can be heavily influenced by competition and can quickly become toxic without strong boundaries in place. 

If an autistic person wants to meet an online friend in person, here are some steps they and their families should follow: 

• Meet in public: Arrange to meet in a busy, public place during the day.
• Bring support: Have a friend or family member accompany them, or at least be aware of their whereabouts.
• Plan your activities: Decide in advance what they will do during the meeting and ensure they discuss their plans with you first.
• Trust your instincts: If they feel uncomfortable at any point, encourage them to trust their feelings and reach out to you.

When a child or teenager first begins to play video games, or if they have a negative experience playing with people they don’t know, it can be helpful for them to play with people from their support network that they already know well. This limits the risk of cyberbullying or toxic relationships developing and is much less anxiety-inducing for autistic people, as they have people to support them and interact with them on their own terms.

Taking a break

Wanting to take a break from certain accounts is perfectly okay. The reasons for this vary: some accounts may post too often or be too intense, or the behaviour within certain groups or pages might feel overwhelming. Recognising when your child needs to step back can improve their relationship with social media and overall wellbeing. 

Most social media platforms offer several options to help customise your feed. These tools are designed to give you control over what you see and who you interact with without removing or blocking someone permanently. Here’s a breakdown of some common features:

To help your child maintain a healthy relationship with social media, consider the following tips:

• Regularly checking and adjusting your social media settings can help maintain a healthy relationship with the online world. For example, during busy periods at school (e.g., exam blocks), muting certain apps or group chats can help your child focus. 
• Limiting social media use before your child’s bedtime or when they’re feeling overwhelmed can help reduce its impact on their mood and sleep.
• Research all the tools and options available on different platforms to empower you to support your child in managing their online activity. 
• Encourage your child to discuss their online activity with you and to speak up if they feel uncomfortable with what is occurring online.

Parental controls

Parents and carers may wish to use parental controls to help keep their children safe online:

Built-in parental controls on mobile devices

• Apple products: From iOS 12, Apple has a range of parental controls, allowing parents and carers to help their family stay safe online. These controls can restrict app downloads and online purchases and filter out inappropriate content. They can also prevent users from sharing certain information (e.g., photos, locations) or interacting with certain people, helping prevent scams, data breaches or online abuse. 
• Android products: Unlike Apple, Android doesn’t currently offer general built-in parental controls across its devices. However, Google does have its Family Link app, which allows parents and carers to perform the same functions as Apple’s built-in parental controls, as well as setting limits on screen time if this helps to prevent excessive phone use. 

Third-party software

Many parents and carers use commercial third-party parental controls for additional control and convenience. These apps offer more detailed customisation and monitoring features than the built-in system mentioned above. Third-party controls can be applied to individual devices or all devices connected to a particular Wi-Fi network (e.g., home Wi-Fi), allowing for more specific monitoring. Often, these controls operate on a subscription basis, with prices varying by the number of devices they cover, which can be more cost-effective for families.

For families new to parental controls, searching terms like ‘internet filters’ or ‘family filters’ can provide a list of reputable options. Some services offer free trials, which can be a good starting point to determine whether a service is right for you. 

Mobile service providers

Many mobile service providers offer parental controls as part of their mobile phone plans. These tools can be handy for managing how someone uses mobile data and interacts with mobile services. These services are commonly used to block access to inappropriate content, set times when the internet can and cannot be used and monitor online behaviour, such as the types of apps accessed on a mobile device.

Instagram Teen Accounts

Instagram has introduced Teen Accounts, designed for users aged 13-17. These accounts have additional default privacy and safety settings when a user signs up. Parents and carers can supervise these settings for younger teens, and while they can monitor who their teen is interacting with, they cannot view message content. More details about Teen Accounts are available here.