Guiding Online Etiquette
You play an important role in shaping your child’s online experiences. This section shows how you can guide respectful digital interactions online.
Click on the images below to download the complete sheet in PDF format.
Fact Sheet
How can my child engage with others online positively and respectfully?
Navigating the digital world isn’t always easy. Parents have a unique role in helping their children have positive online experiences. This fact sheet offers practical information about what respectful digital interactions may look like and why they matter for your child’s well-being.
Receiving kindness: Why are positive online experiences important for my child?
- SENSE OF BELONGING
Positive social media interactions—like friendly messages or emotional support— are linked to higher life satisfaction and emotional well-being. Engaging in shared online experiences (peer discussions or group chats) helps kids feel seen and included - SELF-ESTEEM AND EMOTIONAL WELL- BEING
Receiving likes, compliments, or supportive messages online can help kids feel valued. These small moments build confidence, reduce loneliness, and increase feelings of connection. Positive digital interactions also spark curiosity, resilience, and social engagement.
Ways to connect
Chatting with friends online strengthens existing relationships and improves well-being. Having a mix of familiar and new connections is linked to greater happiness and less loneliness.
Acting kind: Why should my child be positive and respectful online
HELPS CHILDREN FEEL CONNECTED
When children treat each other with kindness, they’re more likely to build real friendships and feel a sense of belonging.3 This makes them want to come back and stay involved.
CREATES POSITIVE COMMUNICATION HABITS
When children learn to share experiences, ask friendly questions, and respond with care, they’re practicing how to build healthy relationships online — habits that will carry into later digital experiences.
KEEPS THE SPACE SAFE AND WELCOMING
Respectful behaviour sets the tone for how everyone acts. When children are kind and follow shared rules, the community stays supportive and focused—and avoids bullying or negativity.
STRENGTHENS GROUPS OVER TIME
Being positive and respectful helps create a long-lasting online space where children enjoy spending time. This keeps the community active and supportive.
BUILDS TRUST
When youth feel respected, they’re more comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences. This makes the group stronger and encourages others to take part too.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE
Parental guidance on being kind online can positively impact children by helping them show more empathy, express encouragement, share in others’ joy, offer support, and write more thoughtful messages. Guidance around tone, kindness, and inclusion also sets the standard for creating a safe online space.
What does being respectful and kind look like online?
Kids don’t always know what respectful behavior looks like online. This page offers tips you can share with your child — using simple, everyday examples of empathy, inclusion, and handling disagreements — to help them practice kindness and build safer, healthier digital habits.
- Show empathy: Consider how others might feel when they read your words. Offer support or encouragement if someone seems upset, left out, or unsure.
- Pause before posting: Take a moment to ask yourself: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary? Would I say this to someone’s face?
- Respect privacy and consent: Never share someone else’s photos, videos, or personal information without their clear permission.
- Use respectful language: Be polite and avoid insults, slurs, or teasing. Even jokes can be hurtful—make sure your words are kind and inclusive.
- Think about your tone: Online messages can be misunderstood. Avoid using ALL CAPS or sarcasm, and be clear about your intentions.
- Be inclusive: Make sure everyone feels welcome. Avoid inside jokes that exclude others, and celebrate different backgrounds and perspectives.
- Report harmful behavior: If you see bullying, hate speech, or inappropriate content, report it instead of ignoring or joining in. Click here to see more ways your child can respond to bullies in our youth infographic.
- Disagree respectfully: It’s okay to have different opinions—but be calm, curious, and kind. Listen first, and never attack the person.
- Think long-term: Everything you post becomes part of your digital footprint. Make sure it reflects who you want to be—now and in the future.
- Lead by example: Kindness online starts with you. When you act respectfully, others are more likely to follow your lead.
Tip Sheet
Positive online communication tips for your children
As children and adolescents spend more time online, developing strong digital communication skills becomes critical. Communicating positively and respectfully online supports youth’s friendship quality, overall well- being, and helps them maintain a positive digital reputation. Parents play a key role in shaping these positive online experiences!2-4 Use these tips to encourage your children to be kind and respectful online:
- Model positive communication: Children learn from how we interact online! It can be helpful to model kindness in texts, comments, and emails, even when things are frustrating. For example: If something you personally wrote gets misunderstood, you might say, “Sorry if that came off the wrong way—here’s what I meant.”
- Discuss the consequences: Have a conversation about the real consequences of posting online and the words that are used. For example: “Remember, having a digital footprint, which will stay online, can potentially impact your life later on.”
- Foster open communication: Let your child know you’re here to discuss their use of the internet, what they see online, and even to address some questions they might have about navigating the online space. Remember: As parents, it's normal not to know all the answers! You can always s earch for some guidance online together.
- Stand up to Cyberbullying: Did you know 1 in 4 Canadian youth are exposed to cyberbullying? Whether it’s reporting the comment, reaching out to a victim, or speaking to an adult – children should be reminded the ways to stand up to cyberbullying.
- My child might be a victim of cyberbullying
- Encouraging Upstander Behaviour
- Online Etiquette: Children should be reminded that their choice of words can hurt, just as mean things can hurt when said in person. They can be encouraged to ask themselves questions before making a post: “Would I say this in person?” “How would that make them feel?”
This information is evidence based. Click here for a complete list of resources!