A new national survey commissioned by Snapchat has revealed that while a significant majority of Australian parents (82%) are aware of online safety parental controls, 57% are not using them on apps and digital platforms.
Awareness high, but usage lags
The study, conducted by Lonergan Research in June 2025, surveyed over 1,000 Australian parents of children under 18. It examined awareness, adoption, and attitudes toward online safety tools.
The findings point to a gap between awareness and action, especially among parents of teenagers.
Parents of teenagers least likely to use controls
According to the data, parents of teens aged 13–17 are considerably less likely to use parental controls (65%) compared to parents of children aged 5–12 (76%).
Snapchat, which offers its own suite of tools through its in-app Family Centre, commissioned the research. The platform’s parental controls allow caregivers to view their teen’s friend list, see who they are communicating with, and set content restrictions.
Snapchat Family Center
Ryan Ferguson, Managing Director for Snap Inc. in Australia and New Zealand, said: “The Family Centre parental tools we have on Snapchat are easy to use and designed to prompt important conversations between parents and their teens about online safety.”
Ryan Ferguson
Positive impact of safety tools
For parents who have used safety tools, the sentiment is overwhelmingly positive. Among them, 92% report feeling better able to protect their family, while 93% say they would recommend the controls to other families. An equal percentage say the tools help them feel more in control of how technology is used by young people in their household.
Susan McLean, one of Australia’s leading online safety experts, noted that the teenage years are a critical time for increased digital supervision. “When young people become teenagers, often getting a mobile phone for the first time, their use of technology can increase substantially,” she said.
Susan McLean
The study also found that 76% of parents who had been unaware of such tools would consider using them in future, suggesting untapped potential for greater adoption.
Snapchat also promotes broader digital literacy through its Family Safety Hub, which offers educational resources for parents.