A new school year often means new routines, new apps, new games, new devices and new group chats, so September is the perfect time for a family digital reset.

In this month’s online safety update, I look at the government’s proposed changes to social media access for under 16s, what’s actually changing and, importantly, what parents and carers need to do right now.

I also share some simple checks you can make around your child’s apps, contacts, privacy, spending and bedtime device habits.

We then take a closer look at YouTube. From autoplay and recommendations to Shorts and algorithms, I explain why watching one innocent video can quickly lead somewhere completely different, and how you can help your child understand why they’re being shown certain content.

Finally, we look at online friendships and gaming. Who is your child actually talking to when they play online, what personal information do they understand they shouldn’t share, and would they feel comfortable coming to you if something went wrong?

Rather than checking everything in secret, this episode is about getting curious about your child’s digital world, letting them show you what they enjoy and keeping online safety as an ongoing family conversation.