Concern over digital threats is prompting a shift in how families manage online safety, according to new data from ClarityCheck.
A recent survey of over 1,200 U.S. and EU ClarityCheck users who are parents of children aged 10-17 reveals that more than one-third have used a phone or email lookup tool after their child received a message from an unknown contact. The study, conducted by ClarityCheck, highlights the increasing urgency with which parents are responding to potential scams and unsolicited messages targeting minors.
As children's communication increasingly spans messaging apps, social platforms, and online games, many parents are finding it harder to distinguish between casual interactions and high-risk contact. Parents cited anonymous numbers, suspicious social media profiles, and unusual in-game friend requests as key triggers for concern. Among those who conducted a lookup, 42% said they acted immediately after a suspicious text, while 26% intervened following troubling messages on apps or gaming platforms.
These are not isolated incidents: most parents described verification as a first step before taking further action, whether that meant initiating a conversation with their child, blocking the contact, or reporting the incident. The survey suggests that identity checking is becoming part of a broader set of informal protective measures families now deploy without delay.
58% of parents said they were likely to make such checks a routine part of household digital safety. This shift reflects more than just anxiety; it marks a new stage in digital parenting. With scams targeting children on the rise, from impersonation and phishing to explicit content disguised as peer messages, families are adapting their approach to vigilance and intervention.
71% of parents who used verification tools said it gave them greater confidence in deciding what to do next. Yet nearly half (48%) reported feeling uncertain when results were incomplete or ambiguous, underscoring the need for clearer public guidance on how to respond.
The data suggests parents are seeking tools and strategies that allow for protection without overreach. As digital threats grow more complex and children become more autonomous online, the emphasis is shifting from whether to act to knowing when and how. Public agencies, educators, and platforms will increasingly be called upon to support this learning curve, not just with technology, but with accessible frameworks for decision-making under pressure. For many families, ClarityCheck has become one such tool in a broader digital safety toolkit.
About ClarityCheck:
ClarityCheck is an all-in-one background verification tool for phone numbers, emails, and images. Designed for everyday digital safety, ClarityCheck helps users instantly identify unknown contacts, trace suspicious profiles, and check for potential fraud across phone, email, and photo input. By combining reverse lookup and OSINT technologies, it offers a streamlined way to verify identities and protect yourself online.
ClarityCheck is an all-in-one background verification tool for phone numbers, emails, and images. Designed for everyday digital safety, ClarityCheck helps users instantly identify unknown contacts, trace suspicious profiles, and check for potential fraud across phone, email, and photo input. By combining reverse lookup and OSINT technologies, it offers a streamlined way to verify identities and protect yourself online.