Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am writing with a focus on two critical areas of child safety and well-being: late-night screen use and the unmonitored use of social apps like Discord and Roblox. My priority is to partner with you to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all our students.
The Screen Time Challenge: Why Late Nights are a Concern
A number of our students have recently disclosed that they spend a lot of their time on screens, often playing games like Roblox, until midnight or later.
The Impact: Consistent late-night screen use, particularly for stimulating activities such as gaming and chatting, severely disrupts a child’s sleep cycle. Lack of sleep is directly linked to difficulties with concentration, emotional regulation (increased irritability and anxiety), and overall poor mental health. Monitoring when your children are online is just as crucial as monitoring what they are doing.
A Closer Look at High-Risk Platforms
I am concerned that many children under the platforms’ recommended age of 13+ are using applications like Discord and engaging in unmonitored communication within games like Roblox.
Discord (Recommended Age: 13+)
High Risk for Harassment: Discord servers are often private, and messages can be set to disappear quickly. This makes it a prime place for bullying and harassment that is difficult for parents or the school to track and resolve.
Contact with Strangers: The app is designed for community building, easily exposing children to external, unknown users, including the risk of online predators.
Limited Parent Oversight: While Discord offers a Family Centre, it provides visibility of who they talk to and what servers they join, but it does not allow parents to see the content of the actual conversations.
Roblox (Stricter Filters for Under 13)
Communication Risk: While Roblox has filters, unmonitored in-game chat and private messages can still expose children to cyberbullying and inappropriate contact. Predators may use the platform to connect with children and attempt to move the conversation to less-monitored apps like Discord.
Content Risk: Though it uses content labels, many experiences are user-created, meaning inappropriate games or themes can sometimes be found.
Parental Solution: Roblox offers robust Parental Controls (including a PIN lock) that allow you to manage who your child can chat with, what content they can access, and how much money they can spend (Robux).
Taking Action: Safeguarding Your Children
I recommend that every parent take the following steps to manage their child’s online life:
Recognise the Harm of social media: Understand that platforms like Discord, with an official 13+ age rating, are generally designed for older teens and adults. The social risks and content are often too mature for primary-aged children.
Set Clear Boundaries: Establish limits on total daily screen time. Do not allow screens in private spaces (like bedrooms) or past a child’s bedtime. Use the Parental Control features offered by Roblox to lock down settings.
Open Communication: Foster an environment where your children feel comfortable discussing all of their online experiences with you—the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable.
Educate: Teach your children about the potential risks of social media, the importance of keeping personal information private, and how to use critical thinking when interacting with strangers online.
Be Involved: Know who your children are following and who they are talking to. Engage in their digital lives just as you do in their offline activities.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep your children safe and promote healthy habits. If you have concerns about your child’s online activity, please refer to the linked resources below.
eSafety Commissioner (Australia)
Parent Resources Hub: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
The eSafety Guide (App/Game Reviews): https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/esafety-guide
Common Sense Media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
Childnet International
Website (Parents & Carers Section): https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers/