Parent Perspectives on Child Email Usage & Safety

Thanks for taking a few minutes to share how your family handles email! Your answers help shape safer tools for kids online. This should take about 5 minutes.

Does your child currently have their own email address?

• Yes, set up by me/us
• Yes, set up by the child or someone else
• No, but they use a shared/family account
• No, they don't use email at all

What does your child mainly use email for? (Select all that apply)

• School assignments or communication with teachers
• Signing up for apps, games, or streaming services
• Talking with friends or family
• Online shopping or receipts
• Contests, newsletters, or promotions

Overall, how concerned are you about your child's safety when using email?

How concerned are you about each of the following when it comes to your child's email use?

Which safety measures do you currently use for your child's email, if any?

• I regularly check their inbox
• I set up parental controls or content filters
• I require their password/login access
• I get copies or alerts of their emails
• We've discussed email safety rules together

How well does your child's current email provider help you keep them safe?

Which of these potential safety features would matter most to you in a child's email account?

• Automatic blocking of unknown senders
• Parent approval required before adding new contacts
• AI-based filtering of inappropriate content or links
• Weekly activity summary sent to parents
• One-tap reporting of suspicious emails
• Age-appropriate account that expires or upgrades over time
• Built-in education about spotting scams and phishing
• Ability to pause or freeze the account instantly

Ask the parent to walk through a specific moment when they felt worried about, or actually caught, something concerning in their child's email (a stranger message, scam, inappropriate content, etc.). Get concrete details: what happened, how they found out, what they did next, and whether it changed how they manage the account today. If they say nothing concerning has ever happened, probe what would make them feel safer proactively and why their top-ranked safety feature matters most to them specifically.

What is your child's age range?

• Under 6
• 6-8
• 9-11
• 12-14
• 15-17
• Prefer not to say

How would you describe your own comfort level with technology and online safety tools?

• Not comfortable
• Somewhat comfortable
• Comfortable
• Very comfortable
• Prefer not to say

That's everything — thank you for your honesty! Your responses will be combined with other parents' answers to help design email tools that are genuinely safer for kids.