Built Safe. Kept Safe.
Play and Learn with David is a family learning platform designed from the ground up to protect children — with zero advertising to kids, real-time safety filters, parent oversight, and full transparency.
How Play and Learn with David Protects Your Child
These are the live safety systems running on this platform right now — not policies, but working code.
Real-Time Chat Safety Filter
Every message a child sends is scanned before it is delivered. The filter detects and blocks 12 categories of personal information — including phone numbers, home addresses, school names, GPS coordinates, social media usernames, and meeting arrangements.
- Blocked message is never sent — it vanishes immediately
- Child sees a friendly educational reminder, not an error
- Admin can choose block or redact mode per category
- Custom word list on top of built-in detection
Instant Parent Alerts
High-severity filter triggers — meeting arrangements, phone numbers, and home addresses — generate an immediate email to the parent. The alert names what was detected and links directly to the safety log. Rate-limited to prevent inbox flooding.
- Three severity tiers: High / Medium / Low
- Email sent within seconds of the blocked attempt
- No message text stored or shared — only the category
Parent Safety Dashboard
Parents see a complete, read-only log of all safety filter events across their children's accounts — directly on their dashboard. Each entry shows the category, severity, and whether a parent email was sent. Parents can delete entries at any time.
- Visible only to the child's own parent — never to other users
- Blocked message text is never stored
- Admins see aggregate trends; parents see their own child
Parent-First Account Model
Children cannot create accounts. A parent must receive an email invitation, confirm they are 18 or older, and agree to the Terms of Service before any child profile can be created. Every friendship request requires explicit parent approval.
- Age gate: parent confirms 18+ at account creation
- Friend requests require parent approval before chat opens
- Friend-only chat — children cannot message strangers
Secure Authentication
Parent accounts are protected by bcrypt-hashed passwords, CSRF token protection on all forms, Cloudflare Turnstile invisible captcha on sign-up, honeypot spam traps, and optional 2-step email verification.
- Forgot password sends a time-limited reset link by email
- 2-step verification: optional for parents, forceable by admin
- StopForumSpam database checked on registration
Admin Moderation Tools
Platform administrators can soft or hard delete any message, remove group chats, dissolve friendships, and ban profiles from chat. Safety log trends are visible in the admin panel to spot patterns across the platform.
- Soft delete hides content; hard delete removes it permanently
- Bans can be lifted at any time by an admin
- Every blocked attempt is logged by category and channel
No Advertising to Children
When a child is logged in, our system automatically suppresses all advertising slots across every page. No banner ads, no sponsored content, no affiliate placements — nothing. This is enforced in the platform code, not just as a policy.
📺 What ads are on this platform?
We run a small number of in-house educational and family-focused ads sold directly by Play and Learn with David to vetted sponsors. These appear only on pages viewed by logged-in parents. All ad placements are reviewed and approved by our team before going live.
🔐 Is my data sold to advertisers?
No. Sponsors pay for a placement slot — not for access to users. We do not share, sell, or license any user data, browsing behaviour, child information, or parent information to any advertiser. Ever. Our ad system is a direct-sales platform, not a data marketplace.
👀 Who can see ads?
Only logged-in parents may see sponsored content, and only in areas of the site designed for parents (not in lessons, games, or child-facing pages). Child sessions — recognised by the platform automatically — receive zero ad impressions.
✅ How are sponsors vetted?
Every sponsor and every ad is reviewed by our team before activation. We only accept family-appropriate, educational, or child-safe products and services. We do not accept junk food, gambling, alcohol, adult content, or any category inappropriate for a family platform.
Our Privacy Commitment
Age-by-Age Safety Tips
Ages 5–9
- Always ask a parent before going online
- Do not click pop-ups, ads, or suspicious links
- Share only fun, non-personal things (cartoons, pets)
- Tell a trusted adult if something scares or upsets you
- Never give out your real name, age, or school
- Do not download anything without permission
- Use kid-safe browsers and websites only
- Never agree to meet someone you only know online
Ages 10–12
- Keep accounts private — only add real friends
- Play games safely — mute or report bullies
- Never share passwords, address, or phone number
- Ask parents before joining new apps or groups
- Do not share photos that show your location
- Be kind online — cyberbullying is still bullying
- Understand that not everyone online is who they claim to be
- Learn to recognise fake news and online scams
Ages 13–15
- Think before posting — once online, always online
- Avoid dangerous dares or challenges from social media
- Block and report unwanted messages immediately
- Talk openly with parents if something goes wrong
- Never share intimate photos — they can be misused
- Be aware of adults posing as teenagers online
- Understand that your digital footprint is permanent
- Report cyberbullying and hate speech through proper channels
Ages 16–18
- Your posts shape your reputation — colleges and employers look
- Watch for signs of manipulation in online relationships
- Balance screen time with offline activities and sleep
- Know how to document and report serious incidents
- Understand consent and boundaries in all relationships
- Be aware of financial scams and phishing targeting teens
- Practice responsible digital citizenship
- Help younger siblings and friends stay safe online
Essential Tips for Parents
Warning Signs to Watch For
🧠 Behavioural Changes
- Secretive about online activities
- Suddenly stops using devices or specific apps
- Upset, anxious, or angry after using devices
- Withdrawal from family and real-life friends
🚩 Digital Red Flags
- Unexpected gifts, money, or items arriving
- New adult "friends" you do not recognise
- Requests to meet someone offline
- Being asked to keep online conversations secret
Emergency Response Steps
If something feels wrong, act immediately:
Do not reply. Take screenshots of usernames, messages, and profiles before anything is deleted.
Use the in-app reporting tools and block the user immediately on every platform.
Contact parents, a teacher, or another trusted guardian right away. You will not get in trouble for reporting this.
For serious threats, contact local police or a specialist cybercrime unit. Use the resources below to find the right organisation.
Where to Report & Get Help
United Kingdom
CEOP — Child Exploitation and Online Protection
ceop.police.ukReport concerning online behaviour
📱 Report Directly on Popular Platforms
- Instagram / Facebook: help.instagram.com
- TikTok: tiktok.com/safety
- YouTube: YouTube Safety Centre
- Discord: Use in-app reporting or contact Trust & Safety through their website
- Snapchat: Snapchat Support
- WhatsApp: Open the chat → tap the name → Block and Report
🛡️
Have a concern about our platform?
We take every safety report seriously. Our Privacy & Safety team responds within 24 hours.
🛡️ Contact Our Safety Team