41% parents feel they can only properly connect with their children across the dinner table, according to new research by Tesco Mobile. The survey of 1,000 parents also found one in 10 admit they don’t know very much about what their child gets up to online.
The study found that out of parents who believe mealtimes are a good occasion to have conversations with their child, 61% feel it strengthens family bonds and connections. Parents say some of the most difficult topics to discuss include their children’s emotions, followed by school life and friendships, crucially followed by their experiences online – more difficult than their romantic relationships.
To help parents bring internet safety to the table, in partnership with The Café, Tesco Mobile has created a series of conversation starters designed for teatime.
They were developed in conjunction with child psychologist, Dr Martha Deiros Collado, and internet safety experts, Internet Matters, using real-life experience and insight to make them as helpful and actionable as possible for parents. The network has teamed up with Frankie Bridge, singer, presenter, and mum of two. Like most parents, Frankie finds it hard not to worry and have anxiety about her children. With Frankie’s oldest son Parker off to Senior School in September, Frankie understands the everyday challenges of parenting in a digital world.
Sally Marriott, CTO of Tesco Mobile said: “As parents, we’re constantly navigating new challenges, and keeping children safe online is one of the most pressing. We created these conversation starters with the aim of making these tough topics approachable for families.
“By bringing these discussions to the dinner table, we hope to help families with the difficulties they face when trying to broach challenging topics like this. Parents can easily access our conversation starters by searching ‘Tesco Mobile Online Safety’ or scanning a QR code on the ‘table talker’ in The Café near them.
“All of the services we offer to families around internet safety from our Little Digital Helps Toolkit, training our instore colleagues and now the conversation starters is about being helpful and empowering families to have positive experiences online.”
Dr Martha Deiros Collado said: “As a clinical psychologist and mother, I’ve seen how smartphones can impact young people’s mental health, both positively and negatively. While cyberbullying and online harassment pose real risks, smartphones also offer teenagers valuable opportunities to build friendships, find support, and experience a sense of belonging.
“It’s essential to educate children on managing these risks while helping them gain the full benefits of the internet. When discussing online safety, approach it as a collaborative conversation—not an interrogation—by sharing your own experiences, listening without judgment, and validating their feelings. Regular family moments, like mealtimes, are ideal for normalising these discussions and building trust, so children feel safe navigating their digital lives.”
Frankie Bridge said: “Honestly, I do consider myself pretty internet savvy, but when it comes to my kids, it’s a whole different world. I mean, their online lives are just so different from mine! As a parent, it’s a bit overwhelming trying to balance all the things I’m worried about—like gaming, social media, all that stuff I don’t really get—while also remembering that, well, so much of what we do is online now. The good thing is, the conversation starters really help me figure out where to begin that chat with them.”
Parents can access Dr Martha’s advice by searching ‘Tesco Mobile Online Safety’ or by scanning a ‘table talker’ in The Café closest to them across the UK.
Top 10 Conversation Prompts:
- What is your favourite thing to do online on your phone, laptop or tablet?
- Do you think that what you post online now could affect you in the future? How?
- How do you keep your accounts safe? Why do you think having a strong password is important?
- What are 4 things you need to be careful about sharing online with others?
- “If it’s not right to say to someone face-to-face, it’s not right to say online.” What do you think and feel about this?
- Ask the adult on the table 2 questions about the way they use their phones. Be kind and don’t make it too hard for them!
- If a friend was mean to you or someone else online, what would you do?
- What would you do if you saw something online that upset you?
- What would you do if your friend shared a comment that was funny, but could hurt someone else?
- What would you do if a child, who you didn’t know, started talking to you online? How would it be different if you found out that they were an adult?