This article is for parents and caregivers interested in keeping kids safe online and includes key definitions and frequently asked questions about how to filter internet content to keep the bad stuff out and how to monitor what your child is doing online to help guide them in using the internet properly.

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy continues his strong warnings against letting kids and young teens use social media. “We’re in the middle of a youth mental health crisis, and I’m concerned that social media is contributing to the harm that kids are experiencing,” he said.
This article will discuss what he said and add our thoughts on what’s still missing from the advisory report.

AI technology (artificial intelligence) has become the center of conversation lately, specifically tools like ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, Microsoft’s Bing and Snapchat’s AI chatbot. This article is part two in our series and identifies the harms to children and teens and how parents and educators can help.

AI technology (artificial intelligence) has become the center of conversation lately, specifically tools like ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, Microsoft’s Bing and Snapchat’s AI chatbot.
This article is part one in our series and describes ChatGPT, AI and other terms.

Lisa Honold, director of Center for Online Safety, was guest expert on keeping kids safe online on the Totally Preventable podcast with Greg Thompson and Polly Allen.

Google is introducing a new safety setting that will automatically blur pornographic, violent, and gory images. That’s great news for kids that are stumbling upon inappropriate content. Learn what parents need to do to make this safety default work in this article.

Snapchat is using our kids as guinea pigs with its latest feature “My AI”. Learn more in our article.

Let’s push the EASY button by learning from other families how they’re getting themselves and their kids off their screens and sharing ideas on what’s working for you!

Grieving parents all over the world are asking how they can get social media companies to take some responsibility for the deaths of their children.

What do parents need to know about the new Family Center parental controls from Snapchat? This article will describe the new features, give step by step instructions for how to set up and use the controls, offer conversation starters for families and give perspective on is this enough to supervise teens on Snapchat.

There’s a vicious cycle happening here. Kids are on their screens at night, with blue light stimulating their brains to wake up, they try to go to bed but are not tired, they get bored and get back on their screens, furthering the cycle of stimulation and poor sleep habits.

Have you heard of the app “BeReal” yet? I bet your kids have! Here’s what you need to know about BeReal to decide if it’s right for your teen.

While using social media in moderation can be a great way to stay connected, being online constantly can hinder the growth and development of relationships with adults and others that could positively assist teens who are experiencing a crisis or other tough time.

What is a good “first phone” for my child or teen? Learn more about the safer options available for kids in this article.

The signs of bullying can vary but it’s important to watch for any major changes in your child which can signify they are experiencing bullying.

Purchasing counterfeit prescription drugs online is becoming more and more common and it’s extremely dangerous.

Learn how to protect your child from predators online in a scheme called sextortion and what to do if it happens in your family.

Why is Instagram pushing eating disorder content to its users, especially young ones?