Parentline NI - Your Guide to Parenting
To raise thriving children parents need better support. Parentline NI is here for all parents offering support, guidance or advice wherever you are on the parenting journey. We are a helpline for parents operated by Children in Northern Ireland. The Parentline podcasts will explore the ups and downs of parenting with honest and frank discussions to support parents to lay the strongest possible foundations for their children. Find out more information about Parentline NI at http://www.ci-ni.org.uk/parentline-ni
Parentline NI - Your Guide to Parenting
Be Cyber Safe NI Takeover: Ep 3 - Side by Side
In the final episode of the Be Cyber Safe NI Takeover, young people and adults come together to look ahead — exploring how families can navigate the digital world side by side with trust, understanding, and openness.
Hosted by Maria, this episode features honest reflections from Matylda, Theo, Ethan, and Darragh, alongside youth worker Paula, who has supported the group throughout the project. Together, they unpack the reality that parents and young people often live in very different digital worlds — and why closing that gap matters more than ever.
The conversation explores:
- Why parents and young people experience the online world so differently
- How parents can better understand the apps, games, and platforms young people use
- Why social media is about more than screens — it’s about belonging and connection
- How to encourage healthy breaks from screens without making it feel like punishment
- The importance of offline time, presence, and shared family moments
- What really helps when something goes wrong online
- Why calm, non-judgemental responses make it easier for young people to ask for help
The episode ends with a powerful reminder: there is no perfect rulebook for growing up online. Mistakes will happen — but when families listen, learn, and respond together, young people feel safer, supported, and more confident asking for help.
This final instalment brings the Be Cyber Safe NI Takeover to a thoughtful close, reinforcing a simple but vital message for parents and carers: online safety works best when it’s built on conversation, trust, and learning together.
