Millennial vs. Gen X parents: generational divide over children's online safety

The debate around children’s online safety is heating up, and new research suggests parents are far from united on what feels safe.

Fresh findings from safeguarding experts at Virtual College reveal a clear generational divide in attitudes towards children sharing content online, with older Gen Z and Millennial parents significantly more relaxed than older age groups.

The research, based on a survey of 2,000 UK adults, comes at a time when online safety, age limits and phone use in schools are firmly in the spotlight. Against that backdrop, the data offers a revealing snapshot of how different generations perceive online risk for children.

According to the findings, one in five parents aged 25 to 34 believe it is safe for children to share photos of themselves online. Meanwhile, one in five adults under 44 also think it is safe for children to share opinions on friends’ posts and even on strangers’ posts.

Safeguarding experts warn that these more relaxed attitudes could underestimate the realities of children’s online experiences, particularly around cyberbullying, unwanted contact and exposure to harmful content.

A clear generational split on online sharing

The research found that adults aged 25 to 44 (older Gen Z and Millennials) were consistently more comfortable with children sharing personal information, images and opinions online than older generations. This included posting photos of themselves, commenting publicly on others’ posts, and sharing images or videos of friends and family.

In contrast, adults aged 55 and over (Gen X) were far more cautious, with the majority believing children should not share any of the listed information online at all.

Safeguarding professionals say this divide matters, because adult attitudes often shape the boundaries and guidance children receive at home.

What parents say children are seeing online

As well as attitudes, the research also asked parents what their children had actually been exposed to online in the past 12 months.

According to parents surveyed:

• 20% said their child had been exposed to misinformation or false news online in the past year
• 18% said their child had encountered encouragement to buy products through influencers or undisclosed advertising
• 13% reported exposure to content that promotes unhealthy comparisons or body image concerns
• 10% said their child had been a victim of cyberbullying or negative comments

Experts say these figures are likely to reflect only part of the picture, as much online activity happens out of sight of parents and carers.

Why experts say risks are often underestimated

Mary-Ann Round, Safeguarding Expert at Virtual College, says the findings mirror what professionals working with children see every day.

She explains that children are exposed to an enormous volume of online content, much of which is not designed with their wellbeing in mind.

Children are seeing a huge volume of online content every day, and much of it isn't designed with their wellbeing in mind. False news, online abuse and unrealistic expectations are becoming part of everyday online life for many young people.

Mary-Ann also warns that parents may not always be aware of the full scale of what their children encounter online.

"While the research reveals what parents are aware of their child being exposed to online, it's almost certain more unhealthy exposure happens out of sight of parents, through fast-moving apps and platforms that are hard to monitor," she says.

Practical steps families can take at home

While online risks can feel overwhelming, Mary-Ann says there are realistic steps families can take to help children navigate digital spaces more safely.

• • Start with conversation, not control: Mary-Ann says children are more likely to speak up if something feels wrong when open conversations are the norm.
  • Use safety settings as a foundation: Privacy controls, age-appropriate filters and screen time limits can help create a basic safety net, especially when children are using new devices or platforms for the first time.
  • Help children question what they see: Mary-Ann says encouraging children to pause and question information, advertising and influencer content can help them develop long-term digital confidence.

Children are far more likely to come to adults when something feels wrong if they're used to talking openly about their online lives. Asking what they enjoy watching, who they follow, and what they think about the content they see helps build trust and encourages critical thinking.

Why schools cannot tackle this alone

The findings come amid growing discussion about the role schools play in addressing online harms. Experts stress that while education is vital, schools cannot be expected to solve issues that are shaped and reinforced online by algorithms, influencers and wider digital culture.

Mary-Ann says families, educators, technology companies and wider society all have a role to play in helping children build healthy, critical relationships with the online world.

As this research shows, how safe adults believe the internet is for children may depend on their generation, but the risks children face online are very real, and often hidden.