Kids get a phone, a school tablet and a gaming account, often before their parents have figured out the settings. Digital literacy and online safety tools help families set limits, protect personal data and teach children to spot scams and think before they share. Employers include the category because working parents carry this worry home every night, and most of the tools come with a monthly fee.
Online safety and digital literacy tools families buy
This category usually covers software, subscriptions and courses aimed at the whole household.
- Parental control software for phones, tablets and gaming consoles
- Screen-time management tools with schedules and app limits
- Family plans for antivirus and privacy protection software
- Online courses that teach kids to recognize scams and phishing
- Parent workshops on social media, privacy settings and in-game chat
- A family password manager subscription
- Services that filter content across the home network
To compare this with other popular categories, read our breakdown of LSA eligible expenses.
Gray areas in family tech spending
- The devices themselves, such as phones, tablets and laptops, are commonly excluded, even when a child uses them for school.
- Monthly internet and cell phone service usually falls outside this category.
- Identity theft protection is sometimes offered as a separate voluntary benefit, so check for overlap before adding it here.
- Counseling for a child dealing with cyberbullying belongs with the health plan or EAP rather than the LSA.
- Plans often require the subscription to be in the employee's name, even when it protects the whole family.
Parents and caregivers who use this category
Parents of a child getting a first phone are the most common users, since that moment brings a pile of settings and decisions at once. Parents of teens often shift from strict controls to courses that build judgment. Employees helping older parents avoid phone and email scams find it useful too. For households spread across several devices and platforms, one paid tool is often simpler than managing each one's built-in settings separately. Many employers pair it with broader programs, such as holistic employee wellbeing.
Designing a family online safety category
Define family broadly
Online safety concerns reach aging parents as well as children. Consider letting employees buy tools that protect any household member or dependent your plan recognizes.
Cover subscriptions, not hardware
Most of these tools bill monthly or yearly. Allow recurring subscriptions, and be clear that devices and internet service are handled elsewhere, if at all.
Include education with software
Filters help, but kids eventually need judgment of their own. Allowing courses and parent workshops makes the category about teaching as well as blocking.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an LSA for my family's online safety and digital literacy tools?
Many employers include these tools, often under emotional or family wellbeing, though the specifics are set by the plan. Parental controls, screen-time apps, security software and online safety courses are typical examples.
Does the LSA cover a tablet for my child?
Usually not. Most plans cover the software and education, while the devices themselves are excluded or handled by a separate technology stipend. For school-issued devices, ask the school what filters are already in place.
Can I use it to help protect my parents from scams?
Some plans allow it, especially those that define family broadly. Scam awareness courses and security software for an aging parent's devices are reasonable things to ask your plan administrator about.
Are games that teach online safety or coding covered?
Educational games are a gray area. Some employers allow titles built around digital literacy, while others treat all games as entertainment and exclude them. Keep the product description with your receipt in case a reviewer asks.
Tax treatment depends on the plan and location; our guide explains how LSA reimbursements are taxed.
This content is general information, not medical, legal, tax, or financial advice. Employer plan terms determine eligibility, and requirements may vary by location.
