Struggling

[rumblestripped]

I'm seriously struggling with my 13yr old son. We've had chat after chat about staying safe online, but every time he lets me down. Befriending unknowns, sharing to much information, actually seeking strangers out! After all the explanations of why this is so dangerous he still does this. Today I find he's also been looking at pictures of naked women. My heart dropped. I feel he's to young to be doing this and definitely not responsible enough. Restrictions could block out the adult content but it doesn't solve the inappropriate interactions with others (some are friends).

I don't want to cut him off from communicating with his friends, it's hard enough for him to make and keep them due to his autism.

Temporary ban on internet to show him that it's serious.
What devices does he use and are there any rules? Eg no devices in the bedroom, parents know passwords so they can check, no internet after a certain time.

He uses his iPhone and occasionally the iPad, sometimes he sneaks it into his bedroom. He knows that I will be spot checking his devices so I think he was just caught out this time. Seems like I have good reason to check up on him. Not sure it's much of a deterrent though. Bans have never been very effective either, I'm at a loss.

Take away the devices, sell them and get a basic phone and a laptop that stays downstairs. He doesn't need an iPhone or an iPad.

As you just said, he lets you down every time and isn't being safe or responsible so he needs to have any devices taken from him where he can use the internet. As the above post said, he can still have access to a phone that doesn't allow internet access. That way he can communicate with people he knows via calls or text.

You could keep the iPad and only allow internet access on it as and when you say so and when you are sat on the sofa together or at least in the room together and then when he has finished the iPad gets put away where you know it's safe and he can't find or access