Growing Up Digital
Helping your kids and teens navigate life online
Susan McLean(Author)
Allen & Unwin (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 3. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-76147-262-6 (ISBN)
Description
Our children are digital natives, their friendships, learning and identity shaped online. But alarming threats have emerged - sextortion, blackmail, deepfakes and image-based abuse - alongside ongoing dangers of cyberbullying, grooming, pornography and problematic screen use.
Written by internationally recognised cyber safety expert Susan McLean, Growing Up Digital tackles urgent challenges facing families. With compassion and authority, McLean offers a conversational handbook giving children their 'digital armour'.
Packed with real-life case studies, up-to-date resources, clear legal explanations and trusted support links, this empowers parents and educators to act confidently. From managing digital reputation and social media to opening conversations about tough issues, this is a practical roadmap in a rapidly changing landscape.
McLean is the go-to voice for internet child safety, trusted worldwide. Growing Up Digital is essential for every parent, carer and teacher.
Written by internationally recognised cyber safety expert Susan McLean, Growing Up Digital tackles urgent challenges facing families. With compassion and authority, McLean offers a conversational handbook giving children their 'digital armour'.
Packed with real-life case studies, up-to-date resources, clear legal explanations and trusted support links, this empowers parents and educators to act confidently. From managing digital reputation and social media to opening conversations about tough issues, this is a practical roadmap in a rapidly changing landscape.
McLean is the go-to voice for internet child safety, trusted worldwide. Growing Up Digital is essential for every parent, carer and teacher.
Reviews / Votes
Growing Up Digital is a lifeline for parents and carers navigating the digital jungle. Susan's advice is grounded in decades of frontline experience, international training, and a passion for child safety that's second to none. Her work has helped hundreds of thousands of families and schools, and her influence stretches from Parliament House to the family dinner table. -- Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, bestselling parenting expertMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
St Leonards
Australia
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 153 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-76147-262-6 (9781761472626)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Susan McLean is Australia's leading cybersafety expert and media commentator. Widely known as the 'Cyber Cop', she was a member of Victoria Police for 27 years and has extensive national and international experience and qualifications. In 2014 Susan published the bestselling Sexts, Texts & Selfies: How to keep your children safe in the digital space, with a revised and updated edition released in 2018. Growing Up Digital is her second book.
Content
Foreword
Introduction
1 Reality and risk
2 Digital footprints and your child's online reputation
3 Cyberbullying and online abuse
4 Nudes and naked selfies
5 Sextortion and image-based abuse
6 Grooming and online predators: Child sexual abuse, hurtcore and radicalisation
7 Artificial intelligence
8 Pornography
9 Online gaming and screen time
10 Age restrictions and beyond: Curbing other dangers
11 The golden rules
12 All about schools: Best practice for educators
13 Cyberspace and the law
APPENDIX 1 Resources
APPENDIX 2 Online Family Safety Agreements
APPENDIX 3 Internet slang
Acknowledgements
Notes
Index
Introduction
1 Reality and risk
2 Digital footprints and your child's online reputation
3 Cyberbullying and online abuse
4 Nudes and naked selfies
5 Sextortion and image-based abuse
6 Grooming and online predators: Child sexual abuse, hurtcore and radicalisation
7 Artificial intelligence
8 Pornography
9 Online gaming and screen time
10 Age restrictions and beyond: Curbing other dangers
11 The golden rules
12 All about schools: Best practice for educators
13 Cyberspace and the law
APPENDIX 1 Resources
APPENDIX 2 Online Family Safety Agreements
APPENDIX 3 Internet slang
Acknowledgements
Notes
Index