Since , my nonprofit, ConnectSafely, has been the official U. Department of Homeland Security to officially include the U. This is an important time to focus on internet safety.
Although the benefits are many, there are also risks, including incessant scams, impact on personal wellness, misinformation and malware. Many other organizations and businesses are also hosting Safer Internet Day programs in the U. In addition to parents and educators who make decisions for young people, there are lots of adult policymakers drafting federal and state legislation and enforcing rules that impact youth.
But in many cases, young people have little or nothing to say about policies that impact their lives. We want to make sure they are seen and heard. Everyone can participate in Safer Internet Day. You can attend the parent webinar at safer. There are many resources at ConnectSafely. These include guides and concise Quick-Guides to popular apps such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Roblox, along with information on such topics as cyberbullying, sextortion, hate speech, misinformation and media literacy, cybersecurity and more.
There are also materials for seniors, online daters and parents of very young children. Safer Internet Day is a good time for a family conversation over dinner or perhaps a chat with colleagues at work regarding security and privacy.
Engaging children and teens is especially important, but make it a friendly and informal conversation, not a lecture or inquisition. Start by asking your children and teens about the apps they use and why they like them.
